Now that the economy is officially in the crapper, it's time to revisit everyone's favorite nearly defunct subject: Home Economics! I think Home Ec has been phased out of most schools at this point, so I'm happy to impart the wisdom I got from the one semester of home economics I took in seventh grade. How useful are these skills in saving money? You decide.
Let's see... I remember learning:
1. How to sew a basic apron -- fun for those of us who enjoy sewing, but not exactly a useful skill to help you save money. Unless, of course, you happen to desperately need a new apron.
2. How to make a lanyard out of those plastic shoestring things - again not incredibly helpful in a bad economy, although I do remember getting really good at these and selling them to my friends. Perhaps we can bring this trend back and I can open my own sweatshop? I think I charged about $2 each back in 1992, with inflation I could probably charge... what do you think? $20 each?
3. How to make and jar grape jelly - if you've got a whole day to kill and a hankering for about six jars of jelly, go for it. Otherwise, I'm sucking it up and buying the smuckers.
4. How to make "monkey bread" - now we're getting somewhere. This midwest comfort food made from pillsbury (or store brand) biscuit dough and cinnamon is high quality. I think the last time I had this was in seventh grade.
5. How to paint a t-shirt with puffy paint - God, please don't make me wear one of those shirts again. So much neon pink paint and so many sparkly unicorn appliques.... *shudder*
My home economic prospects aren't looking good here. What did you learn when you took home ec (if you took home ec)? Anything useful?
It seems to me that home economics as a course is more about training our young girls to be '50s housewives, rather than teaching young people - male and female - how to take care of themselves, how to live on their own without mommy/daddy/nanny/whomever taking care of them, how to save money, basically, how to survive. Instead it seems like it's arts and crafts time at best and an opportunity to reinforce the idea of "women's work" at worst.
Via Jezebel
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