At the start of the 20th century, home economics classes were introduced to schools. However, starting in the 1960s, the skills taught in these classes were deemed unlikely to lead to employment, and as a result, funding for these programs started to diminish.

Home economic classes would prepare students for adulthood by teaching them the simple steps of cooking, sewing, and repairing household items. These classes would provide students with experience in areas that would help them to succeed in the future.

I think that La Salle would benefit from having an elective that teaches this type of expertise.

Most students would acquire basic life skills from a home economics course and I think that many would be interested in taking the class. Additionally, it would give a new perspective to us students, and it would help us to feel less overwhelmed by all of the adult tasks that we will one day have to perform.

Personally, I would like to learn more about what will be important to me when I graduate high school. I don’t know how to apply for loans, buy a house, or file taxes—all which are things that I will need to know how to do one day. It would be a useful experience to learn each of these skills at school, alongside my friends and classmates.

Senior Aylin Begines agrees with my perspective.

“It sounds fun to be able to do something one may or may not do at home with your classmates and friends,” she said.

The first part of the class could cover the basics of home economics and teach simple tasks that would benefit students’ futures.

Freshman Sidney Lefranc shared that she “would want to learn sewing [and] knitting, cooking skills, [and] baking,” she said. Lefranc also added that she’d hope to gain basic knowledge regarding carpentry, electrical, and plumbing work.

The second portion of the course could focus on other life skills such as filing taxes, budgeting, and managing time.

Freshman Raphael De Leon said that he would like to learn “how to handle money or self defense.”

Begines suggested another way that curriculum could be taught.

“It would be interesting for the teacher… to teach some things that they themselves did not know how to do or learned later on in life that they wished they would’ve learned sooner.”

The class could be open to all grade levels, but if it is in high demand, priority could be given to upperclassmen, as suggested by senior Anna Riehl.

“It would be great if it could be offered to all grades with an upperclassman priority,” she said.

Since upperclassmen are closer to graduation and their futures are approaching much sooner, I think that they should be first in line to take the class.

Some may say that a home economics class is outdated and unnecessary. However, many students don’t yet know how to live life on their own.

A home economics class would aid students in developing real-life skills that are required for adulthood. And the La Salle students I have talked to seem to show great interest in an elective similar to this. Therefore, not only would I benefit from having a class that prepares me for the future, but so would many others.

This is an idea that La Salle should take into consideration, as it is one that will prepare us for the rest of our lives.