THE Most Important Class in School

For anyone who doesn't know me well, I'm a teacher. Not only am I a teacher, but I teach THE most important subject in school. I teach Family and Consumer Science (previously known to the uninitiated as Home Economics.)

I teach kids how to sew and they actually love it. They have to make an "A" on the parts of a sewing machine before they are allowed to sew. They have to thread the machine and put the bobbin in, ready to sew in one minute. The timed test always stresses them out, but they all can eventually do it! Would you believe my boy students are consistently better at sewing ? I teach them to iron a men's dress shirt. They have to bring one from home and iron it at school for a test grade. I don't mention the fact that I send Bill's shirts to the laundry ;-)

They learn basic cooking skills. You can imagine how much they look forward to cooking and EATING. Tomorrow is our first foods lab and we are starting out easy. We'll be making banana/blueberry smoothies. How well do you know how to set a table for any occasion? They know how to do it-properly.

They learn how to write a check and reconcile the bank statement.

They are fascinated with prenatal development. They can all draw and label the five parts of the woman's reproductive system and can tell you how it all works. After that hurdle, we discuss child development and disciple of children (called "guidance " in the text).

Students are able to recognize the color wheel and all the different color schemes.

They can drive through a neighborhood and identify housing styles as well as roof styles, pilasters, gingerbread trim, etc. They make a portfolio of furniture styles. (I had perfectly delightful students tell me "Mrs. Stegall, you've turned me into a housing nerd! I went to a party Saturday night at this guy's house. He soon came looking for me and my friend from class. "What are you doing", he asked? "Oh, I didn't realize that you had Chippendale chairs and a double pedestal table! Look your sideboard looks great with those sconces above it!" He just stared at us and said, "Y'all are weird!" and walked off.