There was an interesting time in school where the males and females each received a glimpse into a world that most were at least somewhat unfamiliar with. While the girls were getting their first hands-on experience with power tools, the boys were in some unfamiliar territory of their own, a word of sewing and baking. That’s right, it was the class certain to elicit a chorus of groans from the males – Home Economics.

Home economics taught students of both sexes many valuable skills, and some that they would probably never use again. It was a time to learn what a needle and thread were, and how to use them proficiently. It was a time to learn how to measure ingredients, sift flour, and work in a kitchen without burning the house down. Life skills, these were, and if nothing else, they taught the guys that they didn’t need to go through life with a button missing from their wrinkled shirt. They didn’t need to fear a cookbook.

For, the one thing that resulted (and that guys were loathe to admit) was that Home Economics gave you confidence. It showed you that there were things that you never would have imagined yourself capable of. Whether it was pulling a steaming rack of freshly made muffins from the oven (that you made from scratch, no less) or learning that it was possible to use a sewing machine without causing serious bodily harm, everyone walked away from Home Economics feeling that they weren’t quite as hopeless as they once thought, that maybe life was going to be ok once they moved away from Mom. It was a valuable learning experience and we were all better because of it.