Many people argue that home economics classes are an outdated, patriarchal set of skills women were forced to learn back in the day that have no place in our modern, feminist school systems. After all, the modern woman can buy her own clothes, pop dinner into a microwave, throw her laundry into a washing machine, and go out in the world to pursue whatever career she wants. However, the whole point of home economics classes of the past was to equip young people with the practical skills they needed to live life as independent adults.
Too often this part of education is overlooked. Many students (like me) graduate with a head full of book knowledge, but very little understanding of how to navigate the practical world outside of school. I would like to argue that we should bring back an updated version of home economics classes and implement them as part of the required undergrad curriculum in colleges and universities. Here are some of the schools that should be taught in such classes that I wished I had learned before I graduated:
Interview/Job Search Skills
Hiring platforms are changing. Advice from past generations on how to apply for jobs doesn't work anymore in our digital society. I was taught the basic skills of how to write a resume and answer interview questions, but not how to apply to companies with digital sorting systems that sift through resumes, or that my experience is more important than my degree. Degree doesn't equal job anymore, like it did for our parents and grandparents. We need to be taught that going into college, not on our way out.
Negotiating Salary
The only salary philosophy or strategy I was ever taught was be thankful you have one. I have absolutely no idea how to calculate what I'm worth, or negotiate to receive that amount. I can compare myself to a few other jobs and feel like I'm worth more or less based on my skill set, but that's all. Students need to be taught how to calculate and negotiate for what they are worth so they obtain a fair wage without being taken advantage of.
Basic Investing Skills
I know how to budget my paycheck so that there is gas in my car, food in my fridge, and all my bills are paid on time. However, I have absolutely no understanding of investing. I don't know about 401k's, Roth IRAs, Stocks, Bonds, and all that stuff. I also don't know how to calculate whether it's better to consolidate loans or pay them off separately. I can research how to invest things, but I also know that every website I read is also vying for my business. Students should be taught the basics of investing, types of long-term investment plans, and how to navigate such transactions wisely and safely.
Car Maintenance
I know basically nothing about cars except how to drive them. I know the oil needs to be changed, but not how often. I don't know how much it should cost to get my car serviced versus how much I actually get charged. I'm sure there are dozens of other questions I don't even know to ask. Students should be taught the basics of car ownership and maintenance simply so they know how to car for their cars better and so they stay safe on the roads. (Maybe some of that is taught in driver's ed? I never took it, so I don't know.)
House Maintenance and Ownership
I've lived in several different apartments, all with varying degrees of quality, and there are some skills I wish I had been taught, like how to unclog a drain, how to temporarily insulate doors and windows, how to fix a leaky sink, basic cleaning techniques, etc. When the time comes for me to buy a house, I have no idea where to start, how the real-estate market works, or how a house's value is calculated. I think students should be at least made aware of the elements that go into maintaining a house or apartment, and how to go about looking for one.
Basic Cooking and Gardening Skills
These skills feel like the fall more into the traditional home ec kind of classes, but they are still important because they help you maintain your health. Along with the basic skills of how to use various cooking appliances and how to read a recipe, students should be taught how to shop locally for quality, inexpensive foods, how to plan menus, pack nutritious lunches for work, and how to grow fresh produce both indoors and outdoors. All these things are important for saving money and maintaining health.
Basic Sewing Skills
Hear me out on this one - maintaining clothes is just as important as maintaining your car and your house because it saves money. I am not suggesting you learn how to make all your cloths. I am suggesting that it is cheaper to learn how to sew on a button than it is to throw away a $50 jacket because a button is missing. Students should be taught the sewing skills to make basic repairs, like replacing buttons, sewing a hem, and fixing small tears. Your clothes will last longer, look nicer, and save you money in the long run.
Etiquette
Etiquette is not just a patriarchal system of random restrictions on women's behavior. The goal of etiquette is to establish a system of behaviors that allow everyone in a room to feel respected, appreciated, and comfortable. I think it is sad that many people in today's society pride themselves on treating each other with crassness and disrespect, especially when those same people are so vocal about showing acceptance and tolerance. Would those goals be reached more easily if everyone treated each other with respect and acted with basic human decency? Etiquette is important because it influences not only your personal relationships, but also your business relationships as well. It can be the difference between whether or not you get hired, or get a promotion at work. The rules of etiquette have been updated for our modern society (a few excellent resources on this include John Bridge's book How To Be A Gentleman and Candace Simpson-Giles's book How To Be A Lady ). Etiquette also extends beyond face-to-face interactions to internet, phone, and social media use.
I'm sure as I continue my adventure in "adulting" I will discover more skills I wish I had been taught in college.
What are some things you wish you had been taught in college that should be added to the required curriculum?
