One thing that’s important to note, I think, is that while home-ec type courses are offered at most high school, they’re not REQUIRED. I guess I knew they existed, but I never took a home-ec class. I really wish I had. People seem to underestimate not only the work and skill that goes into running a household, but also the benefits you can get from doing it well.

We still have the practical part of our courses, which is what students really respond to. Talking about vegetables is one thing, but when a student tries a vegetable for the first time in class, and discovers that they like it, or a student sees me in public years later and tells me how what they learned has impacted their life to this day–that’s why our classes are so important.

It’s crucial to remember that while you may remember one aspect of your schooling, that just like times have changed, so have your schools. We don’t think that technology stopped in the years since we graduated high school, so why do we think that schools and school subjects have?

“Family and consumer sciences (FCS) is the comprehensive body of skills, research, and knowledge that helps people make informed decisions about their well being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. The field represents many areas, including human development, personal and family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition, and wellness, textiles and apparel, and consumer issues.”
http://www.aafcs.org

I get what you are saying in this article, but I think focusing on the word “economics” takes it out of historical context. It’s quite the travesty that this fiercly intellectual woman’s legacy is something that is generally scorned by modern intellectuals.

Also I think many economists would disagree with your definition – many economists don’t like to include the words “wealth” or “money” in their definition.

I insisted my college-bound daughter take at least one such course and she decided to take the beginning sewing class.

The topics you are describing, however, generally fall under the “personal finance” courses and would be typically found in the business or math departments.