Comments on: Vintage teen advice – Joe’s entry http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/08/vintage-teen-advice-joes-entry/ Products and ideas to remodel your mid century home in authentic vintage style Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:16:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tikimama http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/08/vintage-teen-advice-joes-entry/comment-page-1/#comment-33933 Tikimama Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:14:14 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=10123#comment-33933 Well, when I was in jr. high (1981-82), we took a quarter of cooking, a quarter of sewing, a quarter of woodshop, and a quarter of metal shop (where I remember "learning" how to change a faucet - but don't ask me to do it today!). Boys and girls alike took all four, which I think is great. If I remember correctly, by the time my 3rd sibling got to jr. high, these electives were gone. I haven't heard of many schools that still offer them, because of budgets and the emphasis on basic skills testing. They are still out there, though. Well, when I was in jr. high (1981-82), we took a quarter of cooking, a quarter of sewing, a quarter of woodshop, and a quarter of metal shop (where I remember “learning” how to change a faucet – but don’t ask me to do it today!). Boys and girls alike took all four, which I think is great. If I remember correctly, by the time my 3rd sibling got to jr. high, these electives were gone. I haven’t heard of many schools that still offer them, because of budgets and the emphasis on basic skills testing. They are still out there, though.

]]> By: Pam Kueber http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/08/vintage-teen-advice-joes-entry/comment-page-1/#comment-33914 Pam Kueber Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:07:10 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=10123#comment-33914 I remember several aspects of junior high Home Ec very clearly. Making cookie bars with sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips - e.g., nothing "real"... Being taught how to use make-up (and I didn't get to be a model!)... And bizarrely, being asked on a final what is the difference between "ironing" and "pressing" -- I was always an excellent student and swear we never were taught that distinction. I concocted some bogus answer about "getting out wrinkes" vs. "putting in creases" and aced the test. IMHO, a ridiculous waste of our time all around. I definitely wish I'd been able to take wood shop instead. I remember several aspects of junior high Home Ec very clearly. Making cookie bars with sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips – e.g., nothing “real”… Being taught how to use make-up (and I didn’t get to be a model!)… And bizarrely, being asked on a final what is the difference between “ironing” and “pressing” — I was always an excellent student and swear we never were taught that distinction. I concocted some bogus answer about “getting out wrinkes” vs. “putting in creases” and aced the test. IMHO, a ridiculous waste of our time all around. I definitely wish I’d been able to take wood shop instead.

]]> By: Annmarie http://retrorenovation.com/2009/02/08/vintage-teen-advice-joes-entry/comment-page-1/#comment-33910 Annmarie Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:05:30 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=10123#comment-33910 Very funny. Okay, I do have one very clear memory, and that was making some muffins from a recipe from the book. In true homemaker fashion, each ingredient was carefully measured out and lined-up on the counter, and then methodically added step-by-step to the bowl. Not at all like my current slovenly method of measure and toss it together into a bowl and mix it and hope for the best. (Really, the muffins turn out just fine.) After a brief adventure with baking, the class moved on to sewing, and I began a new relationship with Simplicity sewing patterns. Do schools even offer a homemaking class anymore? Very funny. Okay, I do have one very clear memory, and that was making some muffins from a recipe from the book. In true homemaker fashion, each ingredient was carefully measured out and lined-up on the counter, and then methodically added step-by-step to the bowl. Not at all like my current slovenly method of measure and toss it together into a bowl and mix it and hope for the best. (Really, the muffins turn out just fine.)

After a brief adventure with baking, the class moved on to sewing, and I began a new relationship with Simplicity sewing patterns.

Do schools even offer a homemaking class anymore?

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