Working with power tools. Smelling the aroma of freshly-sawn wood as you constructed your first-ever end table.
Making pottery and jewelry.
A handi-girl's dream.
But in 1970 (yes that's really when I started high school) at Erle Rivers High in Milk River, Alberta girls weren't allowed to take Shop class.
I know. Because I asked.
Moving on . . .
I, and the rest of the girls, took Home Economics. Home Ec., for short.
Or Home Wreck, as it was not-so-affectionately titled.
So we were 'Home-Wreckers'.
The place where we 'learned' to sew.
Cook.
Clean.
And generally find our way around running a home.
Once I got past not being able to take Shop, I really had fun.
I sewed a potholder. An apron.
And a little purple linen dress with the sleeves in backwards.
Sigh.
I baked cookies. Made Chicken-a-la-King served in little toast cups.
And Gourmet Hot Dogs.
I learned the proper way to scour pots (and the sink).
Scrub a floor.
And generally make my house squeaky clean.
Sew straight. Cook carefully. And scrub hard.
I did pass. With unremarkable marks.
And, surprisingly, I actually used some of the things I learned.
And still do today.
There is a codicil:
Now my brother . . .
Yes, they allowed boys to take Home Ec.
For one glorious week sometime during the year.
And yes, I know it wasn't fair . . .
My brother remembers Home Wreck differently.
He remembers cooking.
Something he excels at today.
And hunting for mice with frying pans and spatulas.
Boys make everything more fun.
You brought back so many memories. Too bad they didn't teach these skills in school today!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh---I remember those days! I took Home Ec just because I wanted to be able to eat the food during class!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of surprised that they didn't keep the program going. We sure enjoyed ourselves although I don't think Ms. Dorothy enjoyed it nearly as much. Neither did Charlie. I'm not trying to steal your show Diane, but I posted the link just in case someone wants to know the boys' side of the story when it was a real program... http://gearheadsncoffeestains.blogspot.ca/2012/12/boys-with-aprons.html
ReplyDeleteI didn't have the option of taking home ec or shop....I was in the secretarial course. I guess they figured we wouldn't need it. Wrong!
ReplyDeleteDiane, did this ever bring back memories. I graduated high school in 1970. It was an interesting time. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if my high schools even offered Home Ec!
ReplyDeleteI do remember thinking shop class was interesting, but by the 80's I think that shop had been re-categorized from being a class that boys took to a class that kids who weren't expected to go to college took. I have a good friend who is a professional builder and a very good one, and this drives her up the wall.
Our Hone Ec cooking room looked just like the one in the picture. I remember the class mostly for the "weird" salad we made...which I learned much later is called Waldorf Salad. Who ever thought to put celery, apple, raisins and mayo together didn't count on a teenager's sensitive taste buds! I actually like it now :) (I just checked Google for ingredients and I see the recipe we used is not the usual one!!)
ReplyDeleteI love the term Home Wreck and wish I'd known it back then :)
Cooking and sewing were the only options open to the girls. The boys could (and some did) take the cooking option but their metal/woodwork classes were off limits to us.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember being taught cleaning at school. A mistake.
I remember home ec, I just barely passed. Tried to sew a hem on something and sewed it so tight you couldn't put it on.
ReplyDeleteThere's a proper way to scour pots and sinks? Huh. how 'bout that. I did Home Ec through the sixties, didn't learn a thing I didn't already know. Which doesn't mean I actually do those things. Right now I'm thinking of painting my floors dirt colour so I won't have to wash them.
ReplyDelete