Have you considered the benefits of home economics? Are students missing out on learning these skills since most schools have gotten rid of their home economics programs? This article highlights some of the skills learned in home economics classes and how students can still get the benefits of home economics outside of the classroom.
Sewing is one of the major benefits of home economics
One of the skills usually learned in home economics is how to use a sewing machine. Sewing may seem like an outdated skill that only seamstresses or fashion designers would need to learn. However, there have been some amazing scientific discoveries that came from having a basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine.
Sewing lessons lead to a Nobel Prize
Alexis Carrel was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1912 for Physiology. He is well known for having made huge advancements related to vascular surgery. He actually discovered a way to sew human arteries together! It was his knowledge of sewing that he had gained from taking sewing lessons that enabled him to translate his sewing skills to his study of physiology. Carrel invented the triangulation technique and this is the foundation for the technique that is still used today by surgeons.
Applying sewing skills to save lives
Another doctor, by the name of Arthur B. Voorhees Jr. also used sewing skills for medicine. He discovered, somewhat by accident that synthetic materials could be used to repair arteries. He originally used his wife’s sewing machine to sew artificial arteries out of cloth and use these for animals. Later on he was able to apply this technique to save human lives as well.
How can home economics be brought back into schools?
Some people are advocating that home economics be brought back into schools. Many agree that it would be great to give kids a chance to learn about how to do useful things like cooking, sewing or balancing a checkbook. Budget cuts make this difficult for schools to reinstate home ec programs. There are some programs available for kids that believe learning to sew will be useful for future learning in the fields of science, math, technology and engineering.
Tutoring and special classes can provide the benefits of home economics
Even if the schools don’t have home economics programs, it is possible for students to experience the benefits of home economics outside of the classroom. Students can take sewing classes or even hire a private tutor to teach a course on home economics.
Applying the skills learned from being educated in home economics can be used for so many purposes and can be applied to other fields of study. If home economics skills have inspired some huge scientific discoveries in the past, just think of how much more that can come from students studying home economics today.
