[lizzybelle]

If schools offered housekeeping and/or mothercraft type classes would you let your child (boy or girl) study that kind of thing? Would you regard it as a waste of time? Not academic enough? Only for kids on a certain life path? Would you object if it were compulsory?

(Will answer this myself shortly.)

[tothebeach]

I believe that the best time to learn task-based skills (as opposed to things like critical thinking etc) is 'on the job' and when you need it.

I would hope that my high schooler will not need Mothercraft skills for many years so would consider it a waste of time.

[MotherClucker]

Hmm I took Home Economics when I was in highschool and loved it. It covered everything from different religions, to raising an "egg" for a week, as well as budgeting a household. Is it not available in Australia?

[JRA]

Haven't schools got enough to teach in today's day and age


In a word (or two), no bloody way.

[purplekitty]

Waste of time, the curriculum is too full already.

[Mumsyto2]

Absolutely not. I would think it a complete waste of time and am not sure what it would be meant to replace in the already full current curriculum.

I did nothing like this at school and neither did any of my friends or family and yet we have all managed very well in regards to running households and raising families so not sure why this would need to be taught.

[A Winters Day]

I think a lot of teenagers would benefit from this cause they don't get it at home. With teen pregnancies on the increase I think it would be valuable for maybe some schools/areas that experience high teen pregnancy rates. As for housekeeping again so many children end up waited on hand and foot, particuarly boys they leave home unable to even cook an egg!

If my child was interested then yes I'd let them do it, I'm all for practical skills. Not all children are academic and brilliant in that way so why not offer this to those who want to be SAHM/D or learn child raising skills, god knows plenty of people in the world no matter their age could do with that sort of course!

I don't think it limits them I think vocational courses are needed more in schools, without them we'll end up with a society full of academics and none to fix your car when it breaks down, build your house, work in childcare, cook food etc.

[Chchgirl]

I've never heard of it, didn't even have it when I was at school in the 80's!

[mamfa]

Who would want to sit and learn about ironing? Floor cleaning? Scrubing toilets?

We learned meal planing, food prep type stuff in our elective cooking type classes(it's been 20 years, I can't remember names now) we learned sewing in textiles classes. But specific cleaning of a house? No way!

I think their should be child care type vocation. There are a lot of teens who want to work with kids so this would benefit. But the people that would NEED this type of thing would be the ones who wouldn't be planning futures(IMO). So it wouldn't benefit at all.

This post has been edited by mamfa: 28/06/2011, 01:52 PM

[melanieb530]

Sounds fine to me.