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It's also largely not cost effective to sew, period...or to crochet, knit, other textile-related home arts, for that matter. I sew and crochet as a hobby, but there is no way that it's a money-saving thing. I can buy an already-made afghan at Target cheaper than I can buy just the yarn alone to make one, and that's even using cheap yarn...quality fiber will cost even more. The fabric for a dress, tablecloth, set of curtains, or placemat/napkin set is more costly than purchasing said items already made. It's fun to make my own, but it's not especially frugal.
At any rate, sewing can be easily learned by sitting down with a machine, a book, some fabric remants, and a seamripper, and practicing.
Yes, it's different than it used to be, before all our clothes were made in China, Viet Nam, etc.
Mid 2000's and I was finishing up middle school, we had classes like wood shop, home ec, theatre and art.
Kids should definitely take home ec, no matter what gender. We went over sewing, other crafts, cooking and how to write a check/balance a checkbook. Though sewing and other crafts aren't too important, cooking and money are essential.
To those who are against Sewing as a required subject (for at least some of high school)- I can honestly say that I've found it useful in my day to day life. My husband is in the Marine Corps and the number of times I've needed to hem something, sew a torn pocket, sew name tapes on, sew buttons on etc is insane. It has DEFINITELY made me thankful for my sewing classes no matter how simple these tasks may seem. Having a bit of background makes repairing his uniforms a lot less daunting!
Also, I wear a lot of vintage and vintage style clothing so I'm constantly making repairs to my own stuff rather than throw it away. Additionally, DH doesn't ever, ever wear tshirts or shorts unless he's working out (he only wears button up shirts, jeans and long pants as far as civilian clothing goes) so his nice button ups aren't 'throw away' clothing either- they definitely end up in the mending bin if anything happens to them, not the trash!
Everyone should know at least the basics of sewing.
Those who've said we live in a throw away generation are spot on.
To those who are against Sewing as a required subject (for at least some of high school)- I can honestly say that I've found it useful in my day to day life. My husband is in the Marine Corps and the number of times I've needed to hem something, sew a torn pocket, sew name tapes on, sew buttons on etc is insane. It has DEFINITELY made me thankful for my sewing classes no matter how simple these tasks may seem. Having a bit of background makes repairing his uniforms a lot less daunting!
Also, I wear a lot of vintage and vintage style clothing so I'm constantly making repairs to my own stuff rather than throw it away. Additionally, DH doesn't ever, ever wear tshirts or shorts unless he's working out (he only wears button up shirts, jeans and long pants as far as civilian clothing goes) so his nice button ups aren't 'throw away' clothing either- they definitely end up in the mending bin if anything happens to them, not the trash!
Everyone should know at least the basics of sewing.
Those who've said we live in a throw away generation are spot on.
And you needed a semester long class to learn how to do that? To sew on a pocket? or button?
Sewing is a useful skill, so is knowing how to swim, or how to light a fire. We do not expect the schools to teach those skills, but some how sewing is something that has to be taught in academic setting?
Given the sheer EASE of learning any skill through the use of the internet these days it is silly to make skills based course REQUIRED. Offer them, make them an elective, and don't make EVERYONE waste half a school year learning it.
I mend stuff all the time (because even costly apparel is often stitched in an inferior manner). I don't think that school curriculum is necessarily required to learn that particular skill, though. It's fairly easily self-taught.
And you needed a semester long class to learn how to do that? To sew on a pocket? or button?
Sewing is a useful skill, so is knowing how to swim, or how to light a fire. We do not expect the schools to teach those skills, but some how sewing is something that has to be taught in academic setting?
Given the sheer EASE of learning any skill through the use of the internet these days it is silly to make skills based course REQUIRED. Offer them, make them an elective, and don't make EVERYONE waste half a school year learning it.
Agreed! I mean, really, no one's parents taught them how to sew on a button? For really complicated sewing, you need to take some lessons, I think, and you need to practice, practice, practice. I used to do a lot of it. That's how I got proficient.
I like how our school district does it in middle school. The curriculum includes sewing as well as cooking, baking and nutrition. I think it's done just two or three times a week for one semester. I think all of those things along are extremely useful. I wouldn't want them to be mandatory in HS, but works well for MS.
In basic, required home arts-type classes, for the few places where they may be required vs. elective, it's more likely that they are survey courses...just providing exposure/an introduction to different skills.
In basic, required home arts-type classes, for the few places where they may be required vs. elective, it's more likely that they are survey courses...just providing exposure/an introduction to different skills.
Exactly! I could already sew when I took my first home ec class in 7th grade. I learned little, if anything new. I may have learned slightly different ways to do the same thing, but that's all. We made an apron.
In the late 50s/early 60s girls had to take home ec--
I hated it but the cooking part did help me. Everyone needs to know how to make food and not everyone gets taught at home. My mother never taught me very much so I'm glad I had it in school.
Sewing--hated it and it isn't as useful as it was back then. People today usually don't have much time for sewing and you can buy clothing for cheaper than you can make it.
Finance--we had some in 6th grade, such as learning about interest rates, banking, how you pay more if you're charged interest. People need to know these things. We also learned about being skeptical of advertising--if something is too good to be true, it probably is NOT true. Also, what is the advertiser trying to tell you? What kind of psychology are they using on you? We had to do class reports--I remember mine was the Maytag repairman.
As a girl I wanted to also take woodworking but it was only allowed for boys!
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