As I head into my senior year, it’s becoming painfully clear: I’ve mastered Algebra, Chemistry, and U.S. History—but I don’t know the first thing about real life. Buying a car? Filing taxes? Understanding insurance? These all sound like foreign languages to me. The school system has taught me everything except how to navigate the everyday responsibilities that adulthood demands.
It’s time for that to change. Ludlow High should require a Home Economics course to better prepare students for life beyond graduation.
A Brief History of Home Ec
Home Economics courses were once common in high schools, but many were phased out as society changed. The reason? According to Ushoshi Das in the article “Bring Back Home Economics,” these classes were often geared toward women and centered around domestic work, which led to criticisms of sexism. As gender roles evolved, schools began cutting these classes altogether.
Though some schools have retained them as electives, many—including ours—no longer require them. But that doesn’t mean they’re outdated or irrelevant. Quite the opposite.
What Is Home Economics Today?
Modern Home Ec is more than just sewing and cooking. According to Peterson Berry from Higher Education Review, Home Economics now includes essential life skills such as:
- Nutrition and meal prep
- Parenting and family care
- Personal finance, budgeting, and banking
- Time management and communication
- Sustainability and community involvement
- Understanding insurance, loans, and investments
These are foundational skills that all students—regardless of career goals—deserve to learn. Not everyone learns these at home, and school should offer a space to fill those gaps.
Why Aren’t These Classes Required Anymore?
Technically, Ludlow High offers some of these classes. But they’re electives—meaning only a portion of students ever get to take them. And many of us don’t have the option at all.
As a Career Tech student attending CTEC for Cosmetology, I only have three periods at LHS. That schedule leaves no room for electives. And I’m not alone—there are nearly 50 CTEC students in the morning rotation alone who miss out on these valuable classes simply because they’re not required.
Some say these classes were dropped due to budget cuts or a lack of certified teachers, especially in Massachusetts. But the same could be said of the arts, music, and language departments. We fought to keep those alive—why didn’t we fight for this, too?
Why Not Keep Home Ec as an Elective?
Keeping Home Ec as an elective limits access. Students in specialized programs, like CTEC or Dual Enrollment, often can’t choose electives even if they want to. If the class were required, it would level the playing field—making sure every student had access to the tools they’ll need as independent adults.
What Can We Do?
We should start with a petition and bring the issue to the school board. Ask for input. Make our voices heard.
Some may argue, like Mrs. Nemeth, that requiring the class would force uninterested students to take it, ruining the experience for those pursuing food or child care careers. But I disagree. Students who are passionate will still be engaged, and for everyone else, these are basic survival skills—ones we all need, whether we like them or not.
My mom took Home Ec when she was in school. She told me, “It was more of a life lesson than a class. We could actually relate to what we were learning.” That stuck with me.
How It Would Help Us
According to Das, “If we learn about long-term savings, investments, and loans before we really have to deal with them, we will feel much more confident in the decisions we make with our money.” And English teacher Mrs. Ollquist agrees: “Students could benefit from learning more financial skills like making and following budgets and how to pay bills.”
Our education should prepare us for college, careers, and life. How can we succeed financially or personally if we don’t know how to cook a basic meal, read a pay stub, or manage health insurance after we turn 26?
College degrees and test scores might help us earn a living—but they won’t help us live.
So maybe you don’t see the value of Home Economics now. But one day, you’ll find yourself staring at a stack of bills, a crying baby, or an empty fridge—and wish someone had shown you how to handle it all.
Let’s bring Home Ec back. Not as an elective. As a requirement.