Real Students with a lack of Real Skills
Are YOU prepared to bear the consequences of not knowing how to survive in the real world?
Editorial, Staff
Gone are the times when you could bake every day all because it was included in one of your classes. Gone are the days when kids would goof off while learning to sew, while still retaining these valuable skills. Home Economics taught more than just cooking and baking, it also taught basic skills that anyone would need in their everyday lives. Home Economics teaches vital skills for life such as meal planning, budgeting, time management, home maintenance, courtesy, communication, and goal setting. But where did classes that teach these skills go?
Right now, the only classes that teach semi-similar skills to Home Economics would be Senior Transitions, Personal -Finance, and Leadership. Two of those three classes are only offered 6th hour, and two of them are only offered during the first semester. Leadership is offered year-round during Senior Transitions, Personal -Finance, and Leadership. Two of those three classes are only offered 6th hour, and two of them are only offered during the first semester. Leadership is offered year-round during 6th hour, but AP Pre-Calculus and other classes conflict with this. Similarly, Personal Finance is offered first hour during the first semester, but AP language and AP literature are only offered during first hour. Although these classes Economics, there are no classes that offer the cohesive skills found in Home Economics. There’s no one-size-fits-all type of class with life skills. Even though classes with some skills are offered, how are we supposed to gain these life skills when all life skill classes clash with one another? Where are we going to learn these soft skills?
According to an article by the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), 97% of employers surveyed said that soft skills were either as important or more important than hard skills. Soft skills are defined as non-technical skills such as communication, time management, and teamwork. Soft skills are skills that should be inherently learned over years of experience and human interaction. In contrast, hard skills are skills that are learned through education and hands-on experience.
With the rise of STEM education in recent years, schools have cut Home Economics classes in favor of core classes. According to an article published by CollegeVine, a college and education preparation company, “classes that don’t directly relate to core subject areas (like math, science, English, and social studies) are often the first to get cuts. This includes elective classes such as home economics.” But why are we cutting soft-skill classes? The main issue comes down to funding. We’re choosing to sacrifice soft-skill education in favor of more hard-skill/academic courses such as biology or calculus. While these skills can be important to those in a specific career field, students who choose to enter the workforce early on are required to need these soft skills. Their need for hard skills will be taught directly in the workforce. The whole point of apprenticeship training is to learn how to do your job, but these foundational soft skills are needed to have the mindset to learn in the first place. There needs to be a cohesive soft skill education program in which students, regardless of future plans, need basic skills that will be found in all types of jobs.
