Home Economics Evolves into Family Consumer Science

Highlands High School Home Economics: From 1958  

It's the year 1958, and the hum of sewing machines and the heat radiating from the oven filled the air, bringing with it the familiarity of the Home Ec room. Nancy McEntire looked up from her work, taking a break. It had been a long class, filled with the steady work of the girls around her. As they sewed their aprons, they were quiet and focused. By the end of the day, they were expected to model their aprons. The girls were excited for the opportunity to show off their hard work in front of their peers and raise money for their school. Featured, are artifacts from Home Ec class: a Kentucky-shaped cookie cutter, two style-show programs, and two Homemaker Degrees, all of which share a glimpse of some of the great things that went on in the Home Economics classroom during the mid-twentieth century.  

Family and Consumer Science: 2023/24 

Our Family and Consumer Science (FCS) classes here at Highlands High School (HHS) have changed since then. The class started out mandatory, (and for girls only) in the 50s. The students learned how to cook, clean, and sew, the class was about preparing to become homemakers. Some people who have made the biggest impact on FCS are Ann Davis Meyer and Ahren Wagner, helping to evolve the class by making it more modern and business-focused. 

“...There was one fashion class, one food class, one parenting and child development class and now we have multiple levels of those courses and we have what we call career pathways now,” Wagner said. 

Something that made Home Ec so different from FCS as it is today is the gender separation. While girls went to a mandatory Home Ec class, the boys went to Shop Class. These classes were as important to the students as one of our core classes today. 

McEntire (class of 1958) said: “I think it was a core class, I mean, we all took it whether we wanted to or not and that was it…. Just the girls.” 

As the girls progressed through the year, they were expected to do a ‘style show’. They would spend a week or two sewing aprons before modeling them in front of the class. Although all girls participated in their school-style show, only one was chosen to serve on a sewing board at Shillito’s. (Shillito’s was a department store in downtown Cincinnati) 

McEntire said: “One girl each year, I think it was one, served on a board, a sewing board, at Shillito’s.” 

This class has evolved in so many ways over the years at HHS. We’ve changed the course name, the club’s name, the focus of the class, added a preschool, and so many different projects. This program took the focus off being strictly on homemaking and expanded the focus to fashion, early childhood, and cooking careers. 

In our culinary classes, students learn how to cook nutritious, well-balanced meals, as well as safe cooking practices.  Students have had the opportunities to cater meals as a business, and have had great success!  They've also had a chance to meet with owners of some trendy food trucks in the area.  This was part of a project where students designed their own food truck businesses, complete with menus, art design, and all the components to create their own business.

Our current sewing students learn how to sew, but we take it even further.  They run their own sewing business creating sportswear, blankets, quilts, and various items for local customers.  We even have other schools in Northern Kentucky commission our students to create items for them (such as team-embroidered blankets, towels, and jackets, etc.)   

Tags