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‘Family values’ return to the classroom By Hilary Anderson The clock on the classroom wall at Madonna High School says 7:30
a.m. School doesn’t start until 8:05 a.m., yet sewing machines
already are humming. Twelve students are working on their latest
clothing creation—a blue denim skirt made from an old pair of
blue jeans. They are among 40 girls in Madonna’s first home economics class
in more than a decade. “We stopped offering home economics about 10 years ago for lack
of interest,” said Franciscan Sister Carol Marie Schommer, principal/president
of the school at 4055 W. Belmont Ave. “We never wanted the class gone but it wasn’t economically feasible
to hire a teacher for only three or four students.” The tide changed. A new trend started. Students wanted to learn
the basics of sewing and cooking. “We had so many students asking for a home economics class that
we decided to offer it as an elective since we had the sewing
machines and kitchen facilities from years ago,” said Schommer.
“We already had a faculty member on staff who previously taught
home economics.” Schommer put home economics on the class schedule for this school
year (2000-2001), opening it as an elective course for juniors
and seniors. The outpouring of interest surprised everyone. The
class appealed to a cross-section of students—honors as well as
those in regular and remedial scholastic programs. More than 80
students registered for 40 available spaces. The interest in home economics appears to be part of a growing
trend among young people. “We don’t know what prompted the interest,” Schommer said. “Perhaps
a return to basic family values or the need for finding inexpensive
ways to keep a home. Perhaps it’s because an increasing number
of young women are opting to stay home with young children instead
of working at outside full-time jobs.” The school changed to “block scheduling” to better accommodate
the home economics and other classes, which usually need more
time. Instead of eight 40-minute periods during the day, students
now attend four 80-minute classes. Courses run from August to January. New ones start in January
and extend to June. The home economics class is comprised of two
parts—five weeks of sewing and five weeks of cooking. “I am really impressed with what the students have accomplished
in five weeks,” said Laurie Becker, chairman of the Madonna home
economics department. “They’ve made a denim skirt, a blouse and
pants set and aprons for the Madonna kitchen staff. Now they want
to make things for Christmas.” Becker says one of her students found the pattern for the denim
skirt on the Internet, which uses an old pair of blue jeans for
the material. “One of the girls came to me and said she found
the exact same skirt in a store for $40,” added Becker. “A lot
of the girls are going out to buy patterns.” Becker says the skills her students are learning will be useful
in later life. “They are learning basic sewing techniques. How to hem, sew on
a button, use a sewing machine and fit clothes properly are skills
everyone could use regardless of what career they pursue.” Becker sees some of her students making sewing a life-long hobby.
She says a few of them have the talent to pursue some phase of
sewing as a meaningful career. Becker is looking forward to the cooking segment of the class.
She hopes to teach not just the basics of cooking but concepts
of nutrition as it pertains to her students’ lifestyles. “I’m
concerned about teen-age eating disorders,” she said. “Most of the girls already know some cooking basics. I hope to
teach them—in addition to cooking techniques—nutrition concepts
that will blend in with their lifestyles and needs. How they can
eat fast-foods and be healthy, or if they choose, diet responsibly
and not binge or starve themselves.” Schommer and Becker are hoping the new home economics classes
will help attract additional new students to Madonna. Although
the school has sewing machines and kitchen supplies from classes
held years ago, they would welcome donations of new cookware,
dishes, appliances and sewing machines. “The equipment we have is old and the girls would benefit from
learning how to use state-of-the-art kitchenware, utensils and
sewing-related items,” added Becker. The home economics class has been so well-received that Schommer
and Becker hope to add another section and possibly a second level
class.
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