T There is a shortage of home economics teachers, but it’s still important to educate the next generation of consumers to be savvy and sustainability-focused. he increasingly common perception about schooling is that it’s all about getting a job — that if it doesn’t have a vocational purpose, it isn’t relevant. And yet schools, together with family, teach young people about social norms and values and how to live in more thoughtful ways. This includes how to be an intelligent consumer. For decades, home economics has been part of this important element of education, but its place in Canadian schools is under threat. According to the International Federation for Home Economics, it is an area of study that brings together many different ways to “read” the world through food, health, financial, Kerry Renwick June 15, 2018 Why home economics classes still matter Why home economics classes still matter http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/june-2018/why-home-eco... 1 of 4 2018-06-27, 11:30 AM