Family and Consumer Sciences is still around, but it needs support, and people to believe in its roll in communities

Recently when Rocco Dispirito made a statement on national television about his work in communities showing children how to make foods I may have gone a little crazy.  But, in my own defense, I think that it was rightly so.  People stating bring back Home Economics, stating that they have "new" programs teaching children how to cook; these are the kind of statements that make me wonder what people think happened to Home Economics/Family and Consumer Sciences.

Chef Art Smith, made famous through Oprah, stated on the same Katie show as Rocco that he has a program in place after school teaching children how to prepare nutritional food.  I find that wonderful, but I also ask myself why we aren't pooling together and joining forces with chefs? Why are FACS professionals going unnoticed?  Chefs should be lobbying with us and for us.  What happened to us as FACS professionals that the image that is conjured up when people say Home Ec seems to be negative?   What can FACS professionals do to change that image?

Recently when I posted a letter on Rocco's Facebook site; a woman I do not know posted this comment:

 "Jane.... are you aware that most states are discontinuing Consumer and Family Studies from the curriculum? I think it is totally a disservice to the youth of today, but it is falling by the wayside just like Physical Education, Industrial Arts and Art."

I know that there are many programs being cut, but there are still many programs in place.  As an organization we need to continue to place the work that we do in the public eye.  This has been a great year "getting FACS in the public eye" but our presence needs to continue for our profession to continue.  

To keep us out there we as an organization, we need to campaign for funding from business and government.  We need to cut out some of the red tape that our organization sometimes creates.  We need to reach out to FACS educators that may not be involved in the national organization and see the good that they do on a daily basis.  If we do not we will diminish and I don't think that any of us wants that to happen. 

If you are a person not involved in the FACS profession reading this blog, please support your local Family and Consumer Sciences educator and help them keep their programs ALIVE.

Family and Consumer Sciences is a very general field that dips into the pot of many areas.  This is the reason that every child should be a part of what we do.  We are teaching about careers, parenting, families, economics, nutrition and we are part of everyday life in general.  Let us not be ashamed of that concept but proud that what we do is essential.  We are a group of bright talented people that really just do not know how to market what we do.  Let's get marketing!

With love from your retired FACS teacher.

Jane

AAFCS Teacher of the Year 40th Anniversary: Sign up a teacher from your state for FCS teacher of the year!

As a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences I know that we honor outstanding teachers every year for their work in the classroom.

This year is the 40th anniversary of that award.  I encourage those of you are active members in the association to nominate a member from your state affiliate for Teacher of the Year.

It is a wonderful celebration and an honor to be proud of for everyone.  The nominees must be members of the association for three years, and the program you are sharing should be in place for three years.  The due date for submission is December 16, 2013. 

If you attend the conference and show your work at the curriculum showcase you will receive a $100 stipend from the ESAE community.  Honorable mention teachers will receive $200.  The national teacher of the year will receive a large cash prize and will be treated like a king or queen!

Below there is a link to the information about FCS teacher of the year.


http://www.aafcs.org/Awards/teacheroftheyearguide.asp

This link is a brochure about the teacher of the year program in AAFCS.

http://www.aafcs.org/res/teachers/2013_TOY_Brochure.pdf

Please consider sharing your program at our national conference.

Sincerely,

With love from your retired FACS teacher,
Jane

I know it shouldn't be, but my blood started boiling while watching the Katie Show today

Being involved in food education for many years I read and hear about chefs quite often.  I am often amused by their celebrity and watch what they do on T.V. because in fact; they have created a positive interest in food preparation and careers related to food.

Today on the Katie show when Rocco DiSpirito stated that he goes around to high school to teach them how to make food, and talks about healthy food because there are no food courses in place in high school, I almost jumped through the T.V. 

As FACS educators we often hear statement about subjects that we already have place such as, "someone should teach that....".  But blatantly saying he is the only person in the United States that speaks in high schools and talks about Healthy Food preparation is a bit off of the charts. 

I am trying to be rational and calm but I am having a hard time with this specific situation. 

Why can't we as a field/profession break the mold that has been put forth about Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics?  Why is it so impossible to get famous people or industry to support the work that FACS educators do? If we could all work together it would be so ideal. 

Ponder these things as a FACS educator and continue to, or start to share the work that you do with the public because as a FACS professional you are important!

With love from your retired FACS teacher,
Jane

A Story From My Former Classroom

Some of my readers know that I retired early from my position as a FACS educator in Minnesota.

I decided to continue my connection to education as a substitute teacher.  I am subbing mostly in the school that I was employed by, for 14 years. 

I enjoyed my co-workers and when they need a sub I try to make myself available to sub in their classrooms.  The school is over crowded so when the teachers I sub for have prep their room is most often being used by what we call a "traveling teacher."  So....I sit in the FACS office and read or talk to my former co-workers.

Today I got a belly laugh that made me literally cry!

I pretty much hand picked my replacement.  Sara was a teacher at our school and was moved out of her position with seniority but she was and is great.  She has been having an interesting year battling to keep one of the programs that is near and dear to my heart.  We have had many text and phone conversations. 

Today she says, "Have I told you about the potholder situation in clothing and fashion?"  I said, "No."  She said I would not believe it and she really wants to start a photo book for me titled, You are not going to believe this.

We have an activity for student to get to know their sewing machine.  They make a pot holder.  She told them to make a 9 x 9 pattern out of paper to keep their cutting straight.  She saw a line of kids waiting at the paper cutter and asked what they were doing.  A girl said she could get a straighter cut with the paper cutter.  Thinking they were cutting their paper pattern she went over to check on them thinking someone would chop their fingers off.

She got there and said, "WAIT, what are you doing?"  They were lined up ready to cut their fabric with the paper cutter.  Sara said her first thought was, "Jane is not going to believe this."  Unfortunately, I do believe it.

It is so funny. In reality, we have gotten so far away from such basic tasks. Simple things, like cutting fabric, are so far removed from every day activities that students don't even get they are a million miles away from how to use a basic tool. 

I realized this several years ago when students didn't know the difference between a pin, needle or safety pin.  I never thought that I would ever have to demonstrate how to use a stick pin until I saw girls pinning their patterns by poking the pin in the fabric standing up.  (Another chuckle) 

Today I showed a video about memory in a Psychology class.  One thing that I know for sure is that if someone took a FACS/Home Ec course in high school they have a memory of that course.  It might not be a good memory but they have one.  You rarely hear these kinds of stories about Algebra II.

This in fact is more evidence that learning by doing and application will stay with us for a much longer period of time.  Tech Educators got this concept a long time ago! 

Please share some of your FACS/Home Ec stories because, I know, they are most often fun and really create a good laugh!

With Love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane

Family time is important but sometimes mom's and dad's need to get away

Family time is important but sometimes mom’s  and dad's need to get away.

 As a strong advocate for family time and togetherness I also believe in friendships and bonding for the parents.  I have been friends with my college roommates for so long that I do not want to give you a number. 

Each of us was married and had children at a relatively similar time.  During that time as friends we organized gatherings at least one time a year.  Some of these gathering have been elaborate and some very simple and casual.  It is not always easy as we all live in the Midwest but this space involves 3 different states.

When we started our gatherings it was time to get a break from our kids and the trials and tribulations of everyday life.  As we have grown older, and most of us have approached the empty nest stage, it has been a time to talk about life’s challenges and rewards. 

I feel as though these gatherings are so healthy.  They are filled with laughter, reminiscing, encouragement and sometimes tears.   The connections are deep and fond.  As we grow older we see changes in each other.  Sometimes those changes make us feel that we are so lucky in the path we have chosen and other times we might look at a friend and aspire to make a personal change.

No matter what I am thankful for these annual gatherings and hope that as a parent, single person or someone in-between you have relationships in your life that can bring you joy and happiness too. 

 

 This photo is from 2005 so if you see me wearing that garment I will be caught with outdated clothing. (Ha, Ha)  Most of us have aged gracefully, I think.

 

With love from your retired FACS teacher,

Jane

Let Us See if His mind has been changed.

This notification is being sent our by AAFCS organization.

There is to be a segment about FACS on "Good Morning America"  Friday, Oct 11, 2013, it reads as follows.  Looking forward to seeing it!



"Due to the huge response from supporters of family and consumer sciences and AAFCS to the “Jury’s Out” segment last week on Good Morning America, their producer asked AAFCS to arrange for anchor Dan Abrams to visit a family and consumer sciences classroom yesterday.  In case you didn’t see it, Dan’s opinion on “Jury’s Out” was that it’s the responsibility of parents to teach their kids the essential skills taught in family and consumer sciences.

Jay (Judith) Worster, family and consumer sciences teacher at Belleville High School, Belleville, New Jersey, took up the challenge of demonstrating the importance of teaching family and consumer sciences in schools.  Dan Abrams was a “student” in Jay’s “Intro to Culinary Arts” class, along with 15 high school students. Jay taught them knife skills, but also incorporated safety, sanitation, nutrition, and personal finance information. Dan interviewed Jay, two of her students, and AAFCS Executive Director Carolyn Jackson, CFCS.

AAFCS has been told by the producer (but there is no guarantee in the media world) that the piece will air on Good Morning America tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 11th). Please be sure to tune in and see if we have influenced Dan Abrams’ opinion!"

Yeah "GMA" for bringing FACS/Home Economics up but why is it that so many don't really know what it is?

Family and Consumer Sciences was on the "Jury's Out" discussion on the Good Morning America Show, October 2, 2013.  It made me happy to see the topic but also sad that the conversation focused on the subject being too simple and easy to be educational coursework.

The fact that our society is filled with children that are overweight, children that love junk food, children that have only known processed food is a real testament to the need of FACS.  The subject needs to be continually addressed in our schools.  The food issue that we face is just one example of the importance of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The list of helpful course work is long but here are just a couple of topics.

Parenting and Child Development
Personal Finance and Consumerism
Housing and Fashion Design (Which are skills for industry)
Culinary and Food Preparation

and we could go on......

Thanks GMA for putting the topic in the public eye, please keep the important discussion going.  I fear that although you had some great points looking through the eyes of an educated panel, of privileged folks, might not be a realistic perspective.  As FACS professionals, in public schools, we see many children that do not get information on topics that some may deem common sense that one can learn at home.  Until you step into an educational setting with "real" students from all walks of life it is very difficult for the GMA panel to make an adequate judgment. 

I do appreciate that most of the panel said "yes" to FACS I sure hope that we can get it "out there" that FACS is more than etiquette.  Keep the discussion rolling. 

Below is the link to the clip from the show.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/jurys-dutch-engagement-rings-20442472

With Love from Your retired FACS teacher, Jane