Back to Preaching about Family and Consumer Sciences

Today I was informed that Minnesota is doing or has done a study on advancing health equity.

I know and realize that there are and have always been disparities between the haves and those that have not.  I grew up in a family with-out many funds.  I know what it feels like to need something and not being able to afford that need.

But, as I look at all of these societal issues, that have been on the increase in the last few years, including obesity; I find it ironic that items that have been cut in education because they are not at a certain academic standard could be the answer to solve some of these issues.  (Long sentence!)   FACS and Physical Education.

Several years ago it was legislated that junior high FACS courses are no longer required in Minnesota.  Slowly we are seeing school districts remove FACS to require world language and advanced placement courses.  I am not against any of these courses but I do know that every student that walks the halls of a middle or junior high school will have to deal with food and nutrition sometime in their life.

There was a time that people assumed that cooking could be managed by anyone but that is no longer true.  When families do not prepare meals, in homes, on a regular basis, the example is not set and the learning stops. 

We need to think about the importance of keeping these FACS programs alive to bring back healthy food preparation for our children's future.  There is no way the current societal food issues can be battled unless children learn about proper food preparation sometime in their life. 

As FACS professionals we need to focus on "healthy", "good for you" food lessons that students will enjoy and take home to their families.

One thing that I required in my healthy living course was making a meal at home.  Students planned it, had family members comment on it and sent me pictures of the meal and were required to do clean up.  I know this is not a new idea and some said that it was an equity issue for students, but my theory is that everyone has to eat.  I had them prepare foods that they knew their family could afford.  Most enjoyed the project and some enjoyed it so much they did it more often.  (Parents love the assignment.)

As a group of FACS professionals we need to continue to make the work that we do public and positive.

Keep your programs in the news.  Start Facebook and Twitter accounts that you can put pictures of your student work up for parents to see.  These pictures will start dialog at home and then, some of your students just might educate their parents.

With love from your retired FACS teacher,

Jane