Because I am an advocate of Family and Consumer Sciences I see twitter notifications from all over the world.
For those that do not know, there is an International Home Economics organization that meets in different countries periodically. The last meeting was in Australia.
Recently a young man known as the "ThatHomeEcGuy" posted a video about the importance of Home Economics in Canada.
Many of my collogues cringe at the United States former name "Home Ec" and they make their feelings known to those of us that do not mind dipping into the past name. Although I think that Family and Consumer Sciences is a good name, for some reason, it did not carry and many do not know what FACS/FCS stands for. I want to post the "ThatHomeEcGuy's" link because it is a good start for some of us in helping those around us understand FACS; to positively promote the good that we do in schools, businesses and communities.
For others to believe that the work we do goes beyond making banana bread and sewing on buttons we need to believe that ourselves. Sometimes we get stuck in the past and forget to move ahead and promote our updated relevant material to society and the issues that we face together.
Two of those things that FACS addresses, and society needs constant updating and education, are personal finance and healthy food education. Although their are many more important components that we deal with, the promotion of these two programs will share a positive light on FACS work and will continue to help produce positive, productive citizens in society.
Here is the link and thanks, Jon Conti, know as "ThatHomeEcGuy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z46OXb6tTbA
With love from your former FACS teacher, Jane
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Conference in review...It was a good one!
Although I have retired I chose to attend the Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences conference.
It was great seeing so many familiar faces and those faces have become my friends over the years.
I went to the pre-conference tour and had a lovely time despite the snow storm and the stress of driving across town in that storm.
I want to list some of the speakers, especially those they stayed in my mind. Dr. Verna C Price, a very positive motivational speaker, from the Power of People Consulting Group. She has published some great, simple books, that inspire young people to take care of themselves first to create success in their lives.
Susan Turgeson from Wisconsin spoke on incorporating STEM into FACS programs.
Susan J. Crockett spoke on food issues and trends in society.
My own former student teacher is now a wardrobe consultant (A LA Mode) and did an educational session on getting the most from your closet. Carly Gatzlaff.
Ashley Davis (also part of the planning team) did two wonderful technical sessions for the classroom.
Dr. Jill Conlon was so interesting, she spoke on current textile trends and incorporating this knowledge in your classroom.
Trudy Landgren and Anu Pasricha both discussed textile work that they are doing with their students at St. Catherines in St. Paul.
Karen Smith and Alyssa Ambrosius spoke on their farm to school programs in Monticello, MN
There are so many more great folks that did educational sessions. If I did not mention your name it is not because you were not fantastic.....it is because I didn't attend them all.
I just loved the energy and the thoughtfulness that went into the planning of the conference. I am so grateful for the 3 young (And by young I mean under 30. YES!) teachers that took this conference on with gusto and made a positive impact on the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. It is not easy to produce a good conference with very little for a budget and they did so.
Of course we must thank the wonderful Rachel for her constant effort in coordinating us and keeping us together.
As a group the association discussed the coming changes they are being talked about for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Change is always difficult for a group that has been around for over 100 years. Personally I think that change is important to progress with time. There are many questions about the proposed academy and I hope that our association can answer some of the questions that have been brought up. It is important for members to feel secure and understand what the future brings for their group.
Minnesota was one of the first FACS Affiliate conferences in the United State and I hope those that follow are as successful in their planning as ours.
With love, your retired FACS teacher, Jane
 |
| We got to assemble an arrangement at the floral wholesaler Koehler and Dramm |
 |
| We toured Caldrea and Mrs. Meyer's |
Although I have retired I chose to attend the Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences conference.
It was great seeing so many familiar faces and those faces have become my friends over the years.
I went to the pre-conference tour and had a lovely time despite the snow storm and the stress of driving across town in that storm.
I want to list some of the speakers, especially those they stayed in my mind. Dr. Verna C Price, a very positive motivational speaker, from the Power of People Consulting Group. She has published some great, simple books, that inspire young people to take care of themselves first to create success in their lives.
Susan Turgeson from Wisconsin spoke on incorporating STEM into FACS programs.
Susan J. Crockett spoke on food issues and trends in society.
My own former student teacher is now a wardrobe consultant (A LA Mode) and did an educational session on getting the most from your closet. Carly Gatzlaff.
Ashley Davis (also part of the planning team) did two wonderful technical sessions for the classroom.
Dr. Jill Conlon was so interesting, she spoke on current textile trends and incorporating this knowledge in your classroom.
Trudy Landgren and Anu Pasricha both discussed textile work that they are doing with their students at St. Catherines in St. Paul.
Karen Smith and Alyssa Ambrosius spoke on their farm to school programs in Monticello, MN
There are so many more great folks that did educational sessions. If I did not mention your name it is not because you were not fantastic.....it is because I didn't attend them all.
I just loved the energy and the thoughtfulness that went into the planning of the conference. I am so grateful for the 3 young (And by young I mean under 30. YES!) teachers that took this conference on with gusto and made a positive impact on the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. It is not easy to produce a good conference with very little for a budget and they did so.
Of course we must thank the wonderful Rachel for her constant effort in coordinating us and keeping us together.
As a group the association discussed the coming changes they are being talked about for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Change is always difficult for a group that has been around for over 100 years. Personally I think that change is important to progress with time. There are many questions about the proposed academy and I hope that our association can answer some of the questions that have been brought up. It is important for members to feel secure and understand what the future brings for their group.
Minnesota was one of the first FACS Affiliate conferences in the United State and I hope those that follow are as successful in their planning as ours.
With love, your retired FACS teacher, Jane
 |
| Our 3 planners with our keynote speaker Dr. Verna C. Price 1. Shawna Wilson 2. Dr. Verna 3. Ashley Davis 4.Sarah Schuppenhauer |
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Minnesota's resolution for Family and Consumer Sciences, Please Caucus with your state.
Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is getting ready for caucusing on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
If you intend to go please print and bring the following resolution in support of Family and Consumer Sciences for consideration.
I know this post is about Minnesota only but if your state has taken away the FACS requirement you can use similar wording to bring back the FACS junior high school requirement.
Resolution
If you intend to go please print and bring the following resolution in support of Family and Consumer Sciences for consideration.
I know this post is about Minnesota only but if your state has taken away the FACS requirement you can use similar wording to bring back the FACS junior high school requirement.
Resolution
Topic: Re-instating Junior High School Family and Consumer Sciences as a Minnesota education requirement.
Sponsored by: Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Preamble:
Whereas: Childhood Obesity has become a societal issue.
Whereas: Healthy food preparation and nutrition education is vital to the prevention obesity.
Whereas: The formation of positive lifelong eating habits is crucial to obesity prevention.
Whereas: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obesity affects more than 1/3 of adults.
Whereas: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention higher prevalence of the adult obesity were found in the Midwest in all income and education levels.
Whereas: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: medical costs for obese people was $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.
Whereas: Family and Consumer Sciences is in a unique position to promote healthy eating practices and to instruct healthy food preparation.
Resolved: The Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
believes that it is essential for the Minnesota legislature in 2014 to pass a requirement and funding for healthy food preparation and nutrition education in junior high schools in the state.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
A Big shout out to Rachel Ray and Anges Zhelesnick
I confess, I do not watch Rachel Ray very often but it not because she is not doing good things!
I have watched her several times in the summer and thought...."This is simple, something I do and something I might teach about in school."
Well, that is exactly why Rachel is wonderful. She teaches the public about food and how to make food most often in a simple way that most people can copy and make at home.
She re-enforces what a Family and Consumer Science teacher might do when teaching food basics with beginning students.
I personally would like to thank Rachel for bringing FACS/Home Economics into the news (Of course I am not crazy enough to think that Rachel will read this!) But thank you Rachel for making it known that what FACS teachers do is vital and important for children all around the world.
Below is a link to the interview. Enjoy it and keep working on putting FACS programs on the forefront of education.
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/lifestyle/17098_An_Inspirational_Viewer_Turns_100/index.html#at_pco=tcb-1.0&at_tot=5&at_ab=-&at_pos=1
With Love From Your former FACS teacher,
Jane
I have watched her several times in the summer and thought...."This is simple, something I do and something I might teach about in school."
Well, that is exactly why Rachel is wonderful. She teaches the public about food and how to make food most often in a simple way that most people can copy and make at home.
She re-enforces what a Family and Consumer Science teacher might do when teaching food basics with beginning students.
I personally would like to thank Rachel for bringing FACS/Home Economics into the news (Of course I am not crazy enough to think that Rachel will read this!) But thank you Rachel for making it known that what FACS teachers do is vital and important for children all around the world.
Below is a link to the interview. Enjoy it and keep working on putting FACS programs on the forefront of education.
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/lifestyle/17098_An_Inspirational_Viewer_Turns_100/index.html#at_pco=tcb-1.0&at_tot=5&at_ab=-&at_pos=1
With Love From Your former FACS teacher,
Jane
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
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
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
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Yup it is cold outside, why does it seem different now that it did 30 years ago?
I am thinking about the difference between "cold" now and "cold" when I was a kid. Growing up in Minnesota we never thought cold was a novelty. It had been pretty much part of a Minnesotans life.
Many of my friends were flabbergasted when school was canceled through out the state due to cold. Being that I have worked in the field of education it does not seem odd to me. We have many children that often parent themselves as they get ready for school and do not understand how important it is to protect themselves from the environment.
As I look at our society these simple things make me believe that Family and Consumer Sciences are so very important. Teaching basics is often passed by because people assume that those simple things are just something that one should know. But when families don't have time or energy to have these conversations with their kids they get over looked.
When we as adults jump from car to building, our kids see this and think they don't need a coat because they do not know what it is like to be with out heat. I started thinking about what it might have been like in the 1700's trying to stay warm during this "Polar Vortex" and I can't imagine how awful it must have been for them.
I personally have experienced being very cold during a car breakdown, at night, a dead cell phone and no one seeing me to stop and pick me up while walking on the freeway. It was an unpleasant trek and I can't believe I did not get frost bite.
The news media has made a big deal about the cold and snow from this storm but it is o.k. Because really, unless our kids have no communication with the outside world in this day and age, they have learned you can get frost bite in 5 minutes when it "feels" like 50 below.
Hopefully it will stick with them and they will remember that those coats, hats and mittens serve a purpose.
With love from your retired FACS teacher.
Jane
P.S. For those of you with very below normal temps in the South....it is not that bad. Trust me. :-)
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
A reflection of the year past...and my passion.... Family and Consumer Sciences.
As I look back on the year it brings smiles filled with joy and change. I love life and I am so lucky to have people around me that bring stability, laughter, and chaos on a daily basis. I hope that each of you can look back at the many changes, in your
life, during the past year, and find something to reflect that brings you happiness.
I started this blog to focus on Family and Consumer Sciences and the many aspects of that field. When I started it I was a teacher filled with hope to be a part time advocate for the profession because it is one of my passions. I am dedicated to the good that it does for families, children and the future of both of those groups.
During the 80's and 90's Home Economics was a reflection of being domestic. During that time it seemed that being domestic was an insult to women and their freedom to stand strong in field of men at work. I have never felt that Home Economics was purely domestic. I think that I have always looked at it as a profession because my love for it started in textiles and design. What I wanted, in the worst way, was to be "somebody" with my design and creations. Being brave was not one of strong points, stepping into design required braveness. So I decided to teach others. I am very happy with this path.
Because of the strong push away from Home Economics during the 80's I lost my first job in one year and did not think that I would ever go back. I did return, with a fluke. I was subbing for someone that chose to stay home when she had children. I have always appreciated that wonderful opportunity and chance to get back in the classroom. The beginning was a struggle but after I found my footing and returned to my passion of textiles, creating new courses and implementing them I was happy. There were some rocky roads but I had great co-workers that understood my craziness (most of the time) and passion. Together we built a great department that highlighted each others talents and passions. (Note: Still have guilt for the mess that came with my creativeness that they cleaned up when I left.)
When I decided to retire from education I knew that I was losing something, but I can not explain what it was. I did not want to be the person standing in front of the room that students remembered as a crabby lady waiting for her pension to kick in. I am lucky enough to have a support system that allowed me to do so. I know that something new will come along to keep me happy but while doing so I will always keep working at my passion for Family and Consumer Sciences.
As you reflect on your year, I hope that you keep what makes you happy in your life, and change the things that sometimes take your smile away.
Love your life and live in the moment because before your know it a lifetime will have passed you by.
Thank you to all of my friends, followers and family for a wonderful year! (Still smile when I think of that great, unexpected, retirement party. Such good people at North High School!)
Happy New Year.
With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane
P.S. If you are looking for a new course in your FACS department please check out the slide show for North High Schools Healthy living course.
 |
Did I mention chaos? Christmas Eve with family that I am grateful for! |
I started this blog to focus on Family and Consumer Sciences and the many aspects of that field. When I started it I was a teacher filled with hope to be a part time advocate for the profession because it is one of my passions. I am dedicated to the good that it does for families, children and the future of both of those groups.
During the 80's and 90's Home Economics was a reflection of being domestic. During that time it seemed that being domestic was an insult to women and their freedom to stand strong in field of men at work. I have never felt that Home Economics was purely domestic. I think that I have always looked at it as a profession because my love for it started in textiles and design. What I wanted, in the worst way, was to be "somebody" with my design and creations. Being brave was not one of strong points, stepping into design required braveness. So I decided to teach others. I am very happy with this path.
Because of the strong push away from Home Economics during the 80's I lost my first job in one year and did not think that I would ever go back. I did return, with a fluke. I was subbing for someone that chose to stay home when she had children. I have always appreciated that wonderful opportunity and chance to get back in the classroom. The beginning was a struggle but after I found my footing and returned to my passion of textiles, creating new courses and implementing them I was happy. There were some rocky roads but I had great co-workers that understood my craziness (most of the time) and passion. Together we built a great department that highlighted each others talents and passions. (Note: Still have guilt for the mess that came with my creativeness that they cleaned up when I left.)
When I decided to retire from education I knew that I was losing something, but I can not explain what it was. I did not want to be the person standing in front of the room that students remembered as a crabby lady waiting for her pension to kick in. I am lucky enough to have a support system that allowed me to do so. I know that something new will come along to keep me happy but while doing so I will always keep working at my passion for Family and Consumer Sciences.
As you reflect on your year, I hope that you keep what makes you happy in your life, and change the things that sometimes take your smile away.
Love your life and live in the moment because before your know it a lifetime will have passed you by.
Thank you to all of my friends, followers and family for a wonderful year! (Still smile when I think of that great, unexpected, retirement party. Such good people at North High School!)
Happy New Year.
With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane
P.S. If you are looking for a new course in your FACS department please check out the slide show for North High Schools Healthy living course.
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