Not your parents' home ec class: Family consumer science focuses on community, leadership

The stereotype was established more than a century ago.

Home economics curriculum focused on making life at home more efficient and included coursework covering nutrition, cooking, sewing construction and child care.

In fact, The Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant colleges, led to the offering of domestic science courses adapted for farmers' wives, who were expected to maintain the household while assisting with the family farm.

By 1945, home economics leaders pushed for the creation of a student organization that promoted home ec principles.

On June 11, 1945, Future Homemakers of America was founded at a convention in Chicago.

Despite articles currently circulating on social media calling for home ec classes to reappear, the truth is, they've never left.

Only the names have changed.

Home economics morphed into family and consumer science in 1994, and since then, specialized and in-depth courses in child development, nutrition, family health, food service and hospitality have been offered in schools across the United States.

In 1999, FHA transitioned into Family Career and Community Leaders of America.

Currently, more than 175,000 middle and high school students from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands participate in FCCLA, offering real-life skills through FCS education.

Chelsey Greene, FCS instructor and FCCLA advisor at Ewing Public Schools said FCS and FCCLA still prepare students for life outside of school.

"It's what I try to do in the classroom each day, giving them skills they can be successful with in a career - teamwork, time management, communication problem solving, public speaking," she said.

Greene noted FCCLA is the only career technical student organization that has family at the heart of it.

"Family is the focus, strengthening families to have strong communities, careers and strong leaders."

Greene, who grew up in Kansas, was involved in the organization in high school and saw the benefits the organization offered.

"That experience led me to realize I wanted to be an FCS teacher and with that, do FCCLA as well," she said.

After teaching in Aurora for three years, Green arrived in Ewing in August 2019 and started an FCCLA chapter.

Ewing Public Schools Principal Greg Appleby said he was excited to start an FCCLA chapter in Ewing.

"Miss Greene had started the chapter at Aurora and did a great job there and came into our school with great recommendations. When she asked about starting FCCLA here at Ewing, I was all for it as it would give another opportunity to our students to join another extra-curricular activity that promotes great leadership among students."

Appleby has seen great things that happen with FCCLA at area programs, including O'Neill and West Holt.

"I know it helps to promote leaders within our school and prepares students for life beyond high school," he said.

Ewing currently has seven affiliated members.

"It's good for our first year and our size," Green said.

FCCLA includes four career pathways: human services, hospitality and tourism, education and training and visual arts and design.

"It works with family consumer science content to take what students learn in the classroom and gives them another avenue to showcase the skills and knowledge they've learned," Greene said.

Membership is open to students in grades six through 12.

Greene currently teaches a junior high FCS course during second semester, so "it might be something we look at adding when we're in one building."

FCCLA offers nine national programs focusing on tenets of FCS, including competitive events, in addition to district, state and national-level meetings.

Ewing students Adrienne Parker and Olga Mendoza prepared presentations for STAR competition.

STAR - Students Taking Action for Recognition - is one pillar of FCCLA that offers 29 events.

According to Greene, categories range from food and nutrition to careers, leadership to working with children, tourism or hospitality and education.

Three levels of competition are based on grade levels. Level one is for students in sixth through eighth grade; level two, freshmen and sophomores and level three, juniors and seniors.

Parker participates in professional presentation, which used to be called illustrated talk.

Greene said, "It's a topic a member could take action on."

Parker's speech focuses on mental health.

Mendoza competes in national programs in action.

In October, she hosted a week-long information session on vaping and tobacco use. She invited Whitney Abbott of the North Central Nebraska District Health Department to speak with students about vaping.

Mendoza organized activities and made locker signs.

"She presents information about what she did and how it went."

FCCLA members do not have to compete in STAR events.

"It's the gateway to find out what else there is in FCCLA," Greene said.

A handful of STAR events are available online.

"Once kids see what there is, it opens the doors to see what else FCCLA offers.

Mendoza earned a silver medal and was the runner-up in the event.

Parker was district champion and received a gold medal.

Mendoza and Parker will both represent Ewing High School and District 9 at the State Leadership Conference competition in Lincoln on Monday, April 6.

For two days, they will listen to keynote speakers, complete a community service project, tour Lincoln attractions and attend breakout sessions focused on leadership.

STAR participants who qualified for state will compete for a trip to the national convention. Winners will be announced the final day.

Greene said FCCLA offers something for every student, comparing it to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

"If you eat everything, do everything it offers, you'll be miserable when you're done, but if you pick and choose what you like best, what meets the needs of your community and your school, then you'll be satisfied," she said. "You'll get out of it what you need."