History of HE

• 1884
• The first book on home economics was Mrs. Welch's
Cookbook, published in 1884 at Iowa State by Mary
Beaumont Welch. Welch's classes on domestic
economy were the first in the nation to give college
credit on the subject.
• 1899
• In the late 19th century, the Lake Placid Conferences
took place. The conferences consisted of a group of
educators working together to elevate the discipline
to a legitimate profession. Originally, they wanted to
call this profession "oekology", the science of right
living. However, "home economics" was ultimately
chosen as the official term in 1899
1908
• FCS is taught worldwide, as an elective or a required
course in secondary education, and in many tertiary
and continuing education institutions. Sometimes it is
also taught in primary education. International
cooperation in the field is coordinated by the
International Federation for Home Economics,
established in 1908.
• Ed1909
• In 1909, Ellen Swallow Richards founded the American Home Economics
Association (now called the American Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences). From 1900 to 1917, more than thirty bills discussed
in Congress dealt with issues of American vocational education and, by
association, home economics. Americans wanted more opportunities for
their young people to learn vocational skills and to learn valuable home
and life skills. However, home economics was still dominated by women
and women had little access to other vocational trainings. As stated by the
National ucation Association (NEA) on the distribution of males and
females in vocations, “one-third of our menfolk are in agriculture, and one-
third in non-agricultural productive areas; while two-thirds of our women
are in the vocation of homemaking”
• 1914
• There was a great need across the United States to
continue improving the vocational and homemaking education
systems because demand for work was apparent after World
War I and II. Therefore, in 1914 and 1917, women's groups,
political parties, and labor coalitions worked together in order
to pass the Smith-Lever Act and the Smith-Hughes Act. The
Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917
created federal funds for "vocational education agriculture,
trades and industry, and homemaking" and created the Office
of Home Economics. With this funding, the United States was
able to create more homemaking educational courses all across
the country.
1929
In South Korea, the field is most commonly
known as "consumer science" ( 소비자학 ,
sobija-hak). The field began in schools
taught by Western missionaries in the late
19th century. The first college-level
department of family science was established
at Ewha Womans University in Seoul in
1929.
• 1956
• Present day, the prevalence of FCS and CTE courses help
prepare students for careers rather than traditional courses that
prepare one for university rather than life skills. Also, homemaking
and home economics courses have developed a negative connotation
because of the negative gender bias associated with home economics
courses. Despite this, homemaking is now socially acceptable for both men
and women to partake in. In the United States, both men and women are
expected to take care of the home, the children, and the finances. More
women are pursuing higher education rather than homemaking. In 2016,
56.4% of college students were female as opposed to 34.5% in 1956. Some
schools are starting to incorporate life skill courses back into their
curriculum, but as a whole, home economics courses have been in major
decline in the past century.
• 1963
• Starting from the Gentile reform, home economics
was taught in the lower middle school and in the new
unified middle school established in 1963. The name
changed to Technical Applications, differentiated into
male and female, which was taught until 1977 when it
changed to the title of Technical Education, which no
longer differed in relation to the sex of the pupils.
• 1963
• Throughout the latter part of twentieth century, home economics courses
became more inclusive. In 1963, Congress passed the Vocational Education
Act, which granted even more funds to vocational education job training.
Home economics courses started being taught across the nation to both
boys and girls by way of the rise of second-wave feminism. This
movement pushed for gender equality, leading to equality of education. In
1970, the course became required for both men and women. Starting in
1994, home economics courses in the United States began being referred to
as "family and consumer sciences" in order to make the class appear more
inclusive. With desegregation and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, men and
women of all backgrounds could equally learn how to sew, cook, and
balance a checkbook.
• 1971
• Home economics was taught to girls in the junior
cycle of secondary school in the 20th century. It was
added to the senior cycle Leaving Certificate in 1971,
at a time when elimination of school fees was
increasing participation. In subsequent decades new
co-educational community schools saw more boys
studying the subject. Increased third-level education
participation from the 1990s saw a decline in
practical subjects not favoured for third-level entry
requirements, including home economics.
1972
Home economics are known
in Indonesia as Family
Training and Welfare
(Indonesian: Pembinaan dan
Kesejahteraan Keluarga,
PKK). It is rooted on a 1957
conference on home
economics held in Bogor; it
became state policy in 1972.
1994
Family and consumer sciences was
previously known in the United
States as home economics, often
abbreviated "home ec" or "HE". In
1994, various organizations,
including the American Association
of Family and Consumer Sciences,
adopted the new term "Family and
Consumer Sciences (FCS)" to
reflect the fact that the field covers
aspects outside of home life and
wellness.
2012
In 2012 there were only 3.5
million students enrolled in
FCS secondary programs, a
decrease of 38 percent over a
decade. In 2020 the AAFCS
estimates that there are 5
million students enrolled in
FCS programs