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Below is an excerpt from a high school newsletter in the midwest. Do all girls high school do this? Meybe we should start.
What do you think?
variety of homemaking skills in their weekly Practical
Toras Habayis class. They learned how to make peanut
butter balls from Mrs. So & So, how to make vegetable
kishka, bobka, and pastry twists from Mrs.
So & So. They learned how to check vegetables
and how to make a fancy vegetable appetizer, from Mrs.
So & So. They made egg rolls with Mrs.
So & So. They learned how to fold napkins in various
pretty ways from Mrs. So & So and how to
wear and care for a sheitel from Mrs. So & So.
Thank you to all the presenters, and thank you to Mrs.
And not one word about the proper use of chargers and napkin rings.
Those out of towners… ya gotta love em!
I don’t understand why people keep on trumpeting this idea. Why should a girl waste her education on learning skills that she will spend the rest of her life perfecting? Which is more important, pretty napkins or a love of Torah (that she will pass on to her children)?
I think most other schools do this too. Only, they call it dismissal.
wow! lucky girls! i wish my school would do that! but in my school, we have to learn for the New York regents, and therefore have no time for extra curricular things like that. although that would be fun..
I had home economics and sewing classes in high school. I think I cut every class. We literally had to memorize recipes for the tests. I can tell you every ingredient that goes in an apple crumble pie.
But who cares? That’s what cookbooks are for.
One of Many, if you read the post, the class is called Toras Habayis. The girls learned how to check vegitables for bugs among other things. Who says loving Torah only comes when a person has a sefer in front of them? While you don’t ONLY want to teach Toras Habayis, it will probably be more useful to a future mother of Yisroel than leaning how to read a RaMBaM.
Child psychology and dealing with difficulties in life are far more important subjects. Ive been saying that for a long time. Less Chumash Rashi and some more psychology and tools for life. Even though most high school age girls couldnt care less about child psychology and dealing with difficulties in life, at that point in their lives, something might remain.
tests??? that is retarded!!
That was their way of making sure I showed up to class. But seriously, I really have more important things to deal with than what shape to fold my napkins in.
that doesnt exactly seem the main curriculum. thats more just a weekly enrichment class or something. obviously that would be nice to learn, in addition to the other materials
just me: I did read the post, and it’s that exact phrase that I take issue with. I really don’t think that girls should be shteiging all day. I just think that it’s utterly ridiculous to call napkin-folding and egg-roll making “Toras Habayis,” and let them take precedence over actual Torah. It’s very nice and all, but if a school wants to implement such classes, they should be strictly extra-curricular and non-mandatory. As cinderella says, a cookbook is usually quite sufficient.
than leaning how to read a RaMBaM.
But then parents spend $20,000+ for their daughters to acquire that selfsame skill in seminary? Where’s the logic, I ask you?
I had such a class in high school, by the way. It was called Home Economics, and we learned how to make swans out of apples. Oh, and how to make homemade pizza on a pita. Biggest time-waster of LIFE. And that was instead of a Physics class that could have gotten be ahead in college.
What AZOI.IS says about classes in how to deal with real-life issues is much more valid, in my opinion. It makes a lot of sense to incorporate such classes into Bais Yaakov curricula. (I had one of those classes too, and I liked it a lot.)
P.S. I learned how to check vegetables in Halacha class. My friends in other schools did as well.
i agree with what you are saying how it is a huge waste of time, learning to make apples into swans is ridiculous, but learning to check vegetables is an important part of being a cook.
i would love to learn to do that
Why didn’t you?
OneOfMany, have you ever posted under a different name?
IMO, learning how to fold napkins is ridiculous. Learning to cook and sew is okay, but I wouldn’t have wanted to learn any of that in HS. I learned those things from my mother and grandmother. When I was in HS, I was glad to learn Chumash and Navi, math and history and science. Why waste time and money on a class where the girls would skip? When I was in HS, I didn’t care about cooking or baking or taking classes to help make me a good wife and mother. But maybe that was just me. Maybe those classes should be electives.
Nope. Who do you think I am?
What about personal finance? Much tougher to get a grasp of (see how many adults out there are clueless), and the consequences of messing up are much worse than the consequences of burning a kugel.
I think this is wonderful. Girls need a break, and this class is fun and enriching. Everything does not have to be brainiac or Limud Torah. Girls will be the mashgichim in their own kitchen and cooking and baking is all part of it.
I am sure this is NOT the only class they conduct but it is a good start. A school like this probably also teaches the girls something about nutrition (YAY!!!! Very important that most schools don’t touch), as well as sewing. Which in today’s economy would be a lifesaver for many families. Especially with the styles being sold and the alterations needed. Girls/women are creative. Knowing how to sew can be a great means to dress your kids inexpensively yet make them as cute and adorable as buying from the best store. I did take sewing in High School but my mom a”h was afraid I would break her machine so I didn’t really get in to it. I wish I did. I really wish I could sew today. My mom made linen for us either from fabric or from Flat sheets. Halevai I could do that today for myself and my kids. She made us beautiful clothes, if only I could sew for my grandkids.
As far as napkin folding is concerned Kudos on that as well. That is a lot of fun and we are all curious how its done, so good for them. Let the girls have fun while they also learn skills for later, along with limudei kodesh. They will work plenty hard once they get married.
what are women doing out of the kitchen in the first place?
Funny, they are out working supporting their husbands, you knew that 🙂
personally i would have wanted this in high school…and im a guy 😛
I think everyone would admit that we are living in challenging times. What suited one generation won’t work in the next. Teaching home economics may sound extremely user friendly, however our young people are splitting up after their chasanas not because they can’t get a meal on the table, but because they just dont have the tools to understand what marriage is about. As one who is called upon to council young couples when they feel their marriage is crumbling, permit me to say that our schools often missing the plot altogether. The young people need to be stimulated in their will to build a true Torah home, and this needs more inspiration from our teachers while the young are growing up. The basic tools of midas tovas are missing in many, not because they are hardhearted, chas vesholom, our kids are sweet, no its because they just were not inspired by their parents and teachers. They come into real life empty of understanding of what life is, and tragically the results are staring us all in the face. It is time for the parents to ask real questions of their schools. What are you giving my kids for the future? Are they growing in Yiddishkiet or are the schools just ticking the boxes?
They learned how to make peanut
butter balls from Mrs. So & So, how to make vegetable
kishka, bobka, and pastry twists from Mrs.
So & So. They learned how to check vegetables
and how to make a fancy vegetable appetizer, from Mrs.
So & So. They made egg rolls with Mrs.
So & So.
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. (paraphrasing John Adams)
“Let the girls have fun while they also learn skills for later, along with limudei kodesh. They will work plenty hard once they get married”
1) It’s not fun.
2) Why should they work on those skills in high school? Let them enjoy their childhood. Wait till they get married. (This only makes sense if you agree with #1)
I don’t know, I found it boring and unhelpful. In my senior year, I opted for freshman center college accredited classes instead and I got 25 credits. Waaaay more worthwhile than learning how to roll sugar cookies into a perfect ball.
cinderella, for all those girls who do NOT help at home and find themselves newlyweds with none of these skills, these classes would have been a great fallback instead of running to neighbors or panicking.
That’s not a nafka meena. I have plenty of friends who hardly knew how to boil water before marriage, and learned how to cook just fine (without any panicking). It’s really not rocket science.
Besides, Queen Bee makes a good point – it’s much so much better to learn cooking, sewing, etc. from your mother or grandmother. Making classes to teach you these skills in effect would put them out of business. My grandmother taught me how to knit and crochet, and I wouldn’t give up her instruction for any amount of egg rolls and fancy napkins. Bonding with her made the whole thing worth it, regardless of what trifling thing she taught me.
Kapusta, did you figure out what HS I went to? 😉
Cindarella – i’m happy that your so accedimacly inclined…. a lot of ppl can learn for 8 hrs in a row…
there are some classes that are a total waste of time like rolling cookies but there are some that are a must
we had Gym so the girls can get out their energy, CPR and the Heimlich manuver- very important for a mother with young kids… the list goes on… but you have to choose what to teach with Sechil
do they give tests on these subjects??
Koillel- Read my first post on this topic.
learning to make apples into swans is ridiculous
I only know of one school that has that. ?
Kapusta, did you figure out what HS I went to? 😉
No, would I have a way to? And something about your style of writing reminded me of someone who used to post here.
Different kids need different things, and these things give kids a break from the tension and anxiety a lot of schools produce. Nothing in this notice said that these were the only classes given in this course. This was just one week of what was taught, and in sounded like fun for the girls. There is nothing wrong with it, since the girls will be expected to know this and probably teach this to their own girls as well. It is silly and foolish to make fun of this. Hopefully they also use this course to teach about nutrition, first aid, personal care and health, maybe sewing or other hobbies girls can use that will be useful for them, something they can do in the future that they can work around their families. Maybe they will offer some graphics arts classes, maybe some home decor classes, etc. Maybe even hair and makeup courses. All useful tools for girls who are not that academic and yet can help them start their own businesses from home to help support a husband and family if they have too in the futute.
No, would I have a way to?
Hmm, it seems you have. 😛
As for my writing style – there were some specimens of it in the ?????…eheheh
You have to admit, that class really was ridiculous…
Actually, it wasn’t. Maybe to you it was, but obviously it wasn’t to the kids in that school or the mechanchim in that school. To them it was a appreciated. So it is a matter of perspective.
No, actually. I can’t think of a single person in my class who didn’t dislike it. And there was only one Hanhala member who was really gung-ho about it. I wouldn’t be so obnoxious as to be so outspoken against something people appreciated (believe it or not).
As for my writing style – there were some specimens of it in the ?????…eheheh
I guess that means I know you…? Can I have a hint?
Oh, btw didn’t think the class was so bad. Definitely better than a double english or math.
I’m not sure we know each other, but I’m pretty sure we graduated close together…so we definitely know of each other.
They could’ve made the class an elective. And made an alternative or two. I didn’t actually hate it all that much. It just irks me that people are soooooo into this idea, and seemingly couldn’t care less if we knew English or math.
OneOfMany, I don’t know what school you went to or what you are talking about. I am talking about what the OP posted. No where in the post does it say that they don’t care about the other classes which are academic subjects.
kapusta: No, not yet…give me more time. Try to figure out who I am. 🙂
aries2756: No, it doesn’t. I think it’s a fair extrapolation. though. People are very into trumpeting this idea, but I never hear a single peep about improving other areas of a girl’s education – and don’t say those don’t stand to be improved. Really, I don’t think these classes are a heinous idea in and of themselves – it just bothers me that people place more of a premium on a girl’s kugels than her mind.
No, not yet…give me more time.
No way out of this? What makes you think we’re similar in age? And what made you mention… yeah…?
Try to figure out who I am.
Giving out hints?
Heh heh heh. You mentioned somewhere once roughly when you graduated. What did I mention? The swans?
Ha ha, I drop so much personal info that people have already found me out…
Ma’ayan. No hints? C’mon…
Nu, that was a hint…
OneOfMany, actually people put more importance on pushing girls to have careers, use up every single minute of their spare time, keeping them busy all the time, and turn young girls into future super women. So I disagree. Any one of our wonderful bnos yisroel probably has too much information packed into their brains, and most of it they will never use again after High School.
In all honesty in all my years post High School, and I am a bubby of quite a few at the moment, I never had to know any of the “mi amar l’mi” post High School ever again. Nor did I have a need to know any dates, that we were tested on through the 4 years. There were thousands of bits and pieces of information that I never had to use again. On the other hand, I totally regret the fact that Historia was given to us in hebrew in our freshman year, 9th grade, when we were too overwhelmed and novices at taking notes, to fully comprehend and appreciate what we were being taught. That was quite a shame because had we been taught Jewish History in our Junior or Senior year, we would have had a much better appreciation and would have retained so much more about our very important heritage.
On the other hand we did take elective courses which were mandatory such as typing, art, first aid, sewing, home economics, etc. All of which were necessary life skills. It is amazing to me that first aid is no longer taught in school. It is amazing to me that young mothers and wives have no clue what to do in case of emergency and even just for basic cuts, scrapes, sprains and burns. You can laugh at the cooking and baking classes, but remember this, when you are married it is much cheaper to cook and bake on your own than to buy ready made from the store. As I mentioned earlier, knowing how to sew is a major money saver, just in hems alone. Typing, will get you through college papers and through jobs especially internet work much quicker and easier. If you were lucky enough to take bookkeeping in school then you will know how to make a budget for your family and help handle the finances aside from being able to get a job even while being in school.
So again, while you make look at these extra classes as silly or not stimulating, they do come in handy and they do serve their purpose, whether it is to give the kids a break from the stress, or for filing away these “silly” skills for later in life.
I did something during your year…? You’re ahead of me?
Oh, I actually didn’t mention that in relation to you at all. Hm, were you ever involved with it? ‘:-)
aries2756: I don’t think learning first aid, how to cook, etc. is silly. The only class I really think was silly is my Home Ec class. But that wasn’t even my point. Actually, you pretty much hit on my main grievance here:
In all honesty in all my years post High School, and I am a bubby of quite a few at the moment, I never had to know any of the “mi amar l’mi” post High School ever again. Nor did I have a need to know any dates, that we were tested on through the 4 years. There were thousands of bits and pieces of information that I never had to use again.
When I was in HS, a bunch of my classmates were once venting to a teacher about how they thought a certain class (French) wasn’t a good idea – too much work for not enough application. The teacher answered that that’s not the point of education. We don’t go to school just to acquire skills of tangible value, because in the long run, that’s not enough. Every piece of knowledge you acquire, she said, however trivial it may seem to you, enhances you as a person.
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