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Tuesday, August 21, 2018

10 classes students used to take that should be brought back

[High School Classroom]Jeff White/AP As school curriculum shifts to keep up with new demands and standards, valuable classes can be cut in the process. Some classes that have been removed from the curriculum over the past few decades might be worth bringing back, and some classes that are slowly being phased out may be worth keeping. Here are some classes that students could still benefit from taking. SHOP CLASS TAUGHT SKILLS THAT COULD TRANSLATE INTO A JOB AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. goodluz/Shutterstock Classes like woodshop and metalworking have begun to fade away from high school schedules in favor of academically-focused courses that will prepare students for college. But, not everyone goes to college. The emphasis on academics and sports over shop might not be good for everyone, argues Tara Tiger Brown, regular business contributor for Forbes. "Without early exposure to shop class many kids are going to lose out on the opportunity to discover whether or not they like making things, and the inclination to pursue a career as a drafter, carpenter, welder or auto mechanic," she writes. "Companies such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman are struggling to find skilled laborers and that trend is going to continue." HOME ECONOMICS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SEEN AS A SEXIST RELIC. Fred Morley/Fox Photos/Getty Images Home economics, more often referred to as "home ec," taught students about life skills like cooking, sewing and managing a household. Some people see the topic as "anti-intellectual," but the initial purpose of the class is quite the opposite. Ellen Swallow Richards, the woman who spearheaded the development of home ec classes, did so in order to "liberate" women from housework by teaching them how to do it more efficiently, according to HuffPost. The goal was to teach women how to get basic tasks out of the way so they could spend more time learning or improving themselves. Being able to quickly knock out simple tasks to make more time for more learning is something _all_ genders can benefit from.   CLASSIC LANGUAGES, LIKE LATIN AND GREEK, CAN HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND OTHER SUBJECTS. Shutterstock Some people have deemed classic languages as "outdated and irrelevant," the New York Times reports. But, as the Times reports, studying these dead language, "builds vocabulary and grammar for higher SAT scores, appeals to college admissions officers as a sign of critical-thinking skills and fosters true intellectual passion." SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * 26 celebrities you didn't know were roommates * 7 ingredients in your skin-care products that are making them so expensive * 16 movies you need to watch this wedding season


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.businessinsider.com