As they wrap up high school and start becoming a young adult, students often wonder if they are ready to live on their own. Things like doing one’s own laundry, cooking and cleaning, and simple life tasks suddenly become dependent on students themselves rather than their parents. While B-CC prepares their students for their educational futures, there are a few areas of learning that are left out because home education classes are no longer an option that B-CC offers.
Sonya Flanagan, a B-CC graduate — class of 1986 — recalls that home education classes used to be an option at B-CC. Flanagan said, “learning about food prep [was the most useful part of the class.] My teacher was a master chef & showed us great skills. Also, how not to be wasteful.” Learning life skills like this helped Flanagan long after graduation: “The skills I learned in those classes I use regularly in my life.” Flanagan also said, “I think a class dedicated to learning basic skills and simple meal prep by someone who clearly enjoyed it so much and was so talented really empowered the class to take care of themselves and sparked an interest in cooking and meal planning.”
Even though B-CC doesn’t offer classes like this, some schools across the country do. Giana Betaharon, a junior at Woodson High School, has taken a home education class. She said, “You learn things that maybe your parents maybe never taught you and things that will help you in the future.” Betaharon also said, “The most beneficial thing I have learned was knife skills, and learning how to cut things correctly and safely.” This class is not only teaching students how to do things, but also how to do things in a safe way, which will help them in the future.
B-CC junior Avery Curalli said, “[home education] would teach me life skills and prepare me for my future.” Curalli also said “[it is] important to allow students to learn these skills during the school day, so that everybody gets the opportunity.”
In order to teach vital skills with life-long applications, ease the transition of students into the adult world, and increase equity through leveling the playing field, B-CC should start once again offering courses on home education.
