Family and consumer sciences teachers (also called home economics teachers)
teach subjects such as nutrition, budgeting, cooking, family living, sewing,
child care, fashion design and many others. They work in school settings and
have regular classes of 60 to 75 minutes each.
Their responsibilities include creating course materials, preparing for
classes and scoring assignments. They also have administrative tasks.
Most teachers work more than 40 hours a week, and most work the traditional
10-month school year.
People trained as family and consumer science teachers may also work in
diverse fields, such as school administration, commercial food service or
health promotion.
They may be consultants, child-care instructors, corporate health advisors,
athletic team health instructors, vocational coordinators, financial advisors
or fashion technology instructors.
Numerous trends are affecting this profession.
Technology is being viewed as a priority. Both students and school districts
are opting for technology electives. However, teacher Lorraine Pollock says
there is an opportunity for creative teachers to address this issue.
"[Family and consumer sciences teachers] who have taught primarily cooking
and sewing may be getting left behind. It's important now for us to modernize
our approach and to look at ways that technology and family and consumer sciences
fit together," says Pollock.