VolumeVolume 46,45,44, No. No. 1 23 MarchFall 2013 20132012 foods family clothing Volume 46, No. 1 Fall 2013 News President’s Message 4 Is Cooking Dead? 5 The State of Home Economics in Manitoba 13 Human Ecology Students 17 Focus on Food Waste Less, Enjoy More Fresh Produce 18 Sew What? Cell Phone iPod Case 20 Felt Oogee Ornaments 20 Hoot for the Holidays 22 Hexie Handbags 23 Stashbusting for a Cause 25 The MHETA Journal is the official publication of the Manitoba Home Economic Teachers’ Association. Opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of either the Manitoba Home Economics Teachers’ Association or The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Contents Indexed in the Canadian Education Index ISSN 0315-9329 2 2013–2014 MHETA Executive and Committee Directory President President Elect North Sheryl Berglund Shannon McLeod Jasmine Presto Green Valley School Steinbach Regional Gimli High School 204-434-6415 204-326-6426 204-642-8546 [email protected] 204-736-2197 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer South East Maxine Chamish Members services Vacant John Henderson Junior High Carmen Sichewski School St. Mary’s Academy South West 204-661-2503 477-0244 x267 Vacant [email protected] [email protected] Special Projects Secretary Display stand Erin Ward Brittney Casavant Karen Mercer Lord Selkirk Regional Bruns Collegiate Henry G Izatt Middle School 204-798-4279 204-588-2023 204-489-1239 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Professioanl SAGE Chair Website & Academic Liaison Maxine Chamish Krystyna Luczak Roberta Sarty John Henderson Junior High Clearspring Middle School Windsor Park Collegiate— School 204-346-9644 Bistro in the Park 204-661-2503 [email protected] 204-253-3885 [email protected] Regional rep [email protected] Editor Winnipeg MAHE rep Lesley Roy PD Representative Alison Delf-Timmerman Maples Collegiate Heidi Forrester Treherne Collegiate 204-632-6327 Glenlawn Collegiate 204-723-2781 [email protected] 204-233-3986 [email protected] [email protected] U of M student rep Maya Radunz 204-421-7507 [email protected] Fall 2013 3 News President’s Message Sheryl Berglund The longer I am a professional home economist and a other teachers, just as off-handed comments and not teacher, the more passionate I am about the value of within their area of expertise nor curricula. Yet every- what we teach. I don’t think it’s just my age telling me one is suddenly an expert on nutrition, clothing care, this, but I think our students need us more than ever. child development, food safety, and many other parts People are choosing to eat away from home much of our courses. more often or describe cooking from scratch as open- I have also heard about teachers teaching our courses ing a box and heating up the contents. Clothing manu- who do not have the theoretical background to give facturing has left this continent to places where the la- students the correct information. bour is underpaid and overworked so clothes are very Many under-qualified teachers have enough passion cheap and home sewing looks to be a poor economic for their students, professionalism or for the course choice.Families are under stress from overspending, content and seek out the best answers for their stu- lack of parenting knowledge and skills, and increasing dents as I had to do in those years I found myself media influences on children and parents. That’s the teaching courses for which I had little or no training way I see it, anyway. (junior high art and grade 9 science, for examples). My students appear to know much more than I do I hope they will join MHETA and look to us as a reli- about certain things—information from the Internet able source. If you know one of those teachers, please (much of it bad), popular music and the lives of celeb- steer them our way. If you have students who would rities, hockey and football and baseball scores, online make excellent home economics teachers, direct them games, Facebook, twitter, and on and on. But do they to enroll in appropriate courses. (Yes, people still sew!) know how to feed a toddler? Can they really listen to With rumours that the Faculty of Human Ecology is what another person has to say? Can they make the leap on the chopping block, our experience and knowledge from idea to practical application? Do they understand will become more valuable than ever. the value of whole foods, quality clothing and where they come from? Can they keep their homes clean? I will retire soon. Despite my passion for what I do, there comes a point where you just want to do some- For many of my students, the answer depends on the thing else, although in my heart I will always be a SES of the family from which they come. But even some home economics teacher. I can’t choose who will fol- “educated” parents are swayed by poor information low me. For my part, I trust that MHETA members available at the touch of their fingertips at any moment will continue to be as helpful as they can, through ex- of the day. The websites that come up first are not neces- ample, gentle correction and steering newer teachers sarily the websites with the best answers, are they? towards the best professional practices. That’s my community. What about the teachers? I have experienced frightening “news,” including unsolicited nutrition advice given to my students by 4 bs_bs_banner News bs_bs_banner International Journal of Consumer Studies ISSN 1470-6423 International Journal of Consumer Studies ISSN 1470-6423 Is cooking dead? The state of Home Economics Food and NutritionIs cooking education dead? The in state a Canadian of Home province Economics Food and JoyceNutrition Slater education in a Canadian province DepartmentJoyce of Slater Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Keywords Abstract FoodKeywords literacy, food skills, health promotion, Abstract homeFood economics, literacy, food nutrition, skills, youth. health promotion, High population rates of obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases warrant an exami- home economics, nutrition, youth. nationHigh population of the role rates of offood obesity and and nutrition nutrition-related education chronic in health diseases promotion. warrant Using an exami- a mixed- nation of the role of food and nutrition education in health promotion. Using a mixed- Correspondence methods approach, this study explored student enrolment trends in, and perceptions of, Correspondence methods approach, this study explored student enrolment trends in, and perceptions of, Joyce Slater, Department of Human Home Economics Food and Nutrition education in a Canadian province. Enrolment in Home Joyce Slater, Department of Human Home Economics Food and Nutrition education in a Canadian province. Enrolment in Home Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, EconomicsEconomics Food and and Nutrition Nutrition courses courses for for grades grades 7–12 7–12 was was examined examined from from2000 to2000 2010 to 2010 Winnipeg,Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba R3T R3T 2N2, 2N2, Canada. Canada. usingusing administrative administrative data. data. Perceptions Perceptions of of Home Home Economics Economics Food Food and Nutrition and Nutrition education education E-mail:E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] byby home home economics teachers teachers and and superintendents superintendents were were investigated investigated through through in-depth in-depth interviewsinterviews using using a a grounded grounded theory theory approach. approach. Results Results revealed revealed that, that, although although enrolment, enrolment, doi: 10.1111/ijcs.12042doi: 10.1111/ijcs.12042 includingincluding boys, boys, increased increased slightly slightly over over the the study study period, period, the majority the majority of children of children do not do take not take HomeHome Economics Economics Food Food and and Nutrition Nutrition classes. classes. Further, Further, enrolment enrolment decreased decreased significantly significantly fromfrom grades grades 7 (45.77%) (45.77%) to to 12 12 (7.61%). (7.61%). Home Home Economics Economics Food Food and Nutrition and Nutrition education education facesfaces significant significant challenges challenges to to its its future future viability. viability. These These include: include: many many school school administra- administra- tors,tors, non-home non-home economics economics teachers teachers and and some some parents parents do not do value not value Home Home Economics Economics Food Food andand Nutrition Nutrition education; Home Home Economics Economics Food Food and and Nutrition Nutrition education education is seen is as seen less as less valuable than math and science for future career planning; outdated curriculum and teaching valuable than math and science for future career planning; outdated curriculum and teaching infrastructure; reduced numbers of new home economics teachers; decreasing student food infrastructure;knowledge and reduced skills; and numbers changing of social new home norms economics regarding food teachers; and eating decreasing (increased student use food knowledgeof convenience and foods skills; across and changing population social groups, norms a youth regarding ‘fast food food culture’and and eating fewer (increased family use ofmeals). convenience Results foodsalso indicated across population that Home Economics groups,