..and on the matter of subjects

Why is home ec considered and extra curricular activity? why is it not pushed more and kept on the same plane as say, Algebra?
I remember taking sewing in 7th grade and barely learning how to make a wrap around skirt. Nobody cared whether I could do it or not. Truthfully not even me. Cooking was joke and we learned how to make one meal and planned out the menu from start to finish. What if I didn't want to make the dinner? Would I have gotten a tutor? Would letters be sent home, "Valerie is not doing her cooking homework and may not graduate" ?
I don't think so.
However, not finishing my assigned accounting homework almost held back my diploma. who decides what classes are important?
At no point in my life do I wish I had paid more attention in chemistry. Sure there are important chemical reactions that a person might need to know about..and I can't tell you how many times I have needed to know the periodic table (Oh wait only when someone orders water and I write h2O)
This is not to say that kids should not be taught these subjects. Yes kids should be taught everything but they should not be taught that one set of learning is more valuable then another.
when I was high school I had a tutor for algebra and when I asked her, "Why do I need to know this? I'll never need it?"
she gave me this answer, "It's exercise for your brain"
I know it sounds silly but that really changed the way I thought about all my classes. I didn't even particularly like that tutor but that answer has always stayed with me.
I went from straight Ds to high Bs and even a few As in that algebra class. However what I really wish was considered equally as important was sewing and cooking. Those are skills I could use. Skills I need.
Imagine the shift in thinking if home ec were considered more important than algebra or Ancient and medieval history. Principals calling home for dropped stitches and rosemary chive mix ups (Did he even study the recipe at home?" )
It's funny, too b/c when people ask about homeschooling they get very worried that I I wont be able to teach things like, chemistry or calculus...but no one ever worries about my kids not learning to sew or cook. Those are 2 skills that they will need no matter their life direction or career choice. Those are thoe ones I need to really bruah up on.