When I was in high school (c. 1975) we had a 'Bachelor Living' class as one of the home ec class offerings. It didn't include clothing construction, but it covered the other home ec topics: clothing maintainence (laundry and mending), housekeeping, budgeting and cooking. The athletes took it en masse, and it was funny to listen to them arguing over who could make the lightest, flakiest piecrust. <G>
When I got to college, I lived in a cooperative living group where everyone had chores. One day I was sitting in the TV room and a girl came down to cook dinner. She asked if I were her partner, and I said no, but I could help her get started and surely her partner would show up soon. I showed her where the menu and recipes were posted, and saw that the dinner was Turkey Tetrazzini. OK, I said, looks like the first step is cooking the pasta, and surely your partner will be here by the time that's done. I showed her where the pasta was kept, and where the pots and pans were.
Ok, she said, how do I cook the pasta?
Yes, you read that right, Ehellions, a college freshman who had no idea how to cook pasta.
I've since thought that our public schools should have classes in 'Not being a helpless, malnourished, and shabbily dressed bumpkin'.