[hijack]All kids in Junior High are brain damaged.[/hijack]
Middle School teacher here.
In our school we have 6 week “exploratory” classes similar to elective type classes, except that they are required.
- Spanish
- Computers
- Communications
- Home & Family Living (similar to Home Ec)
- Art
- Quest (self esteem etc…often referred to as “sex, drugs & rock n roll” by the staff)
In Lower School (Junior High equivalent) we had a Crafts lesson for two hours a week. We rotated between Domestic Science (hated it, love to cook now), Textiles (Sewing), Metalwork (enjoyed it, but achieved little), Woodwork (liked it) and possibly something else.
ISTR our second year (now Year Eight) was the year where the various crafts were also rotated with Health education, Drama and Music — so we only got six hours of each per year.
Right now, I’m editing a Personal, Social and Health Education book (sex, drugs and rock and roll).
I forgot to say that I used to spend Textiles lessons gossiping with the boys in a kind of teenage heavy metal sewing circle.