My recollection of home ec was it was majority boys and mostly athletes. Most of the girls felt they didn't need the class (already had the life skills those courses covered) or were college-bound and didn't have time in the schedule for it.

A good friend of mine, who later went to the NFL, was so excited he learned to bake cookies. He also learned to read the stocks section and was super excited to try investing.

* He's doing quite well now. Football paid for college, NFL paid for law school.

It was when I went to school in the UK especially in the lower streams i.e. those expected to leave at 16.

It was considered a bit advanced that some boys took it don't think girls shop classes.