Back then Home economics was designed to teach "girls" to be a wife whilst boys did metal/woodworking.
School suggested that as a dyslexic I should do the typing course I didn't as that was for girls - in hindsight learning to type properly might have been a good idea
Not much traditional engineering jobs going in the UK though I did see a ground Worker team leader post advertised locally for more than th developer role :-(
we had both. girls/boys did both home-ec and metal shop. we had wood shop too, and I do believe I took it, but the year before it was closed down because a teacher lost a finger (on a bandsaw, I think).
