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Marc Harding, Home Economics teacher, Glenola School, Bangor

Did you originally train as a Home Economics (HE) Teacher?

I’m Northern Ireland’s first locally trained HE Teacher. However, I originally studied Hotel Management at Dundee University and then went to China to teach English for a year. After that I worked for three years as a Lay Associate at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor before training for a PGCE in HE and RE at UUC. I began teaching at Strangford Integrated School in Carrowdore last year and have been at Glenlola since September 2006.

How do you find being a male HE Teacher?

There is the obvious novelty factor of it, but the pupils aren’t surprised and are very accepting of me. In fact several of them were more surprised that I am the first male HE teacher. The other teachers and parents of my students are also very supportive and many think it makes sense to have a male HE teacher when so many of today’s top chefs are men.

I believe it is good for the young people in my classes to be taught family issues from a male perspective, particularly at a time when social dynamics are ever-changing. It can even help take away the stigma for boys of learning HE when the teacher is a man.

Did you study HE in school?

I have always loved cooking and although I come from an all-boys family, my mother always involved us in the kitchen. So it was a natural progression for me to take HE at GCSE and A Level. In fact my choice to teach it as a subject was to encourage more boys to consider it and perhaps even shape their career paths too.

Is HE still viewed as mainly teaching children how to cook?

The view of HE is changing and it certainly involves more than just cooking. HE is set to be part of the core curriculum from 2007, so all children, boys and girls, will have the opportunity to study the subject. This is aimed at providing them with the skills required to make informed decisions about relationships, finances, diet and health, home issues and juggling life and careers. 

Do you think the view of men in the home is changing?

Yes and in fact we study the role of men in the modern home environment. They are now taking a much more hands-on role in the home and with their families. Some students even have stay-at-home male role models, while the flip side of the coin sees others left lacking a male presence in their family unit.

What elements make up an average HE class?

HE is a broad subject and each week’s class is different, as we are keen to vary the activities and their relevance and application for students learning today. Practical cookery is related to theory within the topic areas of home and family; diet and health; and choice and management of resources, such as time and money. The variety is also good for the teacher, as there is always something different with every year and class.

What key consumer education do you teach in your classes?

We use the Consumer Council resources a lot in our classes, such as the ‘Shop Around’ pack and their new ‘Buy rights - Have your say’ DVD which is really good and very relevant for today’s young people. It is important to teach them basic concepts in a relevant way – such as applying boring legislation in a way in which the students can identify.  

How affective is training young consumers in a school environment?

Young people today are much more shopping savvy, but not necessarily consumer savvy, and can get stung easily. So it is essential that they learn the basics of consumer issues, whether at home or in school. Teaching consumer sense in peer groups can often work well to fill any gaps in consumer awareness that may be missed at home. The Consumer Council is working hard to provide the resources needed to help schools do that successfully.

What aspect of your job do you find most challenging/enjoyable?

The variety of the subject is really enjoyable for me and the practical aspect of it often allows me to nurture a different and creative side in the pupils. They can take ownership of their own learning in HE, but it is challenging trying to teach classes in which every student is an individual with different needs from me and from the subject itself. I do learn from my students too – they have such varied backgrounds and are often full of great ideas.

Are you keen to see more men teaching this subject?

Definitely! It needed someone to break the mould and seeing the difference in my own classes, I believe it would be beneficial for more children to be taught by men or at least a mixture of male and female HE teachers.

What qualities do you need to be a HE Teacher?

I think patience, sensitivity, a sense of humour and the ability to be innovative and creative in lesson planning would all be key qualities to have. These would help nurture controlled involvement in topics and classes and encourage students to learn from each other too. Being organised, particularly for practical classes, would also be useful; as would being flexible as HE is such as varied subject.

How do you relax outside the classroom?

I spend a lot of time with my family, as I’m a husband and father of a beautiful two-year-old daughter. I am involved in church leadership as well as youth organisations and am a fan of music and film. I also love travelling to Italy with my family – from where I am developing a love of red wine.