Sad but these important (IMHO) life skill course were important. The cut back due to cost is these courses do not contribute to the final on paper result.

When I did cooking, sewing, woodwork, metalwork and automobile repair/maintenance the school system had the funds for the food, sewing notions, wood, metal.

These courses are useless unless there is hands on experience and the cost of material probably did not endear it to the bean counters.