Would it be possible for Susan to explain further how she would go on to attach a lining - surely it wouldn't be left like this on the inside? I would be keen to see her treatment of attaching lining to cover the edge because I personally do not like to see the facing

Oh dear - I recognise the scenario that you are all describing! I have just retired from teaching in a UK school - ages 11 - 18, and all my teaching career has been centred on what used to be called Home Ec. And then Textile Design Technology. I have loved it most of the time- and feel the loss of student contact since retirement- so much so that I have gone to the local University to do student support.
I hope it is of some comfort to those of you that are parents, that in some areas of USA(according to these posts) that some Education Authorities are still supporting the acquisition of important life skills. Whilst acknowledging that some teachers are better at moving with the times and also with fashions in Creative Arts, it still depends on how willing or forward thinking the school "Heads or Governors" are ( sorry- I don't know what you call your schools' management teams).
I do so hope that things continue to improve for those students and their parents who wish to develop their skills in this area. However, I must point out that all teachers of "Home Economics" do not like this title - I for one hated it- particularly as in my case I never taught anything to do with food- but other staff used to think that because I could sew I could also cook! I can cook but never had any tuition myself in readiness for teaching it- I wasn't interested- I loved Textiles!!
Surprising how many "educated" members of staff couldn't or wouldn't understand the difference. I have lost count of the number of times a fellow professional would not realise how condescending their comments could be!
My own personal view is that while people themselves still call a creative subject by the titles that include"Home" in it- you condemn yourselves to being thought of as just " domestic" and therefore somehow not as important as a more " academic" field of study. I know it's just a name - but try being on the receiving end!
I realise that a lot of your readers enjoy using textile and food skills together with their own artistic flair, to enrich their surroundings, their leisure time and to help with financial strains- indeed this has been my life to date and long may it continue. I do think that within the school curriculum I would encourage your readers to see working with textiles- in it's many varied forms, as a means of developing creative, independent skills and decision making, alongside the more traditional life skills but not defined by the very same.

At last something which I can see is more what i think of as Art to wear -a bit different and shows off a fantastic interpretation of a traditional skill - well done!