I also took cooking and sewing in junior high and didn’t learn much since I’d already both cooked and sewed at home for years, but the industrial arts/shop classes would have been extremely beneficial - I’ve had to teach myself how to use all my household tools and do simple repairs. But back in those days, girls took home ec and boys took shop, it’s just how it was…
My son was required to take a semester of each when he was in junior high, which I think makes a lot more sense since you avoid the gender segregation that happens when the students have to choose. Also parents also often have a tendency to teach certain skills to children of different genders, girls aren’t always taught to use power drills at home and boys aren’t always taught to use sewing machines. I tried my best to teach my son all that I was able, but I don’t mind taking a semester of junior high to reinforce some of those skills.