I agree totally, they are so in tune with a device that shows no emotion or consequences that they lack the ability to inter act with real people.

"Lack of common sense" is the lament of every generation about the next. It's so easy to forget or dismiss the stupid behavior of our youth.

@Anne209 Amen, sister!

They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.

Aristotle, 384-322 BCE.

You are very true in what you say. I am at my wits end with teenagers today. They show very little respect for anybody and do not recognize the results of their actions.

Exactly....and what about the students who 'fail' the course? Jails and prisons are full of people who never earned their high school diploma. The only successful way to teach this information is through ongoing and meaningful conversations.

@Anne209 I don’t think this is a graded or pass/fail class in a traditional sense. It’s usually personal research and group projects. You’d have to not attend to fail.

@Livia The students who don't attend are generally the ones we need to reach. I agree that this material should be taught, and I believe it is in many states, although not always in one course. My point is that just because something is taught, does not mean that it is learned. It has to be supported outside of the classroom with ongoing conversations, modeling, and support from the parents....just like all other subjects.

Not everyone is blessed with great parents. I don’t know about the USA but in the UK teachers are legally in loco parentis, and they assume the responsibility of what is in the interest of the child when the child is in their care and under their supervision. At least it was the case when I left.

IMO, Schools have duties to the children and wider society that don’t replace the parent, but support parenting. They also monitor children for signs of neglect or other factors that contribute to disturbance in their psychological or physical development.

When I was a kid we even had a nurse come in each month to check weight, nails, teeth and hair. Once a year we had hearing and eye tests. There was also free milk and food, free pencils and paper and other resources. We were well taken care of, now I think about it. Different now.

@Livia they're considered in loco parentis here in the States, too. Or, at least they were when I was in school in the 80s/early 90s.

Totally agree, very good post.

Do people still balance their checkbooks?

@klang72 On like a see-saw?

I don't balance mine, I just review my bank statements. Also, I know I suck at finances and just er on the side of saving more than I spend. At the end of each month I want more than I had last month. I should be better since I'm pretty sure I'm spending $10 a month on a radio subscription that I no longer use.

@mattersauce Well we could all do better I'm sure. I know I certainly could.

Yes

Just because they don't remember it, doesn't mean they weren't taught. Just saying....

@Anne209 Doesn't mean they were, either. Just sayin'.

Too many families are depending on both parents working, or a single parent working tons to survive. Then they get home, make dinner, do housework, maybe attend school events/games, and finally crash. To repeat it the next morning.
Most parents care...we are just overwhelmed.

@Nichole765 Way to take it personally.

@KKGator as a mother who is trying to juggle everything, it becomes personal.

@Nichole765 Only because you let it. I wasn't referring to you, and if you want to think I was, I can't help you. Besides, in your above comment, you already said you're teaching your children about all those things.
So, to take exception with what I said, and make it about you, you're contradicting yourself.

@KKGator you were referring as parents being self-absorbed... But I disagree with that notion. Most parents care about their kids but need more time in the day.
I personally go with little sleep to accomplish that I do. Some days, even that, isn't enough.

@Nichole765 Again, you are making what I said about you. You can disagree with me all you like, but I wasn't talking about you. I didn't say "all", or even "most", parents are self-absorbed, I didn't say you were self-absorbed. There ARE a lot of self-absorbed parents out there. Disagreeing with me for pointing that out is simply your personal opinion. I wasn't talking about you.
Go ahead and take the credit for all you do. You deserve it.

It varies from state to state. In California these topics are taught in Health, Science, Social Studies, and Math.

When or how did the term "common sense" come to = right wing theories? That's certainly not true where I live (Michigan).

@citronella [blogs.lse.ac.uk]

@citronella [thoughtco.com]

Mainly social/cultural/economic theory. What people think are “common sense” are often the result of hegemonic apparatus. It’s hegemony as people are unaware of the control being exerted on their opinions and thoughts via the prevailing political power within society.

@Livia This described economic theory. That's not what I am referring to at all when I talk about common sense. To me common sense is knowing how to balance a checkbook, make a simple meal, set up a budget, be able to debate an issue without calling names, that sort of thing. I think use of the term "common sense" must be very different in the U.S. vs. the U.K.

@citronella No, I think Am. English and Br. English have the exact same understanding of “common sense”. There is the perspective that is yours - how to do something in the most obvious logical and efficient way. We can apply this to everyday tasks, but it gets political when we generally and widely apply false logic to a common question “common sense” becomes questionable and a type of logical fallacy, and this is often utilized by the right wing to control public opinion. An example of faulty “common sense” is “Immigrants are a burden on the economy. To improve the economy, wages and job security for you and I, we need to be tough on migration to protect our country. American jobs for American people!” It sounds like logical sense, common sense, but it’s factually inaccurate and racist. We have the same crap in the UK too. So, I am not saying your interpretation is wrong, just there are are two ways of understanding common sense as a concept.

The "64 dollar question" is why. I was a teacher and saw what the problem was, but few who are not teachers will understand why. Most teachers will get it wrong also.

Exactly . Thank u sir .

I agree with you that it should be taugt at home but they are so engaged with their devices that they do not know how to act with people or recognize the consequences of their actions.Take the girl that pushed the other girl off a 50 foot bridge. She admited she did not realize the action might result in injury or that she could get arrested for murder if she died.