Agnostic.com

41 7

What's the one thing that should be taught in high school that isn't?

Should we implement classes on how to prepare taxes and manage credit cards? Or maybe we should prefer part of the day was spent studying civics?

kensmile4u 8 May 24
Share

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

41 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

9

how to think

@trblemaker exactly, question everything

I must say that I was taught how to think in school. All three of my sons were also taught how to think in their respective schools. But they were supported by a culture at home that practiced and rewarded the pursuit of reason, knowledge, and curiosity. I don't know if critical thinking is standardized nationwide into a particular subject. I would think it should be part of a basic science class.

@kensmile4u yes i did the same

9

life skills: how to balance a checkbook, how to budget, to make long term plans for life, how to cook survival skills, to name a few

I agree. Thanks for your comment.

8

Critical thinking.

Agreed!

Should have read your post first, lol

How do you teach critical thinking?

Did you know that the Republican Party Platform specifically says they are AGAINST higher reasoning skills? Why is that?

@novoxguy I didn't know that, but it goes along with their defunding education.

I agree. Thanks for the comment.

7

Problem solving and critical thinking.

Lol.... mom... dad.... I disagree with your statements and or your suggestions. I've counselled with my peers and decided another directional approach...love.. jr. lol. Aww heck. I'm just seeing it in my mind. Dont get mad.

I agree. Thanks for your comment.

@BucketlistBob You are totally right, not only mom and dad but also teacher. That's why they don't teach it.

6

Logic, strange as it sounds, it is not taught here (Oz) now, but was in the 1940s at primary school.

Logic is offered in my school system but only for the gifted students. They also offer computer logic through the collegiate advanced placement program.

5

How to handle a pool or snooker cue. The manual dexterity, correct stance is all good. Once mastered you can make friends anywhere

I'm not sure how this strategy will enrich the masses but it is an amusing divergent thought.

@kensmile4u It`s not about the masses, more the individual. Which in turn will enrich the gen-pop

5

Skepticism, Logic, more time dedicated to science and understanding rather than fact memorization

I agree. Thanks for your comment.

5

How to think not what to think

5

Chopping wood, making fires, skinning a rabbit, catching fish, growing veg, cooking that does not involve packets, building benders, clay ovens, signs of wildlife, herbal medicine and foraging. Knitting, sewing, crochetting, tating, button making, leather and woodworking. Proud to say my three could have a good go at all of these.

I think this would be an excellent idea for a summer camp offered through the school.

5

How to study. In fact, that should be taught even earlier. Best course I ever took as a freshman in college was on how to study. Wish I had went through a course like that in junior high.

Fortunately I learned that in high school and so did my kids.

4

Just one? Civics, critical thinking skills, basic life skills (sew on a button, change a tire, basic cooking) manging credit (the real cost of credit) and budgeting, business etiquette skills. I want to sit every kid down with one of those slick fashion magazines and have them pull out all the pages of nothing but advertising, and then calculate the price they are paying for the adverts, and assess the remaining articles. How many are making them feel bad about themselves to sell the crap in the advertising. I also want a refresher course in driving skills, why can no one merge onto the highways anymore? And OMG, how NOT to drive, put your damn phone down. I want every American kid to have to work in a nursing home for a semester. I want to teach them to always, always, always ask questions and especially of authority.

I completely agree with every one of your ideas. Maybe we should create a class called Life Skills that includes your ideas and more. Thanks for your comment.

@kensmile4u My dream is that when I win that huge lottery I will set up free classes for
financially challenged students and offer tuition assistance for completing my classes. However, since I don't play the lottery....

@HippieChick58 The only thing we can do now is try to open one mind at a time.

Yes, yes and yes and not to mention how to use the left lane (passing lane). Oh please teach them how to use that one. Phew...now I feel better. 😕

4

Civic's.... I took civics and had to find stories and read out a report of the story in class. There would be some good stuff in USA today or NewsWeek. Hell... I have an accountant do my taxes. Not some silly H&R Block.

I agree. There appears to be a general lack of knowledge in Civics on our social media. I know my kids didn't get enough of it in high school.

4

Relationship stuff. How to know when we're being manipulated, abused, gas lighted etc.

Learning how to be assertive and how to strengthen our personal boundaries. Learning how to spot a misogynist or a narcissist.

All these toxic people can ruin a life. A person who's educated and wise to these issues and who's developed coping strategies might protect themselves against such threats and lead a happy life.

We had that as part of sex Ed....not sure if they still do.

I was never taught this stuff in high school. Neither were my kids. It's a good idea for seniors. Maybe a class called life skills could include this?

4

Civics and critical thinking.

I agree completely. Thanks for your comment.

4

Yes to basic finances. Yes to civics. I'd also add anatomy and physiology. We should have some idea of how the body works. How else are we going to care for ourselves/have an appreciation for life?

But, before we make more changes (we do that on a regular basis) we need to really look at what's being taught in the more competitive/successful school systems around the world.

I agree with you about looking at successful education models around the world. IMO I don't see that happening right now due to the political situation in our country.

3

Civic. The ignorance of politics and government workings is appalling.

I agree.

3

To learn to think for yourself, question authority for a start...

"Question Authority" is a fundamental skill that I got from Civics class in high school.

@kensmile4u
I got it too damn late in life.

3

I say bring Home Ec back. But make it required for BOTH genders and teach budgeting, how to shop for large items like cars, saving plans and options (e.g. IRAs / 401ks etc).

I think these are all good ideas. Thanks for your comment.

3

One thing? There are so many things missing. Among some of the replies below, I think the exposure of debt slavery needs to be addressed. It also should be taught that humans are no different from other animals, more complex, perhaps, but the same. This socioeconomic caste system, where most of us are bred into production labor and service wage slavery, needs to be exposed to the youth. They need to know that they can do little more than survive in a system of such inequality, where the fruits of the labor of the proletariat feed the financial elite. They need to know that profit is nothing other than unpaid producer wages. They also need a heavier does of science and the mathematical tools to quantify the world and describe its processes. And Poe. More exposure to Poe.

I agree that our education, occupational, and commerce systems are intentionally oppressive. We need to do something to break the cycle. But how do you break a system that has obviously succeeded to create multiple generations of indoctrinated ignorant cooperation? Poe is good too!

3

I can’t remember what class it was but we did learn how to do taxes, balance a checkbook, make a budget, etc. I was shocked my kids didn’t.

I think students should be taught critical thinking skills.

I agree. My kids didn't get taught this stuff either.

3

All schools should be self-directed.

Students allowed to work at their own rate and pursue passions and interests can zip through a grade every two weeks. Thus students who want to go into science and research can quickly move on to university level classes, while students who prefer working with their hands, can learn machining, where they earn high salaries while learning, then get paid high salaries, as these jobs are currently begging for workers.

No more forcing everyone into the college track, to go into debt, and then work for a low salary.

No doubt the reason public schools force students to work in lockstep, holding everyone back and boring them with busy work to wait for the slowest students, is to keep students warehoused and tax money flowing.

I agree that the overall structure of our education system is intentionally oppressive, improperly prioritized, and under funded. But changing that is currently unrealistic. I'm trying to discuss what small changes can be made within the existing system to improve the future for our children. Thanks for your comment.

@kensmile4u There are many schools that have done this, with wild success, but the US education dept shut it down because it threatened the status quo.

I used to substitute teach, and when I had a 20 minute gap in the silly busy work left by the regular teacher, I'd sneak and teach all the kids, from kindergarten up in the room to read phonetically with Sing, Spell, Read and Write songs and charts, then go ahead and teach the entire class to speed-read, which they all learned effortlessly, even the "special" students.

Most of the students kept quiet about it, so sometimes the sudden ability of pre-schoolers to read was sometimes attributed to the regular teacher and I got away with it .

If the teachers ever found out what I'd done, such as when excited parents and/or teacher's aides began raving about it, the regular teachers would become furious and tell me to never substitute for them again.

3

Interpersonal relationships 101

Yes, very important.

I agree this should be required as a social studies element.

2

Personal finance

I agree we need this. Thanks for your comment.

2

Civility, common decency, manners and respect.

I agree. Thanks for the comment.

2

Religion is NOT truth.

This is not the right time for such an important idea. IMO Maybe in 50 years.

Write Comment
You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:89093
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.