What subjects should be taught in public school that are not already?

10/10/2018

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Society Story: What subjects should be taught in public school that are not already?

Let's say there's this girl named Reis.

Reis has a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 5.3 weighted GPA in the top highschool in Texas (for those not affiliated with the U.S GPA system… that's good).

The last time she has ever gotten anything late was when she was a 1st year… in preschool.

She has also gotten herself involved in a country wide volunteer organisation known as “National Honour Society”, and has gained herself her fair share of 240 volunteer hours.

After having score a 1520/1520 on the practice nation entrance exam, the PSAT, and a 1600/1600 on the actual national entrance exam, the SAT, she received a national merit scholarship, as well as a full ride to a school that she always wanted to go to: Harvard.

She even became involved in Varsity Tennis, GT Art, full-time band, AP Physics 4 and whatever other advanced class you can state.

So, when she graduates, she is given a diploma for all that she learned, she is given praise for being valedictorian, she is just utterly amazing.

And yet, the second she gets out of school…

…and she settles into an apartment after being in a college dormitory for one year…

…she doesn't even know how to cook.

Or clean.

Or do laundry.

She sits there, trying to look back at her textbooks, her notes, her anything!

Alas, however, she lacks the skills to even live a basic life.

So she sits there, calls her parents, and relies on her parents to do everything.

While she's an adult.

Maybe if school taught basic life skills, Reis wouldn't be stuck in this situation.

But maybe it's the parent's job to do that.

Not all parents will do that, though. Sad, but true.

Maybe Reis should've taken Home Economics.

Sorry, amongst the 150 courses in her High school, Home Economics is not one of them. Plus, even in high schools in which it is offered, not too many students would take it.

Maybe Reis should just research on her own.

Perhaps. School teaches you how to learn, not just what to learn. She could just research on her own.

But would it be better for a teenager to learn life skills before becoming an adult, or becoming an adult with no knowledge of life skills whatsoever, exposing them to possible problems early on?

High school decides.

Reis' future and the futures of many other teens are in their hands.

This information was taken from Quora. Click here to view the original post.

Do you agree that teens should be prepared for the adult life at school?

#Society #Quora

What are your thoughts on this subject?

103 Comments

bina sarmah

I will go with how to balance the finance, Teach them you can't spend more than you earn. And teach them whatever you see in the stores or your friends have it, is not necessarily they need those. Cooking and cleaning can be learned easily but balancing finance is a huge dilemma for the new generation.

David Anderson

Financial knowledge is important. Proper credit use above all should be thought. It is too easy to go into debt and sooo hard to get out.

Craig Miller Sr

My high school had a Home Economics class that taught the basics of how to cook, do laundry, balance the check book, and so on.but that's sixty years ago.

Elsy O. Stromberg

Denny Quigley, Right- they're not that hard, especially with modern conveniences like microwaves.

Elsy O. Stromberg

Dolly Shaway Kalil, For sure- hope they learn at least how to read it.

Elsy O. Stromberg

No- not necessary. I learned these skills pretty much on my own; they're not that hard.

lls

We had general finance, car-buying, apt. renting and grocery shopping classes, but not until our senior year. I always felt that should have started in some small way, right before junior high. And, also, some introduction to how to help care for ill family members...maybe even grief counseling exposure. I knew so many fellow classmates--and their parents--who would've benefitted from such...

Judy 'Cross' Long

Children should be taught, at home and at school, how to handle daily finances, rent, groceries, utility bills, etc. and how to plan ahead for the unexpected medical etc. How to clean, cook, do laundry. A basic home economics class, or life skills along with training from parents so she can function on her own after graduation. So many kids working today can’t even count back your change if the register doesn’t tell them and have no idea if someone short changed them. It’s pathetic.

saadia siddiqui

Parents or guardians should involve their children or neice and nephew in house hold works , During vacation children can learn from their elders,

Valma Taylor

We were taught the basic skills you needed for adult life. Maybe they should not have disregarded teaching them thinking they are automatically known

Lynn Morgan

with that education and level of intelligence she will get a good paying job and be able to hire someone to clean. She can order takeout until she realizes cooking is a creative art and she teaches herself to be a gourmet chef watching youtube. it was always easy for someone who can read and comprehend well to learn life skills, and now we have youtube! not everyone needs a class to learn these skills.

md sodano

I graduated in 1972. Yes that ages me lol but I took Home Ec all through high school. I loved it. It’s a shame if it’s not offered anymore.

garrett scott

Life skills are called that because you learn them from life. Academic skills are learned in classes or independent study. Life skills are learned in the home generally. It saddens me that Reis did not have that kind of family.

Elaine Bauer

My Home Ec teacher was a scientist, who taught us the principles behind whatever she was guiding us on. The chemistry behind rising bread, braising v/s dry cooking certain meats, preventing fabric from fraying.... I had the joyful opportunity to thank her, as an adult. I’m able to cook creatively, without recipes often because I know why things work.

Laura Takeda

The home ec. teacher I knew was told she had to locate someone to replace her when she retired....Our junior high schools had all seventh graders do a semester of home ec.