Stuff you wish they taught in school

[NovaKart]

My home economics class in middle school was the most pointless thing ever. We just had 45 minutes to try and bake cookies or sew something. Now with lots of districts having block scheduling that would be different but I'd hate to think that Americans were falling behind while their students were sewing pillowcases and baking muffins.

 

[Narz]

• More emphasis on social skills - Parents !!
• Dealing with emotional issues - Parents !!
• Choosing a romantic partner - Parents !!
• Childrearing (again, learned zero about this) - Parents !!
• Deciding what work/hobbies/projects will make you happy - Parents !!
• Managing money (nothing on this that I recall) - Parents/Teachers

All except the last one, are the preserve parents/caregivers/guardians and last one is a joint one with teachers.

Yeah, what if you your parents are anti-social, mentally ill, divorced, stuck at dead end jobs, etc. or simply don't have the time/energy/care to teach you the most important things in life?

 

[Ajidica]

My home economics class in middle school was the most pointless thing ever. We just had 45 minutes to try and bake cookies or sew something. Now with lots of districts having block scheduling that would be different but I'd hate to think that Americans were falling behind while their students were sewing pillowcases and baking muffins.

Knowing how to cook is important. I am by no means good at cooking, but I know how to make a pretty nice chicken breast with swiss cheese and bread crumbs.
As for sewing, still a nice skill to learn. It has helped me a couple times when buttons have come off of my shirt or I need to fix something. (I'm better with a sewing machine though.)

 

[Narz]

1. Social norms vary by culture and group, so it's difficult to have an all-encompassing course relevant enough. I guess there could be an etiquette class, but it's more stuff you'd learn anyways.

You'd think so but I sure would have appreciated an assertiveness class or simply social-issues class when I was 8 or 9. By high school I pretty much got it figured out but by then it's kind of too late (unless you swtich schools).

2. Different people have different ways of coping with emotions, and it's impossible to pinpoint any one technique as the right way, and then teach it as such. Likewise, this skill is attained through actual experience... just like you wouldn't teach "shop" in a purely theoretical fashion.

Again, I would have liked to learn this stuff. Sure everyone processes differently but there are commonalities. I didn't even know what depression was until my shrink told me.

3. Schools tend to try to avoid encouraging romantic relations or discussing them (thus encouraging), due to the diverse views and morals on the issue held by various parents. Especially with the older generation putting emphasis on things like abstinence and being fairly leery of relationships.

I guess this is the trickiest. Especially if you're like "ok so here's an example of an unhealthy relationship" and the kid's like "sounds like mom & dad ".

4. Again, there are many different ways to do this one. As well, it's mostly irrelevant until later in life, when there are courses available for it.

A simple "for the love of God be careful!!!!11!!" and "Choosing who to get with long term will affect your life more than almost anything else & once you have children with someone all issues (good or bad) multiple a hundrefold!!!111!1!11!" would have been helpful. Better than learning about STD's.

5. This is purely something that a person finds for themselves through experience. You can't have a "class" on it. Unless that class is one week English, the next week Math, the next week Science, and so on.

I guess it's more self-knowledge but it could at least be an elective. Most kids even thru their 20's don't seem to know what the hell they want to do, school should at least address it. In an age where advertisers tell us what we want (and who we are) since the crib it might be helpful to have a discussion class on the subject.

6. Some math is provided, but the applicability of that math isn't made sufficiently clearcut. Presumably the idea is that students will carry on their education such that they eventually obtain this knowledge.

Kids who don't carry on their education need the help the most. And it might be helpful to know a bit of finance before the college loan-sharks get a hold of you.

 

[W|M]

Yeah, what if you your parents are anti-social, mentally ill, divorced, stuck at dead end jobs, etc. or simply don't have the time/energy/care to teach you the most important things in life?

If your parents were mentally ill, you probably wouldn't be living with them.

Knowing how to cook is important. I am by no means good at cooking, but I know how to make a pretty nice chicken breast with swiss cheese and bread crumbs.

Cookery lessons in schools are generally regarded as being terrible, though, they don't teach practical and cheap ways of how to cook food, especially food that you don't find disgusting.

 

[warpus]

You know what I wish I learned in high school that I didn't?

That the "real world" is basically a high school-like popularity contest and that a lot of the high and mighty things said by adults when I was younger was what they wanted the world to be.. and not what it actually is.

 

[Skwink]

That's what after school specials and public service announcements are for.

But those aren't mandatory enough.

 

[NovaKart]

Knowing how to cook is important. I am by no means good at cooking, but I know how to make a pretty nice chicken breast with swiss cheese and bread crumbs.
As for sewing, still a nice skill to learn. It has helped me a couple times when buttons have come off of my shirt or I need to fix something. (I'm better with a sewing machine though.)

It's useful but I think schools shouldn't take too much time out of academics for something people could learn from a magazine.

But those aren't mandatory enough.

I don't think learning about Ramadan is going to keep a mentally unstable person from committing a hate crime.

 

[GenMarshall]

How to approach and date women.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

 

[Narz]

If your parents were mentally ill, you probably wouldn't be living with them.

No offense but that's a naive view. Shoot there's people on CFC under the case of disturbed parents, one in particular talks about it quite often. Issues of mental health, social health, taking care of oneself in general & morality may be touchy subjects but the school system should grow some balls (or a vagina) and address them if they really want to help the youth. School should be more than just learning intellectual prowess.

 

[ParkCungHee]

History.

 

[squall78]

Business Maff

emphasis on checking accounts, credit card interest, and loans.

Unglish - already know how to speak it (ask Samuel L Jackson)

 

[GoodGame]

Do this instead of trig, trig is freakin' useless

(Waits for Paradigmshifter to tear me apart, remember not everyone is in a Math related career.)

Pre-calculus is pretty useful if you're going to go on to even a science field. And Trig actually is important to physics, which means Trig plays a role in most sciences too (all that special equipment runs on physics!).



That said, home economics was something that was barely touched on in my high school, and nearly not at all in college (I did science, and not a requirement). Most if it I learned through life experience. In the military, we were nearly beat to death with home economics topics, and about all the things Narz listed in the OP.

 

[otago]

Spelling. Apparently they don't do that anymore.

The meaning of a statement made in English to some, the statement things are a little sticky do'es not mean all is well.

Spelling, yes words like colour, theatre are spelt thus.

 

[Leifmk]

Man, people below retirement ager still have and use checking accounts? In the 21st century? Oh well.

But yeah, practical home economics should be covered better than it presently is. Both the "set up a budget and manage personal expenses and don't get stuck with a pile of credit card debt, you idiot" bit and the "basic cooking and cleaning" bit.

On a totally different front: Basic logic, critical source analysis, basic theory of science. In short, BS Detection 101. This could prevent a looot of trouble.

 

[Syterion]

Don't follow this at all. Elastic band jeans? That's some tacky (snip). Do yourself a favor and get some jeans (some light and dark wash), and have them tailored for you. Wash them inside out, and air dry.

 

[Yeekim]

1. More emphasis on social skills (near zero from what I remember)
2. Dealing with emotional issues
3. Choosing a romantic partner
4. Childrearing (again, learned zero about this)
5. Deciding what work/hobbies/projects will make you happy
6. Managing money (nothing on this that I recall)

Points 1-5 don´t belong to school. "Choosing a romantic partner" - wth?
As for point 6, if people actually understood half the math they are already being taught, there would be no need for this.
What I'd include are techniques on
1) how to train your memory;
2) how to focus your attention on a subject
3) how to manage your time.
Our education system is based on environment which no longer exists - the environment where finding information was the greatest challenge.
Nowadays, the greatest challenge is surviving in the constant barrage of information, most of which is completely useless and/or misleading.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Don't follow this at all. Elastic band jeans? That's some tacky (snip). Do yourself a favor and get some jeans (some light and dark wash), and have them tailored for you. Wash them inside out, and air dry.

It was advice to CivGeneral on how to approach and date women.

 

[Syterion]

It was advice to CivGeneral on how to approach and date women.

No <suck>. I was giving better advice.

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