A hole in our education system

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Chemistry_Guy

I have observed that there is a big difference in the working class/poor neighborhoods of 2010 vs those from the 50s and 60s. A few generations ago, people were much more self sufficient. The people without college degrees or high paying craftsman jobs did not have a lot of money, but they could fix their own cars, build their own houses, prepare their own food from raw materials, knit/sew/repair their own clothes, and raise their own kids, even in urban/suburban areas. The rural population was even more self sufficient.

The skills obtained working at today's low-paying jobs (fast food, Walmart, data entry, telemarketing, cashier, etc.) are not tremendously helpful at stretching the value of a paycheck. I would argue that these useful life skills have been essentially lost for a large portion of the population, previous generations passed them down in the home, and working class/poor families have seen a decline in two parent stable households.

I propose that a well rounded high school education should teach young men and women self sufficiency in addition to the core academic curriculum. This means that, across both sexes, students should be taught to sew, cook, grow a garden, change brakes/tires/fan belt, paint, and frame a wall, among other useful skills.

I understand that education budgets are limited and these courses would have to come at the expense of something else. I also feel that no subject is so important for young people that they should be thrown into the world unable to take care of themselves if they are not capable of competing in the rat race that is our university system.

I agree with you.

I'd also add people were self sufficient in one other very important way.....They did not have kids out of wedlock and/or divorce like people do today, especially among the poor and working class. Having kids out of wedlock & divorce will kill many, if not most peoples' chances of financial stability & security.

I love this piece from Slate magazine on the subject:


Forget Juno. Out-of-wedlock births are a national catastrophe. - By Emily Yoffe - Slate Magazine


I also agree with what another poster said about the need for financial planning to be taught in schools. I find it shocking how many smart, well educated, people are clueless about saving, investing, interest rates, don't understand about retirement plans, the tax system, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, insurance, etc. This should all be required for high school graduation.

[hodgemo2]

In my high school, it was required for students to take a semester long class called "senior survival." We actually learned a decent amount of what the OP was mentioning: how to change a tire, how to balance a checkbook, interest rates and compound interest, how to hem pants (or a dress or skirt or whatever)...it was kinda silly but kinda useful.

Oh, and for reference, that was 13-14 years ago.

[vaughanwilliams]

Dump some of the sport programs and school districts could afford an excellent idea like this. Where I live, the schools cut everything except sports-especially men's sports.

[Visvaldis]

I attended a public high school in Chicago. After 8 semesters each student required the following to graduate:
4 semesters of technical drawing (electives possible all 8 semesters)
4 semesters of math (2 algebra, 2 geometry. Electives included trigonometry)
4 semesters of shop (wood, electric were required. From sophomore year the student could choose from auto, machine, foundry, aviation, print, advanced wood.)
2 semesters swimming - must pass Red Cross swim test.
4 semesters foreign language (choices of French, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Latin)
1 semester general law (to acquaint students with basic legal terms)
6 semesters english (British and American literature, writing essays)
2 semesters chemistry (lecture and simple lab experiments)
2 semesters physics (mechanical advantage, calculating power, etc)

I doubt if such education is still available in a public school. Looking back it was great to be exposed to all these things.
I repair my car as much as I can. Do simple home repairs (electricity, plumbing). I feel comfortable using various tools.
All this saves money.

[HoodsofATL]

I attend high school now, in Atlanta GA, hate it. It's really all about testing and learning how to test, rather than educating us. The curriculum, from what my teachers say will get worse smh. I'm reading 'The Death and Life of The Great American School System by Diane Ravitch' interesting to say the least, truth too

[mquest123]

Originally Posted by Chemistry_Guy

I have observed that there is a big difference in the working class/poor neighborhoods of 2010 vs those from the 50s and 60s. A few generations ago, people were much more self sufficient. The people without college degrees or high paying craftsman jobs did not have a lot of money, but they could fix their own cars, build their own houses, prepare their own food from raw materials, knit/sew/repair their own clothes, and raise their own kids, even in urban/suburban areas. The rural population was even more self sufficient.

The skills obtained working at today's low-paying jobs (fast food, Walmart, data entry, telemarketing, cashier, etc.) are not tremendously helpful at stretching the value of a paycheck. I would argue that these useful life skills have been essentially lost for a large portion of the population, previous generations passed them down in the home, and working class/poor families have seen a decline in two parent stable households.

I propose that a well rounded high school education should teach young men and women self sufficiency in addition to the core academic curriculum. This means that, across both sexes, students should be taught to sew, cook, grow a garden, change brakes/tires/fan belt, paint, and frame a wall, among other useful skills.

I understand that education budgets are limited and these courses would have to come at the expense of something else. I also feel that no subject is so important for young people that they should be thrown into the world unable to take care of themselves if they are not capable of competing in the rat race that is our university system.

Not bad things to learn, but while other people are doing these things for me I am working overtime while they are doing it. I would actually lose money if I chose to do that work instead of what I actually do for a living.

Its called opportunity cost.

[The Dissenter]

I graduated from high school in 06 in Virginia and I agree that education is too focused on test scores than preparing someone for the real world. I think Personal Finance should be a required class in every state. I would also lump all of the things the OP mentioned into a year-long class that is required during the senior year.

Why do most states require 4 years of HS English which outside grammar is nearly useless? I don't remember a thing from my senior year of English. I think three years of English then replacing one year of English with the life skills class I mentioned is something to consider.

[Chemistry_Guy]

Originally Posted by mquest123

Not bad things to learn, but while other people are doing these things for me I am working overtime while they are doing it. I would actually lose money if I chose to do that work instead of what I actually do for a living.

Its called opportunity cost.

Even if you are not changing your own brakes and framing your own walls, I would argue that you would be a more complete person if you had the skills, and you would then be able to pass on the abilities to your children.

As a professor I have seen thousands of students, and if I have learned one thing it is that the information that we teach is not as important as learning how to learn. A well rounded student can learn through memorization, lecture, reading, working problems, doing experiments, by his or herself, in a group, with or without direction. I have found that some of the most neglected learning skills are those that require skillful use of the hands. Maybe practical hand skills are not required for most jobs in today's economy. I still believe, though, that our society is losing abilities that are critically important for the long term survival of our society by creating an enormous chasm between basic and advanced use of tools, with a society utterly dependent on technology that it only marginally understands.

[amIayankee?]

Well. Since the politicians and unions in charge of public education won't make the changes you all suggest, there is in option. And that option is to force your kid(s) through Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts like my parents By the time I graduated high school (in a good school system in Northern Virginia) I had learned so many things: civics, cooking, organizational skills, carpentry, leadership skills, personal fitness and so many others (I could list all my merit badges I guess). By the time I was 16 I organized a 25+ person project and backpacked the grand canyon!