Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 11:40:57 GMT -5
What subjects would you add to a school curriculum if you could? Here are a few I would add just to get the ball rolling:
1. Home economics - not the class where you make cute little pillows, actual home economics. The basics of YM - budgeting, accounting for taxes, choosing a lifestyle in line with your income, managing expenses and cashflow, the basics of retirement savings and why that's important. This should be a mandatory course that students take every year starting in primary school, like English or math (obviously it would be much more basic for little kids - how to manage allowance or birthday money - and it wouldn't necessarily have to be its own course right from the start, but it's a good idea to lay foundation for good money management as early as possible).
2. Job skills - what you can do to make yourself marketable to an employer, what skills are valued in the workplace, how to figure out what skills are desirable in any given economic climate versus what skills are desirable in a select economic climate, how these skills are different from the skills required to succeed in school (HAHAHA, like most teachers would ever admit that). This course should be mandatory for at least a year in high school.
3. Job HUNTING skills - how to create a resume and cover letter and properly customize them based on a job description, when it's a good idea to engage a recruiter versus looking on your own, how to find a better job when you don't like your job, how to interview, how to properly present yourself, the list goes on and on. This course should be mandatory at least one semester for seniors in high school.
4. Choosing a career - how to match your skills with a job, how to weigh different factors in a given career when deciding how suitable it might be for you, what benefits you're hoping to have, how long you want to work, how high you want to climb, how to choose a major which is applicable to a bunch of different careers so you're not locked into only one unless you're VERY sure that one career is what you want, how to get an internship and test drive the career, etc. Mandatory at least one semester for juniors or seniors in high school.
5. Living on your own - the basics of grocery shopping/cooking for yourself, how to deal with roommate issues, understanding a lease agreement, obtaining reliable transportation, and most importantly, learning about the relationship between freedom and responsibility. Yes, you can now go out and get trashed every night if you want - but you're also the only one who can be relied upon to get you up in time for work the following day. Yes, you can eat ice cream for dinner and chips for breakfast and no one will make you hit the gym - but you're the one who has to deal with the fact that you're starting to pack on the pounds. Also mandatory at least one semester for seniors in high school.
That would do nicely for a start. High school requires so many bullshit electives - why not use that time to teach things that kids actually need to know to prepare themselves for real-world success?
What else should we add to the curriculum?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Apr 19, 2013 11:42:51 GMT -5
Lose the attitude and if you choose to dress or look "different" then expect to work in an area that finds that appropriate. Life isn't fair and sometimes it is going to be WHO you know and not WHAT you know.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Apr 19, 2013 11:46:34 GMT -5
Industrical Tech/Automotive class/Welding/etc all those trade classes should be brought back.
I took Industrial Tech before Home Ec. Lots of little projects like wiring a pretend house, wood carving, robotics etc. It was a great class to learn basic home repair skills. Also a great place to discover interest in a trade. Not everyone is cut out for college but how can you know what else you're good at if you never get a chance to explor it.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 11:46:59 GMT -5
Birth control.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 19, 2013 11:49:29 GMT -5
Finances are sorely lacking in the curriculums. To the basics, I'd add the cost of college/training and how to pay for it.
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milee
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Post by milee on Apr 19, 2013 11:52:11 GMT -5
IMHO, school subjects aren't the big issue around here. School structure is the bigger issue.
It should be easier to fire ineffective teachers (which are rare, but if your kid gets a bad one, a whole school year is a long time for a kid to languish) and schools should function more around the needs of the kids than the school employees. There should be less admin layering and checking of boxes and more customization to meet kids' needs. We should stop being PC and mixing kids of radically different abilities in all subjects and instead allow small groups of children with similar aptitude to learn at a pace that is appropriate to them.
But if I'm playing the game of responding to OP, I guess more personal finance education would be good.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 11:55:29 GMT -5
OHO yeah. But that won't happen as long as the conservatives have their Vulcan death grip on "abstinence-only" education despite what a preposterous failure it's been so far.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 19, 2013 11:56:41 GMT -5
And realistic sex education. Teach more than just abstinence-only sex ed.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 11:57:22 GMT -5
Yes, the abstinence only campaign has been accompanied by funding for on-site daycares. I'm surprised that no republicans can make the connection.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Apr 19, 2013 12:07:35 GMT -5
Research skills. Not just how to find sources, but how to analyze them for bias, evaluate credibility, and connect them to a central theme. One of my good friends is a 10th grade English teacher and is consistently dismayed every December and May by the number of papers she gets which only cite to Wikipedia. We covered the scientific method in junior high, but its steps apply to so many other fields (even my current one, which is about as far removed from science as you can get) that I think it should be integrated into other courses. And I have NO idea how you'd teach this, but a course in understanding and participating in office politics might be useful. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/tongue.png) Agree with the other suggestions re: finance, life skills, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2013 12:22:31 GMT -5
@midjd said: A course in how to deal with difficult people. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/wink.png) One of my best experiences was being affiliated with an all black track team. Everyone should experience what it's like to be a minority. Also, when I was growing up, San Diego had a voluntary busing program. My school was already well represented with hispanic and asian (mostly Filipino, but some Chinese and Samoan). I credit my ability to be close to color blind because of those experiences. But it was a little weird to be in the advanced/gifted classes with no minorities other than Japanese American kids.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 12:26:34 GMT -5
I have said before that every kid should be required to do drama/acting classes. I think acting teaches people many skills that come in useful later in life. It can teach you how to speak in public. It teaches you how to prepare and memorize a script. It teaches you how to control your emotions and "act" a certain way, even when you "feel" a different way. At some point in all of our careers, we have to stand up and talk to someone and NOT tell them what we want to tell them, but tell them what we have to say. I can't think of a more useful skill than acting.
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telephus44
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Post by telephus44 on Apr 19, 2013 12:30:47 GMT -5
Just unschool them. They'll learn it when they develop an interest in the subject :-)
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tractor
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Post by tractor on Apr 19, 2013 12:33:28 GMT -5
A basic class on personal hygiene and house hold chores would be good. I try with my boys, but sometimes it feels like a lost cause.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 12:34:27 GMT -5
A basic class on personal hygiene and house hold chores would be good. I try with my boys, but sometimes it feels like a lost cause. LOL - Can we include that orange shorts and red t-shirts do NOT look good together?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:36:15 GMT -5
We should stop being PC and mixing kids of radically different abilities in all subjects and instead allow small groups of children with similar aptitude to learn at a pace that is appropriate to them.
Sooooooo much this. Part of the reason I hated school even though I was good at it was because I was so freaking bored. I only had one teacher in high school (ONE!) that ever bothered to challenge us.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:37:37 GMT -5
Research skills. Not just how to find sources, but how to analyze them for bias, evaluate credibility, and connect them to a central theme. One of my good friends is a 10th grade English teacher and is consistently dismayed every December and May by the number of papers she gets which only cite to Wikipedia.Ooh, very good midjd. We can title the course "WIKIPEDIA DOES NOT EQUAL RESEARCH!" ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/smiley.png)
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:39:44 GMT -5
I have said before that every kid should be required to do drama/acting classes. I think acting teaches people many skills that come in useful later in life. It can teach you how to speak in public. It teaches you how to prepare and memorize a script. It teaches you how to control your emotions and "act" a certain way, even when you "feel" a different way. At some point in all of our careers, we have to stand up and talk to someone and NOT tell them what we want to tell them, but tell them what we have to say. I can't think of a more useful skill than acting. I like it. And how about a course in business communication? I receive business emails with LOL on a regular basis. It drives me up a wall. How you present yourself on paper is just as important as how you present yourself in person - especially since written correspondence is quite often the first way you get in touch with someone.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Apr 19, 2013 12:41:53 GMT -5
I'm going to go against the grain and disagree with this whole premise. Clearly US schools are already devoting too much time to other subjects and failing to teach basic math, science, history, and language arts. When they figure out how to do that they can start adding other stuff into the curriculum, until then I'd rather see them cut the froo froo crap and focus on instilling discipline.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 12:43:40 GMT -5
I disagree that we need to teach a high school aged person an entire course in business communication. Maybe we need a whole course in communication - where we deal with all sorts of interaction, including phone calls and in person responses to less than ideal situations. But, every organization has their own personality, and businesses are getting less formal all the time. Plus, at some point the person that thinks they are going to be a teacher, or whatever, will get burned out on the "everyone will work in an office" environment. Better communication - spoken and written - is a critical skill, and I'm not sure we need to be so narrowly focused on an office setting.
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saveinla
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Post by saveinla on Apr 19, 2013 12:45:51 GMT -5
Research skills. Not just how to find sources, but how to analyze them for bias, evaluate credibility, and connect them to a central theme. One of my good friends is a 10th grade English teacher and is consistently dismayed every December and May by the number of papers she gets which only cite to Wikipedia.Ooh, very good midjd. We can title the course "WIKIPEDIA DOES NOT EQUAL RESEARCH!" ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/smiley.png) My son had a teacher in 9th grade and he would not accept any reference to Wikipedia. The rules of the class was all English papers needed 2 sources which were not Wikipedia. It made searching for the source a little harder, but it made them go to the library and work with the reference librarian. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/grin.png)
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:46:00 GMT -5
Better communication - spoken and written - is a critical skill, and I'm not sure we need to be so narrowly focused on an office setting.
By "business communication" I really meant "professional communication." Maybe I should have worded that better.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2013 12:46:17 GMT -5
Research skills. Not just how to find sources, but how to analyze them for bias, evaluate credibility, and connect them to a central theme. One of my good friends is a 10th grade English teacher and is consistently dismayed every December and May by the number of papers she gets which only cite to Wikipedia.Ooh, very good midjd. We can title the course "WIKIPEDIA DOES NOT EQUAL RESEARCH!" ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/smiley.png) it's a good jumping off point! ![](http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/raspberries.png)
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:47:35 GMT -5
I agree, @moneyjenny82. I find it a useful place to find actual sources, so it's not a bad place to start. It's just that some kids stop there, and that's not good.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 12:47:36 GMT -5
My son had a teacher in 9th grade and he would not accept any reference to Wikipedia. My son's 3rd grade teacher would not accept Wikipedia, and it was a pretty basic assignment.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2013 12:49:37 GMT -5
Wikipedia is a good place to go to educate yourself enough o know what initial questions you want to ask...
i do think the ability to evaluate information will be integral going foreword... Or it's Idiocracy for us...
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Apr 19, 2013 12:49:44 GMT -5
If I had to give something that school should teach but doesn't, it's that 90% of what you learn in school doesn't really matter, and most of what's actually going to matter in terms of finding employment and taking care of yourself as an adult, you'll have to teach yourself later. I'm thinking of k-12 education when I say this. The overwhelming majority of the US population doesn't even use junior high level math at work. No employer has ever asked me or anyone I know on which date the battle of the bulge took place and who the commanders of the respective forces were. I've sure as hell never had to diagram a sentence or write a book report to make a buck.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:53:36 GMT -5
Interesting story about how much trust people put in Wikipedia even if the information is obviously ridiculous/false: tuckermax.me/recap-of-round-one-responses/(Context: Tucker Max was hiring for a research assistant and basically issued an open invitation to apply for the gig. He crafted a very simple test for first-round applicants involving a super-easy research question - after he went to Wikipedia and entered a bit of misinformation on the relevant page.)
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 19, 2013 12:54:16 GMT -5
If I had to give something that school should teach but doesn't, it's that 90% of what you learn in school doesn't really matter, and most of what's actually going to matter in terms of finding employment and taking care of yourself as an adult, you'll have to teach yourself later. I'm thinking of k-12 education when I say this. The overwhelming majority of the US population doesn't even use junior high level math at work. No employer has ever asked me or anyone I know on which date the battle of the bulge took place and who the commanders of the respective forces were. I've sure as hell never had to diagram a sentence or write a book report to make a buck. True, and that is why things like communication, public speaking, quality research skills, etc, would be high-value skill set to impart on the next generation.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Apr 19, 2013 12:55:41 GMT -5
If I had to give something that school should teach but doesn't, it's that 90% of what you learn in school doesn't really matter, and most of what's actually going to matter in terms of finding employment and taking care of yourself as an adult, you'll have to teach yourself later. I'm thinking of k-12 education when I say this.
I agree but again, good luck getting 99% of teachers to admit that what they're teaching doesn't matter in real life. That goes directly against teaching propaganda.
I'm interviewing for a job this afternoon and they actually asked for my college transcript. I hope they're okay with an unofficial copy, because that's all I could get my hands on with such short notice. No one has EVER asked me for this before, and it really threw me.
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