Oftentimes, in the middle of a unit in a high school class, I would find myself wondering why we were even learning about that particular topic. I knew I would never use that information once I graduated, and would instantly forget the skills as soon as I used them to pass the upcoming test. As valuable as many of the concepts learned in high school ended up proving themselves to be, I sometimes wish that we had spent a little less time memorizing the equation for photosynthesis and the digits of pi, and focused a little more on more practical topics. Below are 10 subjects that I wish I had learned in school.
1. Money management.
This includes mortgages, how to pay bills, taxes and simply budgeting and saving for the future. As someone who should have already started saving in order to pay for expenses follow graduation and will soon becoming financially independent, it would have been extremely helpful to learn how to navigate this. Having to figure finances out alone has dangerous implications.
2. Relationships, in terms of work, social, and romantic.
Relationships are absolutely essentially for wellbeing, but the systems we create for ourselves as social support will only serve to be detrimental if the relationships themselves are unhealthy. It should be the responsibility of the school to teach health and safety when it comes to interpersonal relationships to best promote wellness.
3. How to navigate confrontation and challenging social situations.
We will all face difficult situations when interacting with other people in the workplace, and if a school is attempting to prepare children to be successful contributors in their work, it must teach them how to deal with such instances properly. Additionally, conflict in personal lives relates back to relationships, and can become a safety concern with ease.
4. Time management.
Teaching time management in schools will serve to benefit the students and teachers immediately; while still in the education system, students will be better equipped to balance extracurricular activities and various class assignments.These skills will then carry over into the workplace.
5. Employment, specifically the process of searching for a job, application preparation, and interview skills.
From summer jobs that will help fund higher education, to real careers following graduation, students need to know how to approach a job application and a potential employer. Employment is both competitive and necessary, and with several applicants holding the same academic qualification, further tools and techniques for applications and interviews could define a student’s employability.
6. Basic cooking skills.
In their attempt to prepare children for
the real world, schools must begin to incorporate practical skills such as
cooking. We all have to feed ourselves, but not every parent has the time to
teach their child how to prepare healthy recipes.
7. Basic home and car repair skills.
Aside from trial and error when something needs fixing, there are few opportunities out there to learn basic repair skills. Children should learn how to deal with common issues around their house or with their vehicles in school in order to promote their development into autonomous adults. Their parents won’t always be around to fix things.
8. Self-care, with a greater emphasis on mental health.
It is essential that students understand how to take care of themselves not just when they have a cold, but when they are experiencing symptoms of depression or other mental struggles. Self-care when it comes to mental health is necessary for safety and well-being, and teaching it in schools benefits society, the school, and the individuals.
9. Comprehension of the concept of privilege, and the skills to understand one's own.
If teachers want their students to become productive people who benefit the communities in which they live, teaching privilege is fundamental. Students will not be able to effectively support themselves and their communities if they are not able to acknowledge their own privilege, the privileges and subjugations of others, and understand systemic oppression.
10. Non-"abstinence-only," non-heteronormative sex education.
The states with the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country are the same states that preach abstinence in schools, and yet it is still the basis of many sex education programs. Additionally, it is crucial that sex education is taught in a manner that recognizes validates each student, teaching no singular identity as the norm and leaving no one feeling abnormal or ostracized.
