Why don’t they teach things like taxes, budgeting etc in school?

[Soubriquet]

Don’t say it’s because it’s the parents job because my parents were terrible and are in a lot of debt, so is dh’s so we haven’t learnt from them at all and because of that, we are mildly in debt but no where near as much

Why don’t schools teach these sort of things?

Because they’re skills you should be able to learn based on what you are actually taught at school I.e. maths. It’s very easy to learn these things yourself once you’re out of school

What about people like me who are terrible at maths?

The curriculum is full to bursting already.

Because there's not time in the curriculum at the moment. The curriculum is designed by people who can afford to have their own accountant.

I agree. I'm still waiting to use the trigonometry and algebra which were drilled into us at school, and I think that subjects like that are a waste except for kids who are obviously headed for a maths career. Budgeting, doing taxes, home maintenance would be much more useful imho.

Agree with storkstalk because these things are basically maths. It's just adding up, taking away and percentages. You are taught things in school that you go on to apply in real life.

The fact is that many people don't want to engage their brains and take responsibility. Addtionally all this stuff is on-line - calculators, youtube videos etc.

Because parents need to take some responsibility for their own kids

But do you think the problem is you can't budget or is it that you just don't earn enough to live?

I think society likes to tell poor people they are the problem, that they should budget better, smoke or drink less, work harder to earn more money when really there is terrible inequality and it's just impossible to make ends meet when you are a low earner.

Navigating the tax system and understanding the purpose/responsibilities of paying tax has fuck all to do with maths. But is very important to being a member of society.

These things should be taught.

I’m pretty sure the tax system used to be on the citizenship curriculum but I don’t think it is any more. I really think that the curriculum lacks life skills.

I agree with you OP

It comes down to what you think school is for really. Purely academic, or life preparation.

@fruitbrewhaha

But do you think the problem is you can't budget or is it that you just don't earn enough to live?

I think society likes to tell poor people they are the problem, that they should budget better, smoke or drink less, work harder to earn more money when really there is terrible inequality and it's just impossible to make ends meet when you are a low earner.

Also a very valid point. It's a very Victorian attitude to blame people for being poor.

They absolutely should. Martin Lewis from MSE has produced a textbook that is about financial education. I don't agree that because you do maths at school you should be able to know all that stuff. It's not about pure mathematics; it's about life.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2018/11/financial-education-textbooks-funded-by-martin-land-in-english-s/

Think they definitely should focus more on these, people would learn extra maths, English etc through doing taxes, learning about debt etc too. I'd cut other parts of the curriculum though to accommodate it, which isn't popular with everyone. I'd trim down other subjects and focus more on core skills and then you can go deeper into subjects at GCSE/A-level stage.

There’s no time for it. I have to start teaching my GCSE half way through year 9 as it is to fit everything in. The exam specifications are crammed full of content to get through. Plus schools are judged on results so lessons can’t be given over to stuff like this. Also, who’s going to teach stuff like this? I teach Geography so my knowledge of tax etc is probably only as good as the average parent. There are probably loads of teachers who are terrible with money and in debt - they’re only normal people. I wouldn’t necessarily do a better job than their parents would.

Btw I know because I used to write lesson plans on the tax system. Learning about the tax system teaches so much. It is a blend of maths and law, plus learning about what tax pays for and tax policy helps people understand about politics, economics, society, our legal system and government.

Algebra, trigonometry and stuff like that are never really used by the everyday person though I understand why it’s taught in maths

I had a whole topic on citizenship once. Can’t remember a thing about it, had GCSE about it and it seems a bit pointless now. Why not change citizenship for adult learning of things like taxes, budgeting and maintaining a home

Lots of schools teach citizenship which covers life in modern Britain, rights and responsibilities and politics and participation.

Totally agree OP. It should be on the curriculum. I hear everyone who says “the curriculum is full” but lots of things are on the curriculum now that never used to be and children aren’t spending any more time in school.

Schools do. But trying to get 15 years old interested in something which for many won’t impact them for a few years is very difficult. Budgeting is life skill and few lessons in the classroom is never going to be able mimic regular real life experiences.

My school did!

It was just before the Celtic Tiger years (which nobody saw coming) so they taught us how to live on the dole, avoid debt (detailed instruction about interest rates), not abuse heroin or glue, and how to apply for a Morrison Visa.

Chocolate
I volunteered writing lesson plans and it was delivered by teachers but I would happily deliver these lessons in schools on a voluntary basis. I have done something similar in a university.

Here's a direct link to the textbook download: www.young-enterprise.org.uk/resources/your-money-matters-financial-education-textbook/

Yes I agree, I remember having extremely stressful maths lessons about algebra and needing to know things specifically to pass the GCSE which I've never used again but I have zero grasp on how or why remortgaging is a thing. I'm not stupid either, I've been to uni, I'm three years into a PhD, I know things but there are definitely gaps which are illogical.

@starrynight21

I agree. I'm still waiting to use the trigonometry and algebra which were drilled into us at school, and I think that subjects like that are a waste except for kids who are obviously headed for a maths career. Budgeting, doing taxes, home maintenance would be much more useful imho.

I agree

and basics stuff around the law and taxes and credit card conditions

I realise this stuff changes all the time but sometimes people get into trouble because they didn't know what to look for and you can't inform yourself if you don't know certain things exist in the first place.

so much of what we are taught in school - or were taught in my case - is just useless.