Sorry this is long! Name change, Mexican house thief, penis beaker etc...
I know it's been discussed before but I really think this is something that ought to be looked at again, esp. in the UK.
A lack of personal responsibility; victimhood and blaming everybody from teachers, police, anyone successful, anyone fallen on hard times, your parents, migrants, the government, social media, you name it - it's growing in our culture, across the full spectrum of society...it's ALWAYS somebody else's fault or responsibility. Having a large welfare state structure as we do, compounds this.
Have been thinking about what would make the most positive difference to society and think it should start at school so we can have more adults making better choices and buying into personal responsibility as a life skill.
My perception is that school focus on inclusion; dealing with social issues, drugs etc but don't spend enough time on the practical life preparation that everybody needs.
The common sense stuff it feels like is missing.
Life skills and choices should be a one year (or more) compulsory subject that every child at school should have to pass. I don't think it should be just like PSHE lessons, it should have an exam.
This should include all the latest info around PRACTICAL LIFE CHOICES which is supported by a huge wealth of research now - to show the impact on your future economic position and therefore the future choices you can make.
- stay in school
- be as educated as you can be
- do not marry at a young age
- prepare very well to marry (& how to maximise success)
- respect for law and order
- do not fall pregnant at a young age
- prepare very well for parenthood (I know parenting classes have been discussed on these boards, and dismissed because there is no one acceptable definition of what makes a good parent but surely the practical considerations are universal - money, time, childcare, environment)
- money & finance skills
- property / renting/ owning skills
- as well as all the current PSHE stuff
Across all of this, personal responsibility.
We live in a country with free education and low unemployment. It doesn't matter where you start in life, you work with what you have and you make good practical choices - you are responsible for the life you have based on the choices that are in your direct control.