To think that the curriculum should cover essential life knowledge?

[Alittlepotofrosie]

I have been reflecting on the fact that so many people dont know how voting works. It's a long time since i was at school so maybe they now do teach this stuff. But AIBU to think that the school curriculum should cover for example, how voting works, how taxes work, how to budget efficiently, employment rights, how the government works/is formed, how the court system works as some examples off the top of my head?

I know its possible to learn about all that stuff yourself and lots of parents probably do teach their children this but surely all children should be taught this kind of thing at school?

They're supposed to be taught this sort of stuff in PSHE.

In reality it usually seen as a doss lesson taught by teachers who aren't really qualified to teach it.

School isn't supposed to teach you everything... parents are expected to do something! Budgeting is covered and some stuff on gov... there are only so many hours in a day and more basic stuff like literacy, plus more advanced stuff like sciences and languages should take precedence surely? 6th form curricula maybe...

I sometimes think parents need to take more responsibility for their children's education and understanding of the world we live in. Rather than expecting schools to be responsible for absolutely all knowledge.

Having said that I think it is fairly shocking that some children have to choose between art/drama/history and that history and politics should be more prominent in the curriculum.

I thought parents were supposed to teach that sort of stuff...

Well, just this week my y7 has done budgeting in a maths lesson and informed me they are having a mock election this week too. I know that in y8 they cover budgeting again including tax and qualifications needed for various jobs. They cover things like peer pressure in drama. So it is possible.

There's plenty of parents who don't understand these things either because they've never been taught. So its a vicious circle.

In reality it usually seen as a doss lesson taught by teachers who aren't really qualified to teach it.

I have never worked in a school where PHSCE was taught by anyone with a dedicated qualification in it. In fact I have never met such a person (although someone did tell me once that their DP was training to teach PHSCE.) I have always taught it one way or another. I have covered things such as voting, finances/budgeting, sex and relationships etc - you name it - to the best of my knowledge and ability. But I bet by the next year most of the kids didn't remember any of it.

You can lead a horse to water ...

(I did explain these things to my own kids though).

Sometimes I think we should just make teachers adopt our kids at birth then move out of their homes & live at school to teach them everything imaginable.

Then we wouldn't need to teach them anything at all, or even bother googling

I thought parents were supposed to teach that sort of stuff.

And if parents weren't taught "that sort of stuff" at school ?

There is a certain irony in naturalised immigrants having a better grasp of the UKs constitution and history (by dint of having to learn it to become a citizen) than indigenous citizens.

It's called Life Skills at our school.

People will generally only self-teach the bits that they find interesting. My teens aren't interested in politics at all despite me voting at all elections.

YANBU. There's far too much fluff on the curriculum & not enough actuals.
Important life skills, such as share dealing, dealing with trusts & the legal implications of non marriage & children, should be drilled into them by us, if school aren't going to do it.

Important life skills, such as share dealing, dealing with trusts

This is a piss-take, yes?

I agree - it's all very well saying parents should do it but many either can't or won't. And that is hardly the child's fault.

And if parents weren't taught "that sort of stuff" at school ?

Pretty sure people can learn after they leave school. Google was even invented by someone who had finished school

I firmly believe that tax and how o deal with things like loan interest and overdrafts should be taught - possibly as part of a maths lesson.

I've had to explain tax many a time to otherwise competent adults as they just had no idea. Sadly even to the people who really should know better too. Yes I'm looking at you payroll.

How to cross a road
I believe this is more crucial than anything else you could learn

But AIBU to think that the school curriculum should cover for example, how voting works, how taxes work, how to budget efficiently, employment rights, how the government works/is formed, how the court system works as some examples off the top of my head?
I shouldnt bite but seemingly some parents dont think they have to teach or explain anytging or prepare their children for life.

This is why healthy eating, budgeting, politics, bullying, LGBT equality, law, social media, online safety, racism, sex Ed, relationships, how to deal with friendship issues, issues of radicalisation, sexist, conflict resolution, resilience, depression, eating disorders, media and online content, criminal responsibility, mortgages and finance, enterprise, careers, CV writing, job applications, refugee week, charities, world issues, global events, how to vote, how government works etc is all ALREADY TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS!
You know, on top of the actual main curriculum.

I enjoy teaching PSHE but it pissed me off that people spend half their time saying "why did school teach me algebra but not how to cook beans on toast or how to budget". Firstly, it really shouldn't be schools job to do all your life prep, some yes but you are with us for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 39 weeks of the year (ish). You are at HOME more. Secondly, when we do teach it we have loads of 'but we don't need to know this for ages' and some of them don't pay as much attention.

But it's fine, because teachers shouldn't just teach their subject and do their pastoral responsibilities and do PSHE (which is reasonabel) and do the revision and holiday sessions. What we should do is basically parent kids because people can't be arsed to do it themselves.

Sorry, I love doing PSHE and think is hugely important, but don't make out like it's my job to do everything.

I agree that personal finance (tax, morgages, pension, that kind of thing) would be extremely useful. Most people I know don't understand these things and it can have bad consequences if you aren't informed.

I think if schools teach you how to learn, you can find out all that stuff for yourself, even if your parents don't help.

I wasn't taught anything like that in school but perhaps this is different now? Judging by pp who have more recent experience above.

goingonabearhunt
But my question would be is why should it be primarily SCHOOL who are responsible for that?
I agree we should do some, which we do.

But the way people go on its like 'I was made to read poetry in English and study algebra in maths and it's so unfair my teacher didn't tell me that I shouldn't spend more money than I have' as if somehow their own parents or their own 'I'm an adult so probably should find out' isn't at all responsible.

I wasn't taught about stamp duty in school or mortgages, but as a functioning adult I've managed to find out. Like adults before me have.

Agree OP, it would be a good idea to teach stuff like that. My parents never did.

healthy eating, budgeting, politics, bullying, LGBT equality, law, social media, online safety, racism, sex Ed, relationships, how to deal with friendship issues, issues of radicalisation, sexist, conflict resolution, resilience, depression, eating disorders, media and online content, criminal responsibility, mortgages and finance, enterprise, careers, CV writing, job applications, refugee week, charities, world issues, global events, how to vote, how government work

Well I'm glad this is taught at some schools now. I was taught next to nothing on that list. A bit on healthy eating, some discussion on abortion, the death penalty, how to put a condom on a banana and how to check for breast and testicular cancers.

Absolutely zero on budgeting, sexism, LGBT, mortgages, finances, radicalisation, friendship issues, refugees, politics, mental health or drugs (other than say no). Nothing.

I also wasnt taught very much of that stuff on the list. Definitely nothing useful about financial things.

Don't think we did CV writing, conflict resolution, voting or anything about how governments work either.

I do remember a discussion on what age we should be allowed to vote but nothing on the process itself.