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?

I think it's up to parents to teach all none academic stuff, kids will be leaving school illiterate soon if we expect teachers to take a parenting role.

My DH has always been an engineer. Never any other profession. Would anyone suggest he knows nothing about real life? The "back to achool" argument is as daft as the students saying we should wear uniforms because we are "at school" too. We work in our profession, as others work in theirs.

I'm afraid there are some things that you can't learn without experiencing them

Then what is the point in trying to teach them to teenagers?

Good grief, yes maybe we could teach those things too in the all the spare time we have in the 25-ish% of each weekday we spend with your child. Man alive, maybe people should just hand their kids over at birth and collect them at 18 when they're 'done'.

My 7 year old knows about politics, yet a couple of my 6th form still don't have a clue. I didn't learn about politics at school (although politics a level was offered), I learned about it through listening to my parents' discussion of the 6 o clock news. I worry a little that my kids aren't learning what I learned because they have parents who don't spend as much time with them. I'd like school to teach them everything (well, apart from what his teacher thinks is good writing), but I'm aware that that's not really what school is for.

(my nearly 6 to has it in her head that we are electing Prince Charles as the Queen will be dead soon - because of something they've said at school! . I'd rather they left it to me because she sort of got it before they had a lesson on it! )

noble

You are needed on the stupid exam answer thread

I am a cynic and from my experience if you try teaching 'subjects' that are non-examinable then they will be treated by the pupils as a waste of time. The kids who dont need to learn them will pay attention and the kids who need them the most will ignore them.

Teach children the core subjects and leave parents to do the life skills.

I can remember my ds1 aged 12 starting asking questions about all sorts of "grown up stuff" for want of a better description.
So we looked at what they do in PHSE and Citizenship as they weren't offered at school.
We did careers, jobs, finance, mortgages, interest rates and anything you can imagine.
We owe it to our children to do this, start when they are early teens and they'll understand so much by the time they are ready to leave school.
It only took about an hour or so a week and it was time spent together, we both got a lot out of our time together, it wasn't like teacher/ pupil but mum/son having a chat.

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.
Good on you, kaitlinktm and others, you guys are supporting our future generation to become non-repressive, respectful and thoughtful, socially responsible adults.
I wouldn't underestimate the power of a thought provoking lesson on medieval history that integrates for example- employment rights.

Or a drama lesson integrating the subject of how voting works.
Or a social studies lesson where students are free to talk about topics of interest or in the media, such as gay marriage.

Meanwhile in USA, in the year 2017, it appears sex education is taking a step backwards with the federal funding for adolescent sexual health programming intended to prevent pregnancy, HIV and other STIs may be on the chopping block,as social conservatives in Congress push to redirect funding back into programs promoting abstinence.

I have read (probably on MN!) about schools teaching the DC about how to choose the best mobile phone contract. I was disappointed that my DD's school didn't do this!
I think a lot of things should be "taught" by parents, not teachers.

I don't think we should teach "life lessons" in lieu of academic subjects.

If someone can't work out how voting works for themselves, it's probably preferable they don't vote.

To the parents saying 'I can't teach my child, I don't know it either' do you seriously think teachers already know all of this stuff beforehand? Do what we would do and get some work in before the conversation.

Isn't this a parent thing? Don't parents talk to their kids any more about life and what goes on? More conversation, less gadget time.

Pentapus Such a simplistic view. If someone can't cook, it's probably best they starve too?
Parliament is an incredibly complex function. Politics and policy are crucial to understanding pretty much everything about the society and world we live in; health, economy, law and so forth. It's not a case of you go to the polling booth and put an 'X' in the box.

Yes, but is it the job of school to explain how all of society's institutions work? I'd say not. Too much is getting put into schools and people are taking it as confirmation that it's 'not their problem' and then complain about how schools cover these issues.

We should (and do!) cover PSHE. But there is a responsibility on parents to pass knowledge on or go and find it.

I didn't know much about criminal responsibility and how youth offending/antisocial behaviour is dealt with. It's on PSHE this year so I've had to find out. Nobody taught me. I found out the same way as any parent of a teen could.

if someone can't cook, it's probably best they starve too?

Meh.... there's always sandwiches.

Or they can just use some initiative and work it out. It's not rocket science to make a basic meal.
Hell, ready meals only require a couple of buttons pressing.

Parents need to teach these life skills, not leave everything to teachers!

The kids who dont need to learn them will pay attention and the kids who need them the most will ignore them.
Perhaps this is due to, in any classroom, there will always be kids who
-have difficulty maintaining focus/attention
-lack organisational skills
-are unwell or tired or under stress

The same issues are relevant on teaching core subjects too, then, as kids like my son will often wane in attention due to difficulty with organisational skills and attention.
Should we really just give up ? So many wonderful teachers are still doing an amazing job teaching our future generations, despite the inevitable burnout from overwhelming work volume and not to forget demanding kids and parents ! ;)

I can only remember about 10% of the stuff I was taught at school

Just adding things into a curriculum isn't the answer

i believe it's a partnership...parents-studentsteachers
Not any one group's role but whether we like it or not, we all play a role
So the parent who does diddly squat to teach their child respectful sexual relationships or about party policies/voting system is as much part of the problem of raising future nuffies at best or disrespectful,disengaged assholes at worst

Same insta and I'm a teacher.

The way I see it is people get a broad education that gives them the option to pursue a range of pathways. We drop and forget things we need less.and remember what interests us and we want to study further.

I'll fit it in beside toothbrushimg, teaching them how to wash their hands properly, how to use a fork and knife, how to tie their shoelaces and how to zip up their jacket. On top of their reading, writing, PE, maths, art etc.

I understand what you are saying OP and it is probably covered in most schools. But teachers are increasingly becoming parents to 30 children and can't fit absolutely every single life skill into a very overcrowded curriculum