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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fed up with my kids going to school and not learning life lessons.

224 replies

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 22:46

Does anyone else think we need a serious rethink of our education system?

Pythagoras, algebra, complex verbs, chemical make up of plutonium, these are just a few things my kids have learnt about this week.

They will come out of the education system not knowing how to insure a car or road tax. How to boil an egg. How to create a budget and stick to it.

Is it time we say it’s time to stop? And reevaluate? And stop wasting 5 hours a week on science when hardly any then go on to use it?

I really think it probably is.

OP posts:
YouTarzan · 09/03/2023 23:06

How to set up utility bills, how to renew licenses/insurance? Any adult who can read should be able to do these things, they are pretty fucking basic. My parents never had to teach me - I followed simple instructions on letters/websites

This!

JudgyVonHolierThanThou · 09/03/2023 23:07

Parent your own kids, OP.

Children need to be exposed to a broad, rich curriculum so that they can discover what motivates and excites them. Then, when they get to the senior years of schooling, they can begin to specialise.

All of the things you’ve listed are 100% things I expect to, and do, teach my own children.

Nimbostratus100 · 09/03/2023 23:08

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 22:48

Yes because I’m at work for 10 hours a day. That leaves me 3 hours either side, and then 8 for sleep. When am I meant to teach them complex things? That’s what they go to school for. I’m not demanding the entire curriculum is changed but a portion of it, say 20%.

Show quote history

No, that is not what they go to school for. They go to school largely for academic education that can be used in the work place.

Boiling an egg is your job.

Insuring a car - well all research has shown that trying to teach finance at school is a waste of time - that has to come later in life

academic education for the work place --> school

"life lessons" --> that is basic parenting

MarshaBradyo · 09/03/2023 23:08

Can’t you do it?

curlymom · 09/03/2023 23:08

I’m a teacher. Students sometimes say ‘ why do I need to learn this?’
I see why now! I’m not teaching your child how to tax a car or boil an egg. No one taught me at school but I’m still able to do it!

IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills · 09/03/2023 23:08

DinnerThyme · 09/03/2023 23:06

“Parenting is too hard, I shouldn’t have to do it”.

Show quote history

I think there should be a list of things you have to do as a parent and not offload on others given to people as soon as they are "legal".
Seems like lots of people just crack on under the covers and don't think further than that.

Frozensun · 09/03/2023 23:08

We can make it a race to the bottom. This has to be a wind up. Let’s remove anything complex and replace it with stuff that parents can - and should - be teaching kids. Let’s reduce teachers to glorified child care. Let’s get to the position where the majority of the population is unable to aspire to be anything other than basic level workers as they have no knowledge to do anything else. And then we rely on other countries that’ve had the foresight to teach complex material and to develop and educate their young people. That’s what we want.

MagentaRocks · 09/03/2023 23:09

What if someone doesn’t ever want to drive, being taught how to insure a car at school is a waste for them. There’s always going to be academic things that are not relevant to their life but it allows kids to find what interests them and helps them decide what path they want to take in life.

Chickenly · 09/03/2023 23:09

The chemical make up of plutonium isn’t even on the specification…

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 09/03/2023 23:09

You’re the parent. These things are your responsibility.

Zwicky · 09/03/2023 23:10

It takes 6 minutes to teach a kid how to boil an egg. Less if you like them runny. You don’t have time? Forward them a YouTube video if you don’t have time. If you are looking at an environment where you can totally outsource parenting, rather than just a basic academic education then you need a boarding school. Day school can’t cover basic stuff that parents should teach.

Wingedharpy · 09/03/2023 23:10

Do you give your kids pocket money?
If so, they surely have a basic grasp of budgets - if I spend it all on x, I'll have nothing left for y.
Don't you speak to your children?
Do they have any other adults in their lives?
They soak up all sorts by being exposed to things.
Not all education takes place behind a desk OP.

Original poster
Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 23:11

And you’re all happy for points you make at home and confirmed theories to then be undermined by those in schools?

OP posts:
Happychappy12345 · 09/03/2023 23:11

How do you think life saving medicines, rockets, robots, artificial intelligence, electric cars, bridges are created if you Don't teach children basics of science and maths? Who do you think will do that for you?
You can't simply be relying on children of other countries working hard to provide these things for you in future. Utterly ridiculous

GayforMoleman · 09/03/2023 23:12

So you work that 7 days a week and gave up teaching your kids anything yourself when they started school? Give your head a wobble love. With your vast knowledge of how to function I’m sure you could take a few minutes here and there to do your bit with your own kids.

MarshaBradyo · 09/03/2023 23:12

Happychappy12345 · 09/03/2023 23:11

How do you think life saving medicines, rockets, robots, artificial intelligence, electric cars, bridges are created if you Don't teach children basics of science and maths? Who do you think will do that for you?
You can't simply be relying on children of other countries working hard to provide these things for you in future. Utterly ridiculous

Yep

Teentaxidriver · 09/03/2023 23:12

What about weekends and holidays??

JudgyVonHolierThanThou · 09/03/2023 23:13

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 23:11

And you’re all happy for points you make at home and confirmed theories to then be undermined by those in schools?

Why would they be undermined if you encourage them to think critically?

Choufleuretbattenberg · 09/03/2023 23:13

Sweetie, there's YouTube for all this stuff. Try it.
School is for Academics and your children might need the help of a teacher.

Form filling / omelette making = youtube

Here ends my TED talk.

GayforMoleman · 09/03/2023 23:13

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 23:11

And you’re all happy for points you make at home and confirmed theories to then be undermined by those in schools?

Do expand on this, I’m sure it'll be a treat.

ScramblePud · 09/03/2023 23:13

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 23:11

And you’re all happy for points you make at home and confirmed theories to then be undermined by those in schools?

Yeah, you’re right, damn pythag undermining how to boil an egg… 😂🙄

The theory you’re teaching your children is to have no interesting in learning and to fail at life because it’s easier to be lazy and fob your responsibilities off on others. Damn fucking straight schools should be undermining that so your children have a chance to succeed despite you.

JassyRadlett · 09/03/2023 23:14

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 22:46

Does anyone else think we need a serious rethink of our education system?

Pythagoras, algebra, complex verbs, chemical make up of plutonium, these are just a few things my kids have learnt about this week.

They will come out of the education system not knowing how to insure a car or road tax. How to boil an egg. How to create a budget and stick to it.

Is it time we say it’s time to stop? And reevaluate? And stop wasting 5 hours a week on science when hardly any then go on to use it?

I really think it probably is.

I don't know, OP, I quite like having citizens who can build bridges and design and run power stations, having followed study and careers built on knowledge they first encountered at school.

I also think it's pretty good to give them language skills so they're able to understand very simple instructions they can find online, such as how to boil an egg or tax and insure a car.

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:15

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 22:56

And they need to teach them the ‘way of the workd’. About some of the politics and some of the world views. Loads of stuff just falls through the cracks and we end up with a workforce who have no idea about the real way the world works and the pitfalls.

That’s your job. The school is there to educate them not bring them up. If you don’t think your children can boil an egg or haven’t a clue how the world works, that’s on you, you are their first teacher and the biggest influence on their lives.

converseandjeans · 09/03/2023 23:15

Agree with @OnTheRunWithMannyMontana

Sounds like you need to take more responsibility.

Unless you want to teach your kids Pythagoras while the school teaches them how to boil an egg?

After a long day at work this has given me a laugh.

OP I've taught mine how to do online banking on their app, they can sell on vinted, boil an egg & pretty sure they will be able to sort out car insurance.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 09/03/2023 23:15

What points and confirmed theories