Page 5 | Fed up with my kids going to school and not learning life lessons.

Ncoopa · 2023-03-09T22:46:12+00:00

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.

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:20

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:16

I completely agree with the op.
Schools should teach relationship skills to a high level, conflict Resolution, debate, moral philosophy. Also practical maths, as in, a proper understanding of personal, local, and national economics. To inform personal practice and public vote. Also basic law, including how law works, what a court is, what your rights are if you are arrested. And basic medicine. Not cell structure as a priority, but how to navigate the health care system, first aid, what good end of life care and good maternity care is, how to provide and receive that when needed. Etc. And politics- local, national, international. Some history to help with that. All with a focus on creating people who know how to help one another and be safe in the world. At the moment the main aim of education is to test students and sort them into hierarchy of worth. So they teach harder and harder stuff to make sure everybody is pushed to reach their potential an then judged on how good they are. But this creates half of the young people feeling like failures for being below average at random skills and loads of them under educated in how to be a decent and comfortable person.

What are you going to do? Give them a bath once a week. There aren’t hoards of adults going round saying how do I make a gp appt are there

Oakorn · 09/03/2023 23:20

justgettingthroughtheday · 09/03/2023 23:18

@Oakorn I am in no way ignorant thanks! You sound like you very much are however!

If you say so. Most people tend to think that the outraged, multiple exclamation mark posts insisting everyone else is an idiot who doesn’t understand are the ones who are a few baubles short of a Christmas tree.

JennieMassie · 09/03/2023 23:20

Sure they can teach those things in schools.. But surely it wouldnt take more than an hour or two overall to teach someone those things... 👀 How can someone who's been to school not know how to Google any of those "life skills"...

Happychappy12345 · 09/03/2023 23:23

Also just a reminder for OP, children model the behaviour they see from adults, so stop making excuses and shifting blame onto school and take responsibility. That might benefit your children more.

Sodullincomparison · 09/03/2023 23:23

I want my daughter to be taught every difficult, most specialist and extended area of every school subject because one could be her passion for life and unless she is exposed to it she will never know!

There’s time enough for the mundane aspects of life why make it dull and boring earlier than it needs to be.

Dotcheck · 09/03/2023 23:24

Sigh.

OK.
Education at secondary level is meant to be broad. It is a common stepping off point for most careers, which is why students gain foundation level of knowledge in a variety of subject areas.
You may not want to be a scientist, but others do. You may not think there is value in learning textile crafts, but others WILL make a career in that area. This is the point of free, all access education- it gives everyone opportunities.

Why should students learn about insuring cars when 1- they don’t own one yet. 2- many many choose to never own one 3- the system to do so is likely to change ( when I first owned a car I had to go into the agency).

Education is about giving them the critical thinking skills to figure these things out on their own.

Also- give your child pocket money when they are young. Encourage them to get a job when they are older- they will learn to budget.
Teach your child to boil a damn egg- it will take about 3 minutes

Daffodilsandtuplips · 09/03/2023 23:25

Isn’t teaching life skills your job op?

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:26

Also it's no good saying it's parents jobs to teach life skills,that leaves behind all the kids who's parents can't/won't/don't, giving all the advantages of knowing how to work the world to those who don't need those advantages as much. Education systems should answer to those young people as a priority, not as a interference. Not that individual teachers don't...just the whole system isn't designed to meet their actual needs.

JennieMassie · 09/03/2023 23:27

BlackCatFever · 09/03/2023 23:19

I always find it utterly ridiculous when someone says something like "what use is algebra?". I use the principles pretty much every day at work and I'm not in a STEM field.

Also, car insurance? How long is a lesson on using Compare The Meerkat?

The car insurance point is so true. No one "taught" me how to get car insurance. Saw an advert for confused.com and went from there 🤣. These things don't need to be "taught", they're not complicated-it's just information which can be passed on, which now with the Internet doesn't need to be passed on by someone in person.

Sqqueeeeeeee · 09/03/2023 23:30

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:26

Also it's no good saying it's parents jobs to teach life skills,that leaves behind all the kids who's parents can't/won't/don't, giving all the advantages of knowing how to work the world to those who don't need those advantages as much. Education systems should answer to those young people as a priority, not as a interference. Not that individual teachers don't...just the whole system isn't designed to meet their actual needs.

And schools should feed kids for the parents who don’t feed their kids and buy coats for the kids whose parents don’t buy them coats. They should do trips to farms for the children of the parents who don’t bother, they should get classroom pets for the children whose parents won’t have them. They should also take them to the doctors and the dentists and for haircuts, right? Otherwise it’s unfair on the kids with shit parents who can’t be bothered, right? No onus at all on a parent to not be shit and to actually fulfil the role that they chose to take on.

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:30

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:26

Also it's no good saying it's parents jobs to teach life skills,that leaves behind all the kids who's parents can't/won't/don't, giving all the advantages of knowing how to work the world to those who don't need those advantages as much. Education systems should answer to those young people as a priority, not as a interference. Not that individual teachers don't...just the whole system isn't designed to meet their actual needs.

Its unfortunate. That’s the lottery of life, some parents are great others are shite. School is to educate children. Children with crap parents still learn to navigate life because they have to.

Yoyo2021 · 09/03/2023 23:31

Ncoopa · 09/03/2023 22:55

I’m not saying we replace the entire curriculum with life skills so please don’t be dramatic. I am saying we add 10%-20% if their time to teach them basics they will need to be fully functioning adults. How to set up utility bills, why not to get credit cards and max them out, just stuff like that. Genuine life skills that they need. Not knitting a felt puppet and making a hat which is what mine did at school.

I also think a home economics class would be helpful which is for everyone learning how to cook healthy, basic and low cost meals. Learning basic skills like how to sew a button on or repair a piece of clothing too. 👍

Oakorn · 09/03/2023 23:33

Yoyo2021 · 09/03/2023 23:31

I also think a home economics class would be helpful which is for everyone learning how to cook healthy, basic and low cost meals. Learning basic skills like how to sew a button on or repair a piece of clothing too. 👍

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Yeah, let’s just keep pretending that doesn’t exist across the country and has done for decades and decades… did you even go to school?

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:35

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:20

What are you going to do? Give them a bath once a week. There aren’t hoards of adults going round saying how do I make a gp appt are there

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There are hoards of adults who can't use the health system. They get a completely different service than those who know how to navigate it. They get into conflict with doctors, they don't know how to seek trustworthy information, or misunderstand how health services are funded and so do not engage in public politics to support their own health needs. I research youth mental health, and I see that getting good mental health care requires skill and knowledge as well as resources.

Yoyo2021 · 09/03/2023 23:36

Oakorn · 09/03/2023 23:33

Yeah, let’s just keep pretending that doesn’t exist across the country and has done for decades and decades… did you even go to school?

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Wow, what an aggressive tone.

Home economics wasn’t a lesson when we were at school. Year 7 - 9 we had occasional term of cooking or sewing or wood work but when you went into year 10 or 11 it was only if you choose it as an option.

greatvisuals · 09/03/2023 23:37

BlackCatFever · 09/03/2023 23:19

I always find it utterly ridiculous when someone says something like "what use is algebra?". I use the principles pretty much every day at work and I'm not in a STEM field.

Also, car insurance? How long is a lesson on using Compare The Meerkat?

I'm genuinely interested in how you use the principle of algebra every day at work. My boy is always asking me 'what's the point' and I struggle to find examples he'll understand. I've tried construction work but algebra isn't my strong point so I struggle to justify it and keep him engaged.

Even though I'm not v good at it I find it quite fascinating and explain it as 'balancing the weight of numbers' or finding the simplest form of something. I am off the mark?
(sorry to sidetrack the thread)

Happychappy12345 · 09/03/2023 23:38

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:35

There are hoards of adults who can't use the health system. They get a completely different service than those who know how to navigate it. They get into conflict with doctors, they don't know how to seek trustworthy information, or misunderstand how health services are funded and so do not engage in public politics to support their own health needs. I research youth mental health, and I see that getting good mental health care requires skill and knowledge as well as resources.

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Are you OP posting from different account. Coz your expectations from schools sounds as ridiculous!

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:38

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:35

There are hoards of adults who can't use the health system. They get a completely different service than those who know how to navigate it. They get into conflict with doctors, they don't know how to seek trustworthy information, or misunderstand how health services are funded and so do not engage in public politics to support their own health needs. I research youth mental health, and I see that getting good mental health care requires skill and knowledge as well as resources.

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Yes those are mental health issues not I don’t know how to ring a dr.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/03/2023 23:39

Don't schools teach most of this stuff anyway?

My dd has had loads of stuff on financial literacy in pshe. Loads on health, relationships etc. Loads on food & nutrition when she was younger, and cooking lessons etc. A lot of the kids switch off in pshe but the schools do try!! Ultimately parents need to take some responsibility for bringing up their kids.

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:40

Sqqueeeeeeee · 09/03/2023 23:30

And schools should feed kids for the parents who don’t feed their kids and buy coats for the kids whose parents don’t buy them coats. They should do trips to farms for the children of the parents who don’t bother, they should get classroom pets for the children whose parents won’t have them. They should also take them to the doctors and the dentists and for haircuts, right? Otherwise it’s unfair on the kids with shit parents who can’t be bothered, right? No onus at all on a parent to not be shit and to actually fulfil the role that they chose to take on.

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You say that like it's a joke but I literally think yes, someone (state or community) should do all those things if parents can't. Of course. They are children and each is worth the same value and chances in life. It is not right for systematic disadvantage to be naturalised and dismissed. We owe it to do our best by kids with the worst start. And I don't think we should blame the parents either.

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:40

Yoyo2021 · 09/03/2023 23:36

Wow, what an aggressive tone.

Home economics wasn’t a lesson when we were at school. Year 7 - 9 we had occasional term of cooking or sewing or wood work but when you went into year 10 or 11 it was only if you choose it as an option.

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And could you not master how to sew a button on during three years of that? School might not be the issue. Also just look it up on you tube

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/03/2023 23:41

Also, my dd actually quite likes all the science and maths stuff that you think is a waste of time. She thinks some of it might be quite helpful when she's training to be a doctor.

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:42

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:40

You say that like it's a joke but I literally think yes, someone (state or community) should do all those things if parents can't. Of course. They are children and each is worth the same value and chances in life. It is not right for systematic disadvantage to be naturalised and dismissed. We owe it to do our best by kids with the worst start. And I don't think we should blame the parents either.

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No that is the parent’s job. If they fail entirely there is a social services system. Why don’t all children go to a boarding school at 3 and the parents can go and visit them sure. Anyone advocating for the state to take over the roles of parents need to think carefully about the workings out of that.

mumarooni · 09/03/2023 23:45

Well we will agree to disagree. Except we agree that sending kids to state boarding schools at 3 is a bad idea. So that's something. I'm off to bed.

Yoyo2021 · 09/03/2023 23:45

Eyerollcentral · 09/03/2023 23:40

And could you not master how to sew a button on during three years of that? School might not be the issue. Also just look it up on you tube

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It’s just an example of one thing that could be taught! Some children do not have parents to teach them these skills either.