To think schools should have a class to teach basic life skills

[beesandstrawberries]

We all learned so much in school that we haven’t used in day to day life - I mean when have we ever touched a Bunsen burner since school? But none of us was learned the basics of life and how to navigate it - things like:

• Showing how to do basic meals, cooking pasta safety, use of kitchen appliances correctly
• paying bills
• what a mortgage is, how to deal with contracts and paperwork
• how to meter readings
• change a lightbulb, basic tool use in the home
• how to check fire alarms
• credit card education
• managing money, spreadsheets to manage them
• insurances like life insurance and what ones you need
• education on abusive relationship signs
• things like peer pressure
• how to write formal letters/emails

I think we learn so many things that mean nothing when we leave school. If you teach kids basic life skills from a young age, it would make kids a lot more well rounded and less anxious in the ‘real world’ when it comes to managing money and not getting in debt. Even learning things like the warning signs of abusive relationships to young and impressionable teens as I think if I heard the signs then, I would have know what to look out for to prevent myself from getting in one as an adult.

I remember being in the real world and not knowing how to have good money management and I’m 28 and have no idea how to change a lightbulb. Even education for kids to learn about their bodies, that their outie bellybutton is normal and so are their stretch marks - so they don’t go into adulthood thinking their bodies are imperfect.

Children deserve more than Shakespeare or how to play football in pe. They deserve a kick start to life

Perhaps I should also pop in to put them to bed or drive them to football? Honestly! What else do people think schools “should” do?

I think parents “should” send their children in ready to learn: clean, fed and with appropriate clothing. These things are increasingly seen as things for schools for sort out- we’re out of time, money and staff to take on more.

Kids need to learn in practical situations. My DS is only caring about money as he's got his own account. He's only caring about food prep because he's always hungry & I'm not his maid. If he wants something, he's got to make it happen.

Otherwise it's just paperwork. We have to start teaching parebts to teach their kids. Although I have to admit the area we live in, most can barely manage their own finances, let alone teach it.

It's the parents' job,really...

This.

Sadly, you are probably correct.

It does beg the question why bother having children if there's no time to teach them basic life skills. Raising children is not just about feeding them, clothing them, get them to sleep in a clean bed and send them to school. It's about raising independent, respectful and responsible adults. A lot of this, through modelling.

Even so, in this day and age, I think anyone with a phone can find out how to do pretty much everything from YouTube or google. So we can concentrate more on moral values and building independence, curiosity and resilience. Then the kids can work out the practical stuff on their own really quickly.

Money management though, should start at home as early as possible.

As others have said - this is the job of parents. However schools already reinforce most of your list in other subjects. (except the lightbulb, which everyone I know in real life has manages to figure out.)

As a parent I feel it’s my job to educate my DC on all the above and more. I don’t outsource all elements of education to school? There are so many resources online now to help with this too, if parents are unsure.

Most of that is taught in schools.

And as to the Bunsen burner comment - I get so tired of the ‘when will I ever use that bit of knowledge’ argument. Do we really want the curriculum to narrow to only the things that will be practically useful? How would that even work?

Is there no value in having a breadth of knowledge? In learning for learning’s sake?

If people are stupid, there's not much you can do to help.

I know quite a few people who came in this country for various reasons, barely speaking the language. They figured it out. They figured out the mortgages, the lease system, how to pay bills, how to get an NIN number even. Their parents wouldn't know how to teach them, they are in foreign countries with different languages and different systems. They are not left behind!

Even if your parents don't teach you "basic skills", even by example - they eat surely?, young people can get when they need, they don't need schools to waste their time with basics.

This is always said by people who clearly didn't pay attention in school, as most of the things you mention were taught, or at least the skills needed to learn to do them.

Money management is just maths. If you paid attention in maths, you'd be able to work out an interest rate on a mortgage or loan. Writing a formal letter is specifically taught from Primary School in English.

Things like peer pressure are covered extensively in PSCHE

The other things may or may not be covered at school, depending on what school you go to, but more importantly, should be covered by parents.

Schools are there to provide an academic education and the primary purpose is to create employable adults, not to teach basic life skills that should come from home.

(And you also clearly aren't aware of the RSE curriculum which covers healthy and unhealthy relationships in depth.)

This was out of order - an uncalled for aggressive reaction to a stating the facts response.
why you so prickly?

I mean….I’m 33 and got taught a lot of this in school.
We did cooking & woodwork, as well as being taught electrical repair (basic re-wiring); abusive relationships and peer pressure were covered in LFL along with safe sex and STI’s and all the things that make teenagers laugh, as well as formal writing CV’s etc.
I think the other stuff is a as-and-when……would have been pointless teaching me about mortgages considering I can’t afford one

I actually don't disagree, especially because many adult women don't know anything about these things and end up leaving it all to their partners which vastly disadvantages women as we see time again on these forums.

Personally I am very financially literate but I think way more should be taught around personal finance in particular in schools. This will help women be on more even footing and less vulnerable to abuse in relationships.

Personal finance is taught, no one is ready to listen at 13.

My parents taught me these things, I’ve taught my dc. I was teaching her how to fill in her tax return earlier today via video call

I did actually do ‘Life Skills’ - it was compulsory in my school in the 80s. Included quite a lot of the stuff you mentioned, as long with how to wire a plug, basic nutrition and cooking (making eggs on toast etc), money management etc. I passed that one…

Another vote for it being the parents job.

also who needs teaching how to push a button on a fire alarm?

But people loved the Bunsen burner lessons. They might not all go on to be chemists but it might have given them a lifelong interest in science. This is one of the other values of school and it's frustrating that people seem so dismissive of inspiration and learning if you don't use that exact lesson in a paid job.

Most of your list you can do yourself or parents should. PSHE should cover abusive relationships, peer pressure and money management though.

‘Basic life skills’ need to be taught by parents to their own children. Schools are there to teach things which parents can’t all be assumed to have excellent knowledge of eg sciences, literature, languages. Teachers aren’t there to provide lessons in taking meter readings. Anyone can show their child this if they can be bothered. However, some of your list is taught (how to write letters, how to do basic cooking etc).

• Showing how to do basic meals, cooking pasta safety, use of kitchen appliances correctly - already on the curriculum funded by teachers not the school or gov.
• paying bills - already on the curriculum
• what a mortgage is, how to deal with contracts and paperwork - *
• how to meter readings
• change a lightbulb, basic tool use in the home - Basic tool use already on the curriculum
• how to check fire alarms
• credit card education - already on the curriculum
• managing money, spreadsheets to manage them - already on the curriculum
• insurances like life insurance and what ones you need
• education on abusive relationship signs - already on the curriculum
• things like peer pressure - Already on the curriculum
• how to write formal letters/emails - Already on the curriculum

I think parents should know what is being taught already to their children before making assumptions that they are not then roll up their sleeves and also do their bit as it is a team effort.

My school taught me how to write cheques, how every system in a house works (as in installing heating, electric etc), how to wire plugs, how to create a diet for a diabetic, how to sew by hand and on a machine, how to recognise depression, how to order food, board and transport in three languages, how to use a Bunsen burner, how to make a lasagne, how to splint a broken arm, how to budget for a household and much more. This was a convent school in the 90s. My mum and Dad taught me to ready meters, change tyres, open bank accounts, use a drill and an industrial floor polisher, iron and lots of other things too. I was lucky

Parents should teach these things but many won’t. Since when can we rely on parents to do things like that? It’s not the fault of the children if they don’t have family who can help them.

No it’s just common sense to remove the old lightbulb first, and take it to the shop with you so that you make sure you buy the correct bulb…..

When DH and I got our first flat together we also got a basic DIY manual and a basic tool kit. What’s so difficult about that? It’s even easier nowadays there are YouTube videos for everything.

Schools can’t teach everything but they teach you to read, write, do maths, how to research and use critical thinking - so that you can find out the information you need yourself in the future.

I get what you’re saying, but unfortunately a lot of parents don’t have the knowledge or desire to teach these things. If they can be assumed to have that, then they can presumably also teach basic reading and maths skills, but many rely on schools to help with that.