AIBU to think we need to start teaching some behavioural science in schools?

[mij66]

Hear me out, but with the rise in AI technology being able to make mass behavioural changes and the increase of invasive marketing and political practise, shouldnt we be arming our kids with at least some of the basic knowledge of how this stuff works. Not necessarily as an outright lesson, but maybe as part of PSHE or during form time perhaps? Or even if resources could be provided so parents could educate their kids, it has to be better than leaving them to the wolves!

Couldn’t agree more.

Fully agree. The World has changed out of all recognition, but school/subjects seem to be stuck in a time warp.

Trouble is that massive/fundamental change is needed, and on a country-wide basis, we're not good at fundamental change. We change a lot of things, a lot of times, but it's more a matter of re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Most changes are too small to have any effect (yet cost a fortune and cause massive disruption) and are often changed back a few years later under the next new initiative.

There is so much "real life skills" that simply aren't taught, such as personal finance, money management, health, etc. Yes, some if it is covered in PSHE but that's often regarded as a "joke" subject (by pupils AND staff) because it's not examined formally by such as a GCSE exam.

Actually all of the above is covered in the latest pshe curriculum.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/908013/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf

And ime students LOVE pshe and definitely recognise the value of it.

Another thing that ‘schools’ have to teach rather than parents. I don’t think so.

If you want schools to teach something that they don’t already teach then you have to choose something to drop.

I know this, I am a teacher in secondary but I think this is a subject we dont even consider. I also dont think it's something that will get pushed as the interest in keeping people unaware is too great but just wanted to start the conversation more than anything. Like I said even some resources to make parents more aware of how this effects us (nobody likes to think they're susxeptable to this stuff) and how to recognise when your being manipulated. I do concede maybe in school is not the place with all the pressures schools are already under, but i do think this is a hugely important subject that seems to get no coverage.

I run healthy choices/finance sessions for my 6th form students but it needs to be delivered by specialist teachers (as should all the phse topics to be honest rather than just whoever is free at the time it is timetabled). There's just not the funding for this so it gets done as best as it can by teachers who are specialists in their own subject areas as opposed to broad life skills.

But all of those mentioned are in the PHSE curriculum and are part of the new OFSTED framework so it is all addressed.