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Original poster

What would you like to see taught in schools that currently isn't?

258 replies

EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 20:29

I'd like cooking to be taught, when I was in school it was taught till year 9 and then optional after that. Plus when it was taught we were making something like scones or bread - not something you'd make every day.

I've met so many grown adults who can't cook and waste a fortune on crap and takeaways, I think teaching people basic cooking skills throughout school would help to prepare them for when they move out :)

OP posts:
jewishmum · 08/07/2022 20:53

But do we trust these people to teach extras when they are already starting to push gender ideology in school? I'd be wanting to know what exactly they are telling my kids.

noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 20:54

I can confirm I remember nothing taught in History, because it was boring and 15 year old me had no interest in learning about the First World War

But people think they'll avidly listen to a lesson about pensions.

QueSyrahSyrah · 08/07/2022 20:54

@glamourousindierockandroll

No, but an age appropriate understanding and reinforcement of money / budgeting / saving etc throughout schooling (as reading for example starts with picture books & phonetics and ends with writing essays on classics) would stand many students in better stead than (again for example) the art lessons that my creativity-devoid self endured from reception to year 9.

Michellexxx · 08/07/2022 20:55

glamourousindierockandroll · 08/07/2022 20:40

On threads like these, I always wonder why people think it is the job of schools to teach life skills like this. I know that some parents are a bit useless but broadly speaking, most children shouod learn this stuff at home.

To me, it is my job as a parent to teach my children the basics of cooking and ensure they're doing it regularly. I prepare food for them every day anyway, so it make sense that I would do that. Same for personal finance. I see it as my job to teach my children about money, credit, bills, pensions etc. Same for basic DIY, how to be healthy, personal hygiene etc.

I want expert teachers to teach my children things like history, science, maths and languages that are outside my field of expertise.

I couldn’t agree more with all of this! School is for education! Parents should be teaching life skills.

AlsoknownasOther · 08/07/2022 20:55

British Sign Language.

I find it despicable that it's never been put on the curriculum at even a basic conversational language level.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 20:55

Sparkesy · 08/07/2022 20:50

Not everything is a school's responsibility- a lot can be learned at home - if it is really important to you talk to your children and show them - there just isn't time is an already crammed curriculum

That's true but like others and myself have said; not everyone has parents who can teach these things or are willing to, so I was just wondering what "basic life skill" would people like to be seen taught :)

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 20:57

Lots of this stuff is already taught anyway. Ask what your kids are doing in PSHE - it'll be mental health, abusive relationships and lots of stuff already mentioned on here.

Theimpossiblegirl · 08/07/2022 20:57

Parenting

That could help to break the cycle of schools having to do so much extra.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 20:57

noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 20:54

I can confirm I remember nothing taught in History, because it was boring and 15 year old me had no interest in learning about the First World War

But people think they'll avidly listen to a lesson about pensions.

Maybe not pensions, I'm 27 and probably would still dose off if you started talking about my pension😂 cooking, BSL, first aid etc I reckon would be quite interesting to teenagers, or you could make it fun and interesting :)

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 08/07/2022 20:57

It wasn't a boy/girl thing it was an Arts/Sciences split. Only girls did Cookery and Textiles and boys did Woodwork and Metal work but we swapped in the 6th form which I enjoyed. A couple of years after I left in 1973 boys and girls did both but there are only so many hours in the day so it would have been watered down for both.

Lulu1919 · 08/07/2022 20:57

Stop French and teach Spanish instead

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 20:58

Theimpossiblegirl · 08/07/2022 20:57

Parenting

That could help to break the cycle of schools having to do so much extra.

That's a good one tbf, I like it

OP posts:
Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 20:59

noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 20:57

Lots of this stuff is already taught anyway. Ask what your kids are doing in PSHE - it'll be mental health, abusive relationships and lots of stuff already mentioned on here.

I totally forgot about PSHE to be honest, I feel like that lesson was only in year 11?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 21:00

Nope, all years do PSHE.

MakkaPakkas · 08/07/2022 21:00

Philosophy,
Woodwork,
Basic household accounting include stuff including how loans and debt work
Gardening/growing veg
Maintenance of useful objects (changing fuses etc)

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/07/2022 21:01

Lulu1919 · 08/07/2022 20:57

Stop French and teach Spanish instead

My grandsons do Spanish at school so I think this is already happening.

turquoise1988 · 08/07/2022 21:01

@glamourousindierockandroll I hear you, but the sad fact is that if some of these things are not addressed by teachers in schools, some children will simply never be exposed to them.

I understand the point about it working the other way, though. By teaching 'life skills' in schools, it sometimes allows parents to free themselves from the responsibility.

I don't know what the answer is.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 21:01

Lulu1919 · 08/07/2022 20:57

Stop French and teach Spanish instead

Agreed!

OP posts:
QueSyrahSyrah · 08/07/2022 21:02

Lulu1919 · 08/07/2022 20:57

Stop French and teach Spanish instead

My school did both, and a friend of mine teaches French, Spanish and Italian in a secondary school so it may depend which school.

Agree Spanish is a more useful language overall, despite France being closer.

birthdaytou · 08/07/2022 21:02

Foreign languages taught early on in primary school. We start far too late.

Basic finances and the basics of our legal and political systems

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 08/07/2022 21:03

noblegiraffe · 08/07/2022 21:00

Nope, all years do PSHE.

I'm pretty sure for us it was once a month for 2 hours a day, only in year 11. That's good that all years do it now! I remember it being interesting

OP posts:
Andifin · 08/07/2022 21:03

Child development, psychology and parenting.

We have to give our future children a chance.

thesandwich · 08/07/2022 21:04

Careers and further education- get role models from every type of industry in to talk to students. Give them a view of the world beyond their parents worlds.

Titsflyingsouth · 08/07/2022 21:05

I'd like the primary curriculum to focus on less content taught for longer. My son has been rushed through times tables, fractions, angles at breakneck speed this year and he hasn't really grasped any of it. Kids are not empty vessels you pour info into. They need time to absorb and process stuff....

Andifin · 08/07/2022 21:05

And politics - the political system, democratic rights, government funding and policy making. Perhaps with some education popularist politics and voting will stop.