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Original poster

Do they teach children at school about bad people and how to spot them and how to protect themselves? If not shouldn’t they?

241 replies

Justwondering3 · 28/03/2023 11:09

Im just wondering as I have small children.

I was not taught this by my parents and got myself in all sorts of mess. Does anything happen at school to prepare our children for the big world in case the parents are not able to for whatever reason? Like myself I was highly academically educated but I was emotionally extremely immature.

Yes it’s up to us as parents to do this but some genuinely can’t.

Slightly un related but a girl in my daughters class has just had 10 baby teeth out because her parents gave her fizzy drinks. The parents for whatever reason have not protected this child but she is the one who suffers.

OP posts:
Villssev · 29/03/2023 21:05

This ^^^

Perfect way to wrap up a rather odd and ill thought out thread

Villssev · 29/03/2023 21:06

Your post @OfCourseImNameChanging that is 🙏

OldChinaJug · 29/03/2023 22:33

Justwondering3 · 29/03/2023 13:44

E.g most people think anger is bad, it’s not. Fear is bad, it’s not. We taught don’t be scared, but what’s wrong with being scared. These emotions tell us things. Are children taught this at school?

Yes. We teach that anger isn't bad. We teach that no emotions are bad; that emotions are part of being human. Its how you respond to those emotions that can be a problem.

OldChinaJug · 29/03/2023 22:34

Justwondering3 · 29/03/2023 14:14

I don’t think this seismic shift has had much of an impact on the mental health of teenagers and young adults.

That's because families have more of an impact than schools ever can....

Good and bad.

Original poster
Justwondering3 · 30/03/2023 01:10

Look if you search the internet there are hundreds of sites which all propose the same thing. That schools are not preparing children for the real world. This is of no fault to the teachers and yes the whole system is flawed as the pp stated, no one disputes that.

Learning life skills helps young people understand who they are and what they want out of life. Yes this is the role of parents but a lot of people simply aren’t teaching the right things.

”Instead of learning critical life skills on how to manage money, how to negotiate, or how to communicate, kids are mostly taught to memorise information. This is helpful to learn, but not at the cost of not learning critical life skills. Many people put these “life” skills on the onus of the parents to teach their kids, but not all parents are qualified to teach these lessons, and many assume that school is “enough learning.” The school system would be a perfect place to learn these indispensable skills.”

I quote “By learning communication skills, students learn to speak clearly and assertively, while respecting other people's opinions. What's more, they learn good listening skills and appropriate responses, including tolerance and open-mindedness”. The world needs a whole load more of this!

It is of my belief that the current school system does not set people up for real life. Low self esteem is at an all time high amongst children and they enter the adult world like this. I’m merely talking about one issue with regards to teaching people how to spot “bad” people in the real world. I believe there really needs to be a big overhaul.

School is mostly about achieving grades and qualifications when in the real world we mostly only achieve by failing first and learning the hard way. In my example being better at spotting “bad” people “bad relationships” would be a good life skill. It would be good to include lessons on this in the school year amongst many other things.

I’ve created a post and its been interesting to read the responses. I’ve realised it’s a bigger issue then I thought. Its my opinion and I respect that others have a differing opinion so we will have to agree to disagree.

OP posts:
Phoebo · 30/03/2023 03:35

So what you're proposing is a dumbing down of society to eductae the lowest common denominator? Good parents, parents but if school have to do the parenting then there won't be time for actual schooling, so we'll end up not having any engineers, doctors, architects etc? That's the outcome if you think it all the way through.

WandaWonder · 30/03/2023 05:09

But op 'teaching the right things' can be subjective

It is simpler for parents to actually parent and not use 'well I was not not taught x 20 years ago by my parents so I have no idea about anything'

Stop blaming schools

Villssev · 30/03/2023 05:36

any post, such as the OP’s final one, which refers to unnamed websites and writes I quote but then fails to actually identify who they are quoting is not a post I think many of us will take particularly seriously

Villssev · 30/03/2023 05:38

Phoebo · 30/03/2023 03:35

So what you're proposing is a dumbing down of society to eductae the lowest common denominator? Good parents, parents but if school have to do the parenting then there won't be time for actual schooling, so we'll end up not having any engineers, doctors, architects etc? That's the outcome if you think it all the way through.

The OP is completely unsure / confused / mixed up about what she is proposing.

when asked to be clear… it’s something about teaching about “feelings” how we “relate to the world” “fizzy drinks are bad” and “drop french for lessons about domestic abuse” 😂

Villssev · 30/03/2023 05:39

I’ve realised it’s a bigger issue than I thought. It’s my opinion and I respect that others have a differing opinion so we will have to agree to disagree

No one OP, least of all you, is clear what your “opinion” actually is

megonbertra · 30/03/2023 06:33

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ as it was posted by a spammer.

OfCourseImNameChanging · 30/03/2023 06:43

Justwondering3 · 30/03/2023 01:10

Look if you search the internet there are hundreds of sites which all propose the same thing. That schools are not preparing children for the real world. This is of no fault to the teachers and yes the whole system is flawed as the pp stated, no one disputes that.

Learning life skills helps young people understand who they are and what they want out of life. Yes this is the role of parents but a lot of people simply aren’t teaching the right things.

”Instead of learning critical life skills on how to manage money, how to negotiate, or how to communicate, kids are mostly taught to memorise information. This is helpful to learn, but not at the cost of not learning critical life skills. Many people put these “life” skills on the onus of the parents to teach their kids, but not all parents are qualified to teach these lessons, and many assume that school is “enough learning.” The school system would be a perfect place to learn these indispensable skills.”

I quote “By learning communication skills, students learn to speak clearly and assertively, while respecting other people's opinions. What's more, they learn good listening skills and appropriate responses, including tolerance and open-mindedness”. The world needs a whole load more of this!

It is of my belief that the current school system does not set people up for real life. Low self esteem is at an all time high amongst children and they enter the adult world like this. I’m merely talking about one issue with regards to teaching people how to spot “bad” people in the real world. I believe there really needs to be a big overhaul.

School is mostly about achieving grades and qualifications when in the real world we mostly only achieve by failing first and learning the hard way. In my example being better at spotting “bad” people “bad relationships” would be a good life skill. It would be good to include lessons on this in the school year amongst many other things.

I’ve created a post and its been interesting to read the responses. I’ve realised it’s a bigger issue then I thought. Its my opinion and I respect that others have a differing opinion so we will have to agree to disagree.

No, schools don't just teach students to memorise information. Schools are teaching life skills. I recently left a school that called PSHCE Life Skills, in fact. It's a compulsory part of the curriculum already. Every single thing you have suggested is being taught in schools right now. From dental hygiene and sensible diets to relationships, money management and online safety. I think you're quoting an Ofsted report in your second quote so there is an example of a school doing it well. But as you also point out, it isn't working. Because just doing this in schools isn't enough. So we need other solutions rather than imagining schools can fix this alone - they can't. But for the love of God, please acknowledge that what you're asking for is exactly the curriculum as it is right now!

OldChinaJug · 30/03/2023 06:46

WandaWonder · 30/03/2023 05:09

But op 'teaching the right things' can be subjective

It is simpler for parents to actually parent and not use 'well I was not not taught x 20 years ago by my parents so I have no idea about anything'

Stop blaming schools

Yes. It reminds me of one Parents' Evening.

I was speaking to one man about how he could support his son's learning at home when he interrupted me to say, "I'm not teaching him anything that's your job!"

No mate, it's your job too.

OldChinaJug · 30/03/2023 06:49

OfCourseImNameChanging · 30/03/2023 06:43

No, schools don't just teach students to memorise information. Schools are teaching life skills. I recently left a school that called PSHCE Life Skills, in fact. It's a compulsory part of the curriculum already. Every single thing you have suggested is being taught in schools right now. From dental hygiene and sensible diets to relationships, money management and online safety. I think you're quoting an Ofsted report in your second quote so there is an example of a school doing it well. But as you also point out, it isn't working. Because just doing this in schools isn't enough. So we need other solutions rather than imagining schools can fix this alone - they can't. But for the love of God, please acknowledge that what you're asking for is exactly the curriculum as it is right now!

Show quote history

Exactly.

And it's not our job to actually raise other people's children.

Villssev · 30/03/2023 08:40

If the op seriously thinks schools just yea h our children to memorise things

then the s hook her daughter attends is truly appalling and she’s be better off channeling her efforts in to focussing on improving her own child’s education rather than navel gazing about teachers teaching our children about feelings and dental hygiene

Villssev · 30/03/2023 08:41

But for the love of God, please acknowledge that what you're asking for is exactly the curriculum as it is right now!

the OP is either not capable of grasping this
or
so bloody minded that she point blank refuses to

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