What should be taught in schools but isn't? I think auto mechanics-just basics. changing tires, adding air to tire.

[debm55]

jumping batteries, All of which I can't do. Just basic stuff.

[quaint]

1. In California, many ( or most ) offer what used to be called auto shop.

Automotive Academy Fullerton Union High School

Another

[debm55]

3. Thank you very much, quaint. Around here it is taught in auto shop. Both I thing all students should be required to take

take it.

[Polly Hennessey]

2. Financial responsibility.

[debm55]

4. Agree. Thank you very much for sharing with us, Polly Hennessey.

[quaint]

18. Also, return to teaching how to make change; it helps to make money real.

Financial responsibilty should include how being an idiot when young can follow you into adulthood.

[Ocelot II]

5. How to function without electronic devices.

How to balance a checking account, other basic financial matters.

I'm not sure auto mechanics would be as practical as it once was, since modern cars are mostly black boxes. You can't fix them yourself any more or even figure out what's wrong. About all you can do yourself is change a tire or start with jumper cables if the battery is dead.

[debm55]

7. Yes, I agree with that, Thanks Ocelot II. Going to change OP

[FalloutShelter]

6. Used to be taught.

I graduated HS in 1971 and we had a full auto workshop and woodworking shop in my very small High School in NJ.
My graduating class was 98 students.

Yeah... I'm old.

[debm55]

8. Thank you FalloutShelter. for sharing with us. I had 700 in my HS in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

[FullySupportDems]

9. Something like Home Ec

We had a Home Economics class, which I didn't take, but I think it had things like cooking and sewing. I'd like to see something like that, to also include taking care of a home. Things like how utilities work, what to do for water leaks, how to hook up a washing machine and dryer, how to fix a hole in the wall, how insurance and rental contracts work. So many things in life we learn from parents and others, sometimes imperfectly and with lots of hard lessons. Life is tough, and I think kids need better information about it. Not just how to get into college.

I loved thinking about the question, thanks Deb! 😊

[debm55]

12. Thank you very much for your suggestions, FullySupportDems. There are so many things that we don't know when leaving HS.

Basic things that are never taught.

[FullySupportDems]

21. And so many life lessons we learn the hard way

It's not my favorite, that's for sure! 😄
Prayers for a good future for young people 🙏

[displacedvermoter]

10. Students should have to pass the citizenship

test that immigrants have to take to graduate from highschool.

[debm55]

11. I agree.with you . Thank you very much for sharing with us. displacedvermoter.Excellent idea.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. My dad taught me all of that before I was 12.

[debm55]

17. Thank you very much for sharing with us. sinkingfeelling. My dad really had nothing to do with his kids. He worked and

did not want to be bothered.

[Midnight Writer]

14. Basic money management. Making a budget, setting up savings, how to pay bills, how to shop, how to invest.

In my High School, we learned this in a Physical Education class taught by our redneck football coach. He did this on his own, not as part of school policy.

He taught us basics such as how to write a check properly, budgeting and saving.

I found it to be a great help as I transitioned into adulthood. It was also a good starting point for further education in handling personal finances.

I've never been much of an earner, but by using very basic savings and investing (nothing fancy, nothing exotic) I have been able to enjoy a comfortable retirement without a lot of money worries.

A lot of the people I worked with, who made the same pay, ended up in dire financial straits. I am grateful to this bombastic football coach who saw and acted on a need that the curriculum overlooked.

[Deuxcents]

15. I'll second this. My parents stressed about saving our money but forgot to tell us what to do with it

How money makes money, compound interest, interest rates and how it affects people, how to write a check and balance the register. All these things I learned by trial n error and some helpful advice along the way. These days credit/debit cards and even a little square on an app buys and pays for things thru the internet..they should know the pros n cons of that, too.

Also, social studies/citizenship classes should be a requirement to graduate, imo

[debm55]

16. Thank you very much for sharing with us. Midnight Writer. That was terrific information to be taught.

[sorcrow]

19. Basic auto stuff is a good start

I would add money management and budgeting. I've had a bank account since I was in kindergarten. Heck, just teach them to spend less than they make.
Also, cooking. It's a highly useful skill and it ties back to the whole money management thing.

Best regards,
Sorghum Crow

[TBF]

20. Academics, critical thinking, trades & recess :)

Most kids have smart phones now and can find "the basics" easily enough. I had to be able to change a tire to pass driver's ed in high school (back in the 80s) - but when my daughter broke down in Europe in a rented van, she googled it and changed it herself. I like to think her father and I have taught her how to think and solve a problem when something comes up. Same with home ec - I was taught how to make the perfect white sauce. That's a google search now.

I would say beef up academics and critical thinking, particularly for college bound kids, so they can compete globally. But also, don't assume all the kids are college bound. Many don't have the aptitude or interest to go to college and would do better with a survey of trades to figure out what they might want to do instead. There are plenty of good paying jobs that don't require a college degree. Helping students to take community college classes in high school, for example, could help prepare kids who want or need to work right away.

Elementary school - recess! It's the first thing that they seem to like to take away but everyone needs it. Exercise, stress release, etc.