Why are social skills somewhat ignored in the British school system?

Question

Social skills are a big factor in securing a good job, as much as the right qualifications.
So why are they not taught as a seperate subject at schools.
I believe that as parents we should help our children with the art of communication, however some people are not able to teach their children this, so shouldn't there be more emphasis on this subject in our schools?

Answer 1

I hear what you are saying.I do think that many aspects of communication are attended to at school , but not necessarily in those terms.
If i think back about my own schooling , I was taught to write letters, how to put things into my own words etc ,and having to do numerous "orals". I did these , but it was never explained to us why they were important, and that simple explanation would have made a difference. Just the same as my teen who does not understand why English, should be the one subject that he should try to excel at. It seems that they have this idea , that because they can speak English that they don't need to learn anything.

I am a firm believer in open communication with your children from a young age, and that you can explain the importance to them, in ways which do not bore them. The sad thing is that many parents do not have adequate communication skills themselves, which is why it would be great if schools put more emphasis on its importance, while teaching specific skills.

Answer 2

i taught in england for 4 sodding years. what a business. i come from south africa and have to come all the way from what (uneducated locals here in the uk) call a third world country (although south africa is every bit as first world as New York, where I'm from anyway) so I come all the way from there to a so-called first world country, to put up with their abuse and ignorance and they dont even have social skills.
I've taught here in Essex and have compared notes and experiences with an ex colleague in yeovil (somerset) and she feels its simply the demographical aspect.
English children here in Essex dont value education, and when you interact with their parents (at meetings or on calls home to tell them of their kids misdoings) they will and do tell you where you can stick your opinion. Nope, their children are little angels, especially when they hear a foreign accent and because i taught french. The english dont exactly value having to learn french because 'english is spoken worldwide and besides, why should we have to?'
Then to top it off, every 2nd parent if they do send you a letter, has so much spelling errors i think, and you only speak one language? surely, i'd have made sure i got it right then??!
with that as the backdrop, trying to remind kids of manners, is pretty much like teaching a giraffe to eat with a knife and fork. God helps all us foreign teachers here in England. Why does the government force them and us together? After all, with the other hand (of the government) teenagers get housing and benefits if they fall pregnant, and in newspaper articles of late, children explain why most of them prefer popping out kids rather than try to be taught manners in schools. And sadly enough, if you are a deep thinker, as i am, you apply a bit of foresight and see all these huge families with uneducated parents, while the educated have 2 or less kids, what sort of society is that cultivating?? sigh...perhaps i'll be understood on planet mars? i just thought that what i'm trying to say, isnt really rocket science...?

Answer 3

If people can't socialise their own children, they shouldn't have them. If they can't create sociable, respectful good members of society out of an average of 2.4 young people, why should a teacher try and do it with over 30 per hour?

Teachers are for teaching. They are imparting information and knowledge to our next generation. Why the hell should they also be nannies, childminders and now, surrogate parents? Bring up your own kids, and let the teachers do their job.

What exactly is a parent's job anymore if even this basic role is not theirs?

Answer 4

I think part of the weekly timetable in some schools is given over to covering a whole mixture of topics/subjects - normally an hour or so a week, spent with the class/form tutor.

Answer 5

Schools don't have time for this sort of thing which I think is a good job. This should really be learnt outside of a classroom. Those without many social skills will not listen and those with them will have their time wasted.

Answer 6

There is-it's called PSE,which stands for Personal and Social Education;it is taught in Year 10.

Answer 7

A lot of primary school education is about social skills - taking turns, listening, sharing etc. At secondary school there is Personal, Health and Social Education although to be truthful, most pupils and teachers dread it. I teach in a school for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties, so we place a big emphasis on it, e.g. "Say excuse me please, not move your f---ing ****!"

Answer 8

We try, oh yes we try - and then get 'letters' from parents (sometimes scribbled in pencil on the back of envelopes) saying things like 'I doent need yuo to teech my son maners.' (sic)
We can only do so much!

Answer 9

schools are too interested in teaching so called "political correctness" that they have over looked at teaching anything of any use to students.

Answer 10

They're not taught in American schools either, that's probably why I'm such a social retard.