Are there any teachers in here?

Question

Why aren't children taught what they need to know about life? Communication skills, money management, about marrage, raising children and drugs etc, etc.

Answer 1

This is an excellent question. I've always felt that these practical matters should be a part of the school curriculum. Money management and family matters (marriage, children) are given casual notice in most schools. To me, they are considerably more worthwhile than study of foreign language, trigonometry, art, typing, participation in physical education, and more. All of these are worthwhile, but the areas you mention are more so. In addition to their practicality, they teach students to think. I've always felt that units on discussing ethical problems would be of considerable value; you might want to add that to your list. Unfortunately, much of what schools offer has been around for a century, or longer, and thereby has a traditional grip on curriculum planning. Maybe someday we'll do it your way. I'd like to see that.

Answer 2

First and foremost, I would like to say that the above should be taught by the parents. However, parents nowadays think its the teachers job to raise their children. At the Middle School I work at (I'm a Health and PE teacher), we have a life skills book that we use to teach the kids about decision making, self-esteem, coping skills, assesertiveness, and other issues. You would be suprised at the number of students in 8th grade that do not know how to go about making a decision or do not know how to resolve a conflict without the use of curse words or violence.

We as teachers can only give them the information. ITS UP TO THE PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS USED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Answer 3

We can only teach a child so much in a day
Most of the day is spent in math reading and other such type subjects
Most of these other skills comes along in a day such as verbal communications skills with speaking in front of a class such as in share day
Money management is taught when learning to count and to understand what it takes to have 5 pennies to a nickel
drugs is on the awareness list on the red ribbon week
in other classes such as in high school there are such classes
The rest is to be taught at home such as what they think is the important things about life as in money management and communication skills. Taking the children shopping for the weekly groceries and talking about things in what is good foods and the prices and what it takes to have a family.
ETC

Answer 4

I don't know what country you're from but communication and numeracy (which tends to be based on real life examples) are now part of the curriculum for most schools and colleges in the UK - they come under key skills and underpin other subjects.

The other things you mentioned usually come under social studies and can be covered by visiting speakers.

I think they're important and form an important basis for life outside tests. They develop critical thinking skills (if approached correctly) and sometimes allow a forum for discussion which is valuable for children who maybe don't have a supportive family.

Answer 5

You seem to want education to be very utilitarian. The problem is, such an education would take considerable time, and would not prepare students to compete with young people from other places, where the students were taught to do algebra, calculus, law, philosophy, multiple languages, etc.

Most people want school to prepare students for challenges, and for the lifelong task of learning on their own

Answer 6

No, I'm a teenage student.
=)
Anyways, those subjects are those that children learn from tv and those drug addicts of celebrities. As for communication skills, we already have those!

Answer 7

I thought that was a parent's responsibility... If we took it upon ourselves to do this, then the parents would b1tch and complain that we were imposing our own values on their children.
Sorry, you can't have it both ways.
(We do teach communication skills, some districts have drug awareness programs...)

Answer 8

no