“Yes,” was high school student Cameryn Saunder’s answer when asked if she knew how to factor equations and find the slope of a line.
“How do you change a tire? Or invest in the stock market?” She was proceedingly asked.
“I don’t know how to,” Cameryn responded.
The truth is, that modern-day school systems lack essential and necessary education for its students’ futures. Communication, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, and nutrition are just a few of the topics that schools should implement into their education.
According to Big Think, “It’s not just the secret to a happy marriage; communication skills are regularly listed among the top soft skills employers look for.” Learning how to communicate effectively, dealing with conflict, and discovering solutions are all essential skills needed to have success in life.
Financial literacy is another extremely important topic. Although Personal Finance is a required half a year class, students are still not educated enough to know crucial information, such as the reality of student loans, how to save money, and be financially independent. “Considering the astronomical cost of college in the U.S., it’s borderline criminal to ask students to take on decades-long loans when they haven’t been taught what kind of impact this will have on their lives,” says Big Think.
“American college graduates rarely have the financial skills required to manage regular loan payments on top of paying other bills, buying groceries, and- what amounts to a fantasy for many- saving money regularly.”
With more life skills education, students are more likely to grow up to be mentally strong, independent, and successful.
Many school systems would argue that there is no room to fit in life skills classes for students- their schedules are occupied by science, algebra, history, and english. However, if you ask any graduated student if the Pythagorean theorem or learning how to file taxes is more valuable information, they would likely say they wish they knew how to file taxes.
Although one would not think that emotional intelligence is something schools should teach, it is actually something that many students and adults struggle with.
Psychologist Marc Brackett told the New York Times, “Unfortunately, we often just assume that these skills will be acquired as a child grows up. It’s like saying that a child doesn’t need to study English because she talks with her parents at home.” Emotional intelligence skills will allow students to understand how to use logical reasoning and manage their emotions which can ultimately affect their relationships in a very positive way.
“Researcher John Mayer and colleagues’ research showed that higher emotional intelligence is associated with higher-quality relationships, being perceived more positively by others, better academic achievement, a better sense of well-being, and a variety of other positive outcomes,” said Big Think.
Regarding the life skills that students should have access to learning, the list goes on and on. There is a wide array of topics that would dramatically benefit the future lives of students that school systems are lacking.
By students having the tools to negotiate, in the future, they could potentially save hundreds of dollars on their rent. If a car tire becomes flat they can easily replace the tire and get home safely. When they need to take a mortgage out on their house they will know who to talk to and how to get a loan. Teaching students important life skills like these are essential to helping them thrive in the real world.
“Global research in learning has identified competencies our youth will require for success in the modern world of ever-increasing change,” Says Higher Education Portal and Magazine. “Writing, speaking, and computing are just a few of the necessary skills for students. Leadership skills, cooperation techniques, and analysis are also important ingredients for student success. Confidence in speaking, discussion, debate, writing, and problem-solving provides a good start to providing a foundation for acquiring the skills.”
Life skills classes should be implemented into every student’s schedule to educate them on topics such as finances, repairs, and people management skills. Schools are responsible for preparing students for the real world in the best way possible. Today’s students are the world’s future- and schools need to understand that responsibility and realize their importance.