Let’s be honest: our education system is fucked. It’s cliche at this point to say that the most important things you learn in life you don’t learn in school. We’re still pushing kids through the same curriculum their grandparents went through. Here’s a look at what we could do instead.
We can safely say our education system failed all of us in one capacity or another. Whether public schools or private, there were some key topics missing from the curriculum being taught to us in our formative years. Actually, what we weren’t taught in school was a huge factor for a medium adult’s beginnings. As an ‘adult’ it can feel demoralising to not understand some key aspects of adulthood. It’s not entirely your fault, we had some help in getting to those feelings.
A compiled list of 10 things to consider when we thought we should have been taught in school so the next time you feel you’re coming up short in one way or another, remember: we don’t know what we didn’t know. And once we know better, we can do better.
Ten Things We Should Have Been Taught in School
1. Taxes
Unless you are a CPA, odds are tax season makes your eyes twitch a little. The entire tax system is designed to confuse you. Why would it be easy, when you could have a clerical error end with you paying thousands of dollars or facing jail time. Schools should have focused on the general understanding of the different types of taxes and prepared students to learn about tax rates and how to be self-sufficient when it comes time for tax season.
2. Insurance
Health. Homeowners. Car. Life. There are many types of insurance we have to worry about and sometimes it doesn’t make sense. Itemising medical bills. Umbrella and gap insurance. What does it all mean? Don’t ask us. Nobody taught it to us. Do you need me to do a quick rundown of the Pythagorean theory, though? I can do that for you. Schools should be creating curriculum that actually prepares them for applied life situations.
3. The Value Of Trade Schools
Schools made it seem that going to trade school instead of traditional college was the equivalent of having a scarlet A sewn onto your shirt. Why? Because it’s not as glamorous as a philosophy degree? Trade schools have never been more important. These professions require skill and knowledge just like others. Why did schools cast them aside in shame? We should be celebrating the skilled labour that is learned from trade schools.
4. Personal Finance
Banking. Budgeting. Loans. Investing. All of these should be taught in lessons each year over the course of your education. We understand that money makes the world go round, but what about kids who came from families with poor money management. Learning how to balance a checking account should be more present than learning questionable history.
5. Mental Health
In school, if you knew someone going to therapy or in counselling, it was talked about in hushed tones. Like they were a freak for having an outlet to go to. Mental health is health. Even now, it’s only starting to be destigmatized for the glamourization of it. Caring about mental health is cool, until the real side is shown. When your mental health physically debilitates your quality of life, it’s not as glamorous. Learning better ways to process, soothe, and regulate our emotions should be common practice in school. Health is wealth and that goes for your brain, too.
6. Overall Wellness
On the heels of mental health, schools should understand that not everyone has the same access or knowledge to understanding how to fuel and care for their bodies. Lessons and curriculums on your body and wellness should be implemented at the earliest age. Your relationship with yourself and your body is the most important one you will have. We should be teaching children how to embrace and care for themselves in nourishing ways from the jump.
7. Home Ownership
Have you ever tried to buy a house? It can be one of the most financially and mentally draining processes. Shouldn’t we try to get a leg up on that by understanding how it works? No. We’ll just wait until someone is in the throes of buying their first house before they understand the magnitude of it. That’s cool, too.
8. Understanding Religion/Spirituality
This is for all my Catholic school buddies. Your schools should have taught you more about the spectrum of religion and spirituality. Two people can value themselves, others, and God in separate ways without hating the other for it. Tolerance. Understanding that being able to have differing beliefs but coexisting is one of the most beautiful parts of the human experience. Not everyone’s relationship with religion and spirituality was formed the same way. Everyone walks a different path in life and that doesn’t make you better or worse than the next person.
9. Relationships And Communication
Imagine how much easier life would be if you could know someone’s communication style beforehand. We should be teaching kids about the different attachment styles. How the hierarchy of needs affects how and what people say. Understanding the different types and styles of communication, both verbal and non, is beneficial. Lost in translation is a beautiful way to say we didn’t know how to communicate. Everyone’s journey has made them susceptible to blind spots. But learning about the different styles of communication from a young age will breed better quality relationships.
10. Life Skills
Home Economics was cool and all, but teach me how to change a flat tire instead. There are times in my life where I feel decades behind everyone else. Sometimes it feels like I’m Billy Madison. Just circling back to see if I missed something the first time. Teaching tangible, applied life skills prepares kids for what they’ll actually see and deal with. The flour baby is cool and all, but not everyone will have children. Everyone will probably get a flat tire at one point or another though.
There are plenty of other things we should have been taught in school, but weren’t. Fear not. That’s why you have us: the medium adults of the world. We will always do our best to teach and show you the things you need, because medium adults stick together, in the back of the class, trying to figure it all out.
You can also check out our other blogs on creativity on the website.
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