I believe there should be classes for relationships. Red flags of toxic and abusive relationships. How to keep from being pulled into bad relationships. How to get out one if you find yourself in that situation. How to treat each other to make good loving relationships. Teaching the different stages of Love. From the beginning butterflies to learning that love changes and grows into a warm loving companionship that can last a lifetime. All the aspects of what to expect in your partner. And what not to expect.
9 Likes
You are spot on. This is a very good subject everyone needs to learn. A lot of children only know how to cope in life from watching their parents. And if their parents arenāt very good at it, they wonāt be either. Great idea!!!
3 Likes
I totally agree. I am in my late 20ās now and it seems adulthood slapped me right across the face. I didnāt know any necessary skills after graduating high school and had to figure it out the hard way as an adult. Things such as buying a car, renting an apartment, taxes, economics, budgeting, saving money, opening bank accounts, cooking, etc. Are all things I had to learn. Life skills should be taught in school to make the transition to adulthood easier and create more educated and well rounded adults.
11 Likes
Learn the importance of nutrition and where our really food comes from. Focus on what the body needs to be strong and healthy. Let them explore gardening get out of the classroom and into the sunshine. Kids have been deprived of the very basics of life and that has been by design. Let them experience and learn about Mother Nature instead of being cooped up in a classroom all day memorizing useless facts.
6 Likes
This is such a must, with sections pertaining only to the most important aspects of your life. How to do taxes, get a loan, maintain credit scores, but most importantly being able to cook with BASIC ingredients and knowing how eating affects your health will help so many people live so much longer. Also teaching people how to live their lives without reliance on drugs would be a massive move in the right direction. 
8 Likes
You are referring to the Vocational and Technical School (VoTech) offerings that some High Schools have where Juniors and Seniors can go for half a day to another school to learn a trade such as Architectural Design, HVAC, Automotive Repair, Plumbing, Meat Cutting, Electrical, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts. I attended one for two years back in the 90s and some of the my most positive business skills such as work ethics, networking and business communication skills could be attributed to my instructors there.
In hindsight, it was much more useful in the real world than standard HS curriculum for sure. Not to mention many students that took it seriously landed decent paying jobs in their field right out of High School with zero educational debt. Highly recommended path to learn a paying skill early on in life.
10 Likes
Include basic financial education too. All teenagers should have a basic understanding of saving, budgeting, credit scores, loans, contracts, compound interest, etc. There are far too many adults who lack this skillset and itās harmful. Letās set our kids up for success!
6 Likes
I think this post is great! As a 2020 grad, I can say that if not for my amazing parents, I would not have been prepared for the real world. I feel as if we have almost gone too far with our education system, pushing out very important life skills. Not only have we pushed out life skills but we have made school extremely boring, mundane and repetitive for kids. As we know, the youth of today have an increasingly shortened attention span, we have to do something to make school interesting again! This proposal outlines a comprehensive national education reform that emphasizes both soft and hard skills, promotes mental and physical well-being, and fosters a strong connection with nature.
Objectives
-
Holistic Skill Development: Integrate soft skills (e.g., gardening, sewing, woodworking, cooking, budgeting, financial literacy, and arts) with hard skills (e.g., math, reading, history, and science) into a balanced curriculum.
-
Connection with Nature: Create outdoor spaces for learning and recreation, including school gardens and outdoor lunch areas, to encourage environmental stewardship and physical activity.
-
Mental and Physical Health: Incorporate mental health education and resources into the school environment, along with regular physical education programs held outdoors. Someone in a previous comment mentioned meditation in schools!
Proposed Curriculum Changes
-
Soft Skills Education:
- Gardening and Sustainability: Teach students the basics of gardening, including plant biology and sustainable practices. This will enhance their understanding of food sources and environmental responsibility.
- Home Economics: Include sewing, cooking, and budgeting as part of the curriculum to equip students with essential life skills.
- Arts and Music: Integrate creative arts and music programs to foster self-expression, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness.
-
Hard Skills Education:
- Maintain a robust curriculum in math, reading, history, and science, with an emphasis on real-world applications and interdisciplinary projects.
- Implement project-based learning that combines hard and soft skills, such as a community service project that requires budgeting, planning, and execution.
-
Outdoor Learning and Reconnection with Nature:
- Develop outdoor classrooms and lunch areas to encourage students to spend time in nature, enhancing their physical and mental well-being.
- Introduce outdoor gym classes that incorporate physical activity with nature exploration.
-
Mental Health and Physical Health Initiatives:
- Provide mental health resources, including counseling and stress management programs, as part of the school environment.
- Regularly scheduled physical activities and wellness programs to promote a healthy lifestyle.
- It has been proven that connecting with nature has many positive benefits on mental and physical health.
By integrating soft and hard skills, prioritizing mental and physical health, and fostering a connection with nature, we can cultivate well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also equipped to thrive in their personal and professional lives. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter future in education.
14 Likes
[Soā¦ basically Montessori]
1 Like
Exactly. Personal finances, along with introductions to trades such as, auto machanics, wood shop & construction, plumbing, appliance repair, etc. Not everyone is a college type of student.
7 Likes
I really like your thinking here. Fully endorse!
1 Like
This is paramount! Our children need to be taught basic life skills! Credit, banking, budgeting, all types of insurance, retirement plans, basic home care, basic car care, basic law, how to grow their own food, basic survival skills, self defense, work ethic, job applicaton and resume writing. History, our Constitution, Bill of rights, Declaration of Independence, and all important historical documents should be drilled. Computer skills and coding. There is so much we should be teaching our children instead of things they will likely never use unless they go into certain fields. Things need to be more hands on, more engaging, and more fun. Children should love and enjoy school.
10 Likes
Best way to correct the problem is to abolish the federal education department and put the power back in the local systems. Parents and local systems are better equipped to determine policies for the community.
6 Likes
I stay away from mushrooms unless Iām with someone with experience. Many wild plants are edible and when you look up the nutrition, medical and health benefits, they are better for you than domestic plant. I forage in my yard all the time from dandelions to violet leaves have about 25 different ones just in my yard.
1 Like
From my X account @BetsyRambo ; Curriculums must be revised with competency tested teachers ! The Constitution class every year from grade seven, (final exam at Grade 12, passed with a C before you can vote) Government Structure, etc every year, Time Management and Organization every year. Budgets (shopping, advertising traps, finding alternatives, saving money, saving for the future), Banking and Finance, Investing, How Stock Market works, every year. Debates and Persuasive Essays classes (fosters public speaking too) in high school grades. Work Ethic, Basic Tax Primer(canāt be too detailed due to tax code changes), Basic Good Manners, Basic Table Manners (irks meš), Driving and Road Manners, every year, Creative Thinking projects (aside from an assigned topic, also projects with speech on topic of studentās choice about a hobby, a creation of theirs, artwork, song, music, photography, poetry, models built, collections, writings, food, videos made, skateboards, furniture or anything made in shop, a martial arts demonstration, etc. anything really thatās dear to the student and could be prepared over summer break for fall classes, basic Shop, Car care and minor repairs, Home Ec with Home care, cooking and basic repairs (for both genders) to foster independence!
Remove the useless curriculum classes taught today and even mandatory gym classes which students can do on their own time. The listed classes are a basis every single well-rounded independent adult could and should employ in their everyday life.
Core classes need only be Sciences, Maths, English and Reading, Histories, and maybe Latin since itās the root word basis of science, math, and many other languages. If taught well, students would be prepared for college if they wish.
3 Likes
Well said!
2 Likes
I think along with this there should be optional/elective choices pertaining to classes that factually teach information of culture and religion. Specifically that it allows high school students to take this class if interested and explores culture and religion while limiting bias (as much as possible) in order to encourage compassion, knowledge and hopefully a generation that is more well rounded.
1 Like
Letās begin with a Council for the Youth
Letās teach them the respect and the honor of WHO they are and WHERE THEY COME FROM.
Let the children become leaders within their age groups and let them teach US what we need to know as the Elders. Then, letās take their vision and produce an education department that allows for ART, CREATION, MUSIC and Environmentalism. Allow for the imagination of the youth to be fostered and not polluted with violence and fear of the future.
Bring PRAYER back into the schools. Not Christian based but UNITY based where the Spirit is fostered and Intellect is respected.
2 Likes
I feel economics should also be required so many donāt know how to budget their money save for unexpected expenses and big purchases.
1 Like
I agree with the concept, but the federal government has no legitimate control over education. Article 1 Section 8 lists all of the enumerated powers, none of which cover education. The 10th Amendment rightly leaves power over education to the states and the people.
The problems caused by unconstitutionally federalizing education should be readily apparent (e.g. mandatory transgender indoctrination). More of that isnāt better. I would rather see all federal education programs and the DoE ended because theyāre unconstitutional. Let the states handle it as the Constitution requires.
2 Likes