Things that should be taught in schools - mandatory!

[MJinZ]

What are some things that the education system has miserably failed us in?

The following are some things I think should be taught in schools (up and through High School) as mandatory:

- Civics
- Basic Law
- Basic Politics
- Basic Mechanics (Car, bike maintenance)

What else am I missing? Everyone should know the democratic process and how to do what AAA does without calling AAA (unless you need a tow).

 

[RESmonkey]

Evolution is real.

 

[shiner]

I would be happy if they could just graduate people who can make change without relying on a computer/register to do it for them.

 

[szechuanpork]

how to surf for porn without getting viruses

 

[Locut0s]

How to learn.

/thread.

Seriously people aren't taught HOW to learn. They are taught thousands of interconnected facts and asked to regurgitate them on command. You have to learn on your own HOW to learn. When these kids reach university and come to the realization that they have to learn themselves some of them just say fuck it I can't do that.

I'm not just being cute. There are many techniques and underlying principals on HOW to learn things. Things like abstraction, pattern recognition, mnemonics, applying general rules to new sets of data not seen before. etc etc...

 

[destrekor]

I would be happy if they could just graduate people who can make change without relying on a computer/register to do it for them.

we all know change is a lie

[yes, I went there. And yes, I know you didn't go there ]

 

[fleabag]

What are some things that the education system has miserably failed us in?

The following are some things I think should be taught in schools (up and through High School) as mandatory:

- Civics
- Basic Law
- Basic Politics
- Basic Mechanics (Car, bike maintenance)

What else am I missing? Everyone should know the democratic process and how to do what AAA does without calling AAA (unless you need a tow).

Basic how to 'fix' things skills in schools like how to disassemble anything in a plastic enclosure without destroying it. How to RTFM because apparently this is beyond most people. How to interact with people, how to argue with people, how to DE-escalate situations, how to talk to your employer, etc. It's almost like schools teach you everything you don't need to know and nothing you do need to know.

How to learn.

/thread.

yup

 

[dammitgibs]

Do they still teach that CO2 is an essential part of the circle of life?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

What about social ethics.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Common Sense
Social Skills
Personal Finance
Nutrition and Fitness

 

[Capt Caveman]

Basic how to 'fix' things skills in schools like how to disassemble anything in a plastic enclosure without destroying it. How to RTFM because apparently this is beyond most people. How to interact with people, how to argue with people, how to DE-escalate situations, how to talk to your employer, etc. It's almost like schools teach you everything you don't need to know and nothing you do need to know.

You're living proof.

 

[Sphexi]

Cross-multiplication.

I was taught this in like, 6th or 7th grade. This is an incredibly useful skill, and whenever I mention it I get blank stares. When I demonstrate I sometimes get people recognizing it by a different name, but usually not.

 

[Fenixgoon]

You're living proof.

lol i can't believe fleabag of all people posted that

 

[Chaotic42]

This is the book we used in my college Critical Thinking course. I think it's appropriate for high schoolers.

I'm trying to remember what the hell we were taught all those years. PE, health, and nutrition should be a huge part of it.

 

[Leros]

First off all, they shouldn't pass people who do absolutely 0 work through school. I took a few of the regular level classes at my high school. Most students brought nothing to class, paid no attention, and didn't do any of their homework. The exams were oral and the teacher basically gave the answers out by saying the right answer louder than the rest. Some students didn't even bother doing their exams, but still somehow passed.

 

[fleabag]

Do they still teach that CO2 is an essential part of the circle of life?

They also teach that releasing captured CO2 that was NOT part of the O2->CO2->O2 cycle will fuck up the eco system... You global warming deniers just don't get it, no body is pissing and moaning about burning trees except for the pollution they make, what we're pissing and moaning about is that we're putting Co2 that was NOT part of the eco system as it was sequestered in the medium you call "oil, coal, methane, etc." and are adding it back. If CO2 isn't going to cause global warming, then how the fuck can you explain a planet like Venus or Jupiter that had just that, out of control global warming caused by green house gasses? It is only logical that when you add something into an ecosystem that wasn't part of it, you're going to change things. CO2 is most certainly a green house gas, no doubt about that!

Just imagine if we could bring back dinosaurs, THEN tell me with a straight face that doing that wouldn't fuck up some major shit.

 

[MJinZ]

Evolution is real.

Evolution is already taught in schools - High School Biology.

 

[Leros]

Evolution is already taught in schools - High School Biology.

Its taught as a theory which may or may not be right. Then there is a small bit about intelligent design.

 

[RESmonkey]

Evolution is already taught in schools - High School Biology.

Some teachers try to sensitize the subject by saying a few comforting words to the religitard kids about it being a theory, etc.

 

[Eli]

Basic how to 'fix' things skills in schools like how to disassemble anything in a plastic enclosure without destroying it. How to RTFM because apparently this is beyond most people. How to interact with people, how to argue with people, how to DE-escalate situations, how to talk to your employer, etc. It's almost like schools teach you everything you don't need to know and nothing you do need to know.

Oh my god, my irony meter just exploded and nearly killed me.

 

[MJinZ]

Its taught as a theory which may or may not be right. Then there is a small bit about intelligent design.

That's because Science is all theory and axiom. Scientific Theory is sound, it is very different than the laymen's term "theory" which is used to mean "hypothesis".

They aren't trying teach Evolution as a hypothesis.

They also aren't trying to teach what Science hasn't figured out yet - the roots of evolution (aka Abiogenesis).

 

[Born2bwire]

Basic how to 'fix' things skills in schools like how to disassemble anything in a plastic enclosure without destroying it. How to RTFM because apparently this is beyond most people. How to interact with people, how to argue with people, how to DE-escalate situations, how to talk to your employer, etc. It's almost like schools teach you everything you don't need to know and nothing you do need to know.

If only the schools started doing this two years ago we all could have been saved so much grief.

 

[yhelothar]

How to learn.

/thread.

Seriously people aren't taught HOW to learn. They are taught thousands of interconnected facts and asked to regurgitate them on command. You have to learn on your own HOW to learn. When these kids reach university and come to the realization that they have to learn themselves some of them just say fuck it I can't do that.

I'm not just being cute. There are many techniques and underlying principals on HOW to learn things. Things like abstraction, pattern recognition, mnemonics, applying general rules to new sets of data not seen before. etc etc...

winrar
teachers need to be taught how to teach too...
why are there such a huge disparity between good teachers and bad teachers?
why can't they just teach bad teachers the techniques of good teachers?

 

[JMapleton]

If they taught teachers how to keep the student's attention we wouldn't have the issues we have today with students falling behind in test scores.

School is boring and most kids these days cannot stand it. Kids need to be motivated and involved more in school.

 

[Leros]

I just watched this TED talk about teaching children about food and healthy eating/cooking. It seems like a good idea.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html#top