Practical knowledge for HS students

MikeNaked · #1 08-30-2005, 10:40 AM

I am a HS teacher at a urban, low-income, ethnically-diverse school (Farewell poker 'til next summer!). While I usually teach freshman English, this year I've been assigned a class called Future Focus - a class every 9th grader must take to fulfill state career-related standards.

In the past, this class has focused solely on career and job crap, but I'd like to expand the curriculum since most of our students have no idea how to be organized, disciplined, or proactive in a school or work environment. They are going to learn these skills in my class.

I would also like to include "practical knowledge". I always hear people complain about how school didn't address practical issues such as how to rent an apartment, how to check a bank statement, change your oil every 3000 miles, etc.

What do you think is a topic/skill that is usually neglected that I definitely should address in my curriculum?

(While humorous/retarded answers are always appreciated, I really would like some good, serious replies - thanks!)

codewarrior · #2 08-30-2005, 10:43 AM

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I always hear people complain about how school didn't address practical issues such as how to rent an apartment, how to check a bank statement, change your oil every 3000 miles, etc.

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Isn't this what parents/guardians are supposed to do? Why is it the public schools' job to do this?

MikeNaked · #3 08-30-2005, 10:49 AM

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Isn't this what parents/guardians are supposed to do? Why is it the public schools' job to do this?

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Well, it's technically not if you look at our state standards (the content/skills we MUST teach). Unfortunately, there are no such standards for parents. A shocking number of kids at our school have no responsible adult parent figure at home and some students are homeless. Teachers are their only link to upward mobility.

I'd just like to add skills/content that are easy to teach and will make their life more manageable.

(edit to include context)

codewarrior · #4 08-30-2005, 11:03 AM

[RANT] This is truely a sad state of affairs that such basic skills children should learn from a responible authority figure at home needs to be taught using my tax dollars. [/RANT]

That said, I agree with lessons in financial responsibility, work ethic (if this is even possible), and punctuality.

Delphin · #5 08-30-2005, 01:47 PM

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[RANT] This is truely a sad state of affairs that such basic skills children should learn from a responible authority figure at home needs to be taught using my tax dollars. [/RANT]

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The cost of not educating them and giving them some hope of becoming productive members of society is much more costly in terms of your tax dollars. I'd much rather pay for a few years of schooling than a lifetime in prison or welfare / medicaid / etc.

codewarrior · #6 08-30-2005, 01:52 PM

Oh, I agree totally with you. I'm commenting more on the sad state of parenting rather than the educational system.

I guess they could call this class "How not to suck at life 101"?

#7 08-30-2005, 04:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[RANT] This is truely a sad state of affairs that such basic skills children should learn from a responible authority figure at home needs to be taught using my tax dollars. [/RANT]

[/ QUOTE ]

The cost of not educating them and giving them some hope of becoming productive members of society is much more costly in terms of your tax dollars. I'd much rather pay for a few years of schooling than a lifetime in prison or welfare / medicaid / etc.

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It takes a village.

*masturbates weinerstick*

meep_42 · #8 08-30-2005, 02:14 PM

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[RANT] This is truely a sad state of affairs that such basic skills children should learn from a responible authority figure at home needs to be taught using my tax dollars. [/RANT]

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And i'd argue that you're paying more to bail them out of bankruptcy than you are to pay to teach a single HS class.

-d

#9 08-30-2005, 02:17 PM

I know that you'll never be able to teach this but you need to teach kids to develop a thick skin. When I came out of high school, I got my ass kicked by life. Just life in general kicked my ass because I was way too sensitive. Problem with this is I have no idea how to teach someone this and it wouldn't be allowed in school anyway since it would involve name calling etc since that is what happens in the real world/job.

MrWookie47 · #10 08-30-2005, 11:15 AM

When I was in 6th grade, my math class did a semester long project on personal finances. First, we were all required to go out and talk to a manager of some local business and find out about working for him in a job we might be qualified for when we were just out of high school. This gave us a taste of the interview process (albeit much lower key). We then "took" a job we liked, and we kept track of the wages as if we were actually working there. Every two weeks we recorded in our register a new paycheck, and we had to keep up with recording everything. We also had to write our teacher "checks" to pay for rent, utilities, and some "unplanned" expenses and maybe a gift from a rich uncle that she threw out every now and then. At the end of it all, we were to plan ourselves a vacation with all the money we had left. It was a good project, and it instilled a lot of good habits early. I don't think we payed taxes on our fictitious wages, but that might be something to think about adding. I'm sure you could structure something similar, but it would be a lot of work as a teacher. More power to you if you pull this off. I'm sure a lot of students would benefit.