In high school, we all always asked "when will we actually need to know this?" The response was always related to college or future careers. But looking back, there are many things that we should have been learning that are essential to living life as a functioning human. If I was in charge of creating the all-powerful high school curriculum, there would be some classes that I would make mandatory...
1. Budgeting and all things money-related
Taxes, paying bills, applying for loans, balancing a checkbook, all of that stuff that's crucial for being a functioning adult. If I'm being honest, I'm not sure if I completely understand what balancing a checkbook even is. If there's one class that should mandatory for all high school students, it would be some sort of budgeting and life skills class. I can't do my taxes, but at least I know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
2. Self-defense
If my P.E class would have taught some sort of self-defense in high school, 1. I would have been way more interested in gym class and 2. it would prepare students for possible dangerous situations. Self-defense classes can help to prevent sexual assault and violent attacks.
3. Job interview skills
I was lucky to take a class in high school that required me to do a mock interview and create a resume, but so many students come out of high school not knowing how to prepare for a job interview. With the lack of skills being taught, we'll all end up like Rachel Green.
4. How to vote
We are taught in social studies and history that voting is important and one of our civil responsibilities, but very little time is spent discussing current politics, the dynamics of our political parties, or even how to simply register to vote. The millennial age group is the one that votes the least, even though we are becoming the largest age group in the United States. If we actually learned more about the importance of voting and the specifics of modern-day politics, it is possible that the number of young people who vote would increase. But at least we spent so much time memorizing the Pythagorean theorem.
5. Networking
Some schools require public speaking classes, but other than that, not many social skills are taught in school. Which doesn't seem like a huge deal, until you realize that most connections are made through just talking to people and networking. Opportunities come from getting to know people. If schools didn't discourage so much socializing and encourage good social skills, maybe people would have an easier time networking in the future.
