Instigator Blog - Latest Comments in 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Liz — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:02:05 -0000

"Highschool" is not one word.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Renzai Rizumu — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:02:13 -0000

Pfft, I really wish they gave Investing classes in my school. I'm so interested in investing in the stock market, but I know nothing of it. My school offers no classes like that, it's sad really, lol. I wish I was offered an entrepreneur class as well.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Jared Stenzel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:58:29 -0000

I actually have a personal finance class at my school. We do have very limited business classes at my private school though. It's a shame that my field of interest is very unrepresented at my high school.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Mary Leedy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:19:14 -0000

Thank you Ben for a direct to the point article and I appreciate the comments too. Very interesting to see a lot of what was wrtten resonated with how I've been feeling lately about the school system. I have 2 kids in school now, with my 3rd one attending in September.

Remember the Basic Skills Test that took all week to do where you filled in the green/black circles with a #2 pencil? Now, the schools prepare the kids to take that test to ensure that they pass! Why are they "studying" for this test? Shouldn't they have already learned well enough to pass?

My heart goes out to all the high school seniors that graduate because they don't know what they want to do after they graduate. I commend the ones that do but most have been told what to do all their life and taught to obey everyone, they don't know how to think for themselves. It's THEIR CHOICES that need to count towards their future, if their choices are made by someone else, then they'll ead an unfulfilled life.

Jeff and "M" - great points!! :-)

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Cora — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:22:42 -0000

#5 - Ethics without philosophy and logic is an amputated course -- a student could only go so far. But I agree with you wholeheartedly. Such knowledge would open students' eyes to the manipulations and inconsistencies of media, religion and politics. If properly taught, it would also make #10 essentially pointless.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Morrigan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:42:43 -0000

I guess it depends where you live because all of these are an integral part of the curriculum for learners in Ireland. :)

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

jr — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:01:09 -0000

I would be glad enough if our schools would just teach whatever they're supposed to teach PROPERLY.

I know people getting into college that can't even do basic algebra.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:55:07 -0000

What do you think should be taught in highschool?

1. Negotiating.

2. Drama & Speech.

3. Psychology.

4. Cultural Anthropology & Ethics.

5. History.

6. Politics.

7. Health.

8. Economics & International Business.

9. Marketing & Sales.

10. Technology.

12. Grammar, Vocabulary and Writing.

13. Personal Finances.

14. Entrepreneurship & Investing.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Jeff Hunsaker — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:19:30 -0000

Good parallel article over at Zen Habits

27 Skills Your Child Needs to Know That Sheâ€™s Not Getting In School

Jeff...

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:28:45 -0000

Hi Jen - Thank you for posting a comment. It doesn't surprise me that some of the topics I've listed are weaved into existing classes. But, I have to wonder how effective a discussion on ethics can truly be when tied to literary classics that some highschool students might not find the relevance in. I'd rather get to the heart of relevant matters today instead of couch those issues in more traditional teachings.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Jen A. — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:51:36 -0000

I'm a high school teacher, and some of the things on your list (and on your responders' lists) are taught, but not in a distinct class. For instance, I'm an English teacher, and media literacy (distinguishing useful sources from ones without credibility), ethics (when talking about Elie Wiesel's Night, Sophocles' Antigone, and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar), conflict resolution and teamwork(during the many group projects I require), good citizenship (participating in building the classroom rules we all have to live by, including perks), and finally a little entrepreneurship (I give my students a great deal of choice in proving their knowledge in the various units, and offer them the opportunity to pitch project ideas. Well-thought-out plans are likely to be approved.)

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Cindy — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:39:48 -0000

How about empathy? Or the ability to sense a fellow peer with problems?

In recent tragedies of the Virginia Tech shootings or the High school shootings I think young people can surely learn better about one another's differences.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Ben Yoskovitz — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:37:25 -0000

@steph: Parenting skills is an interesting one. Part me agrees, but part of me thinks that highschool students are too young to really *get* parenting, no matter what you teach them. I have two children, and I know that there's really nothing I could have learned in highschool that would have helped - specific to parenting.

Some of the other ideas on my list - be it conflict resolution or ethics, however - might help at a 20,000 foot view.

When it comes to parenting though, people very often need the basics. How to feed a child, discipline, what to look out for medically, etc.

Thank you for commenting!

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

R Wells — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:03:27 -0000

It's nice to see a focus on something creative instead of No Child Left Behind, No Teacher Left Standing. To see innovative thinking for students who struggle in school, check out our web site. It mines the possibilities for serving struggling and problem students.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

steph — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:36:15 -0000

Two HUGE things left off this list are relationship skills and parenting skills!!! Otherwise, fabulous list!

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Ben Yoskovitz — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:13:14 -0000

@Mao - Thank you for the comment. I re-read my list and while there's definitely a portion of it that's economically-focused, much of it is not.

Philosophy is an interesting subject but it often lacks a lot of practical usefulness, which I think can be problematic for highschool-aged people. Ethics is much more practical, along with politics and conflict resolution.

I'm all for the arts and humanities as well. I don't think some of the things I've mentioned have to be utterly focused on economics though. Entrepreneurship is a great example. What if it helped raise more Green Entrepreneurs?

@Trevor - Then kudos to your school, sounds like a great place.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Trevor Kafka — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:31:08 -0000

My schoool teaches numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10. And I am in a public school.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Mao — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:10:44 -0000

Pretty heavy focus on economical issues here. If there's anything we should teach our children it's that the world is turning into a cesspool because of the all-encompassing materialistic paradigm that we live in. It would make more sense to teach them arts and humanities and how to appreciate life rather than teach them how to better size things up for market value. And ethics really goes under philosophy.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Jeff Hunsaker — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:31:12 -0000

@Aniela - Good one, although I'd propose some sort of training/habit which encourages life-long fitness and nutrition. When you get out of school, these are typically the times when our health deteriorates (work, long hours, family, etc.). Fitness and nutrition seem like some of the first to go. And, if it's not a habit before exiting school, it's much tougher to develop and less likely to stick. (teach a person to fish...and all that)

Fortunately, my folks got me into sports in grade school and now I just naturally work out a few times a week. Sports and athletic participation has also helped me make friends over the years and find a group to fit in with.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Aniela — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:09:33 -0000

I think that P.E. should be mandatory, even in University and college. Now it's not even mandatory in highschool. We need to get our kids to be more active, not more lazy :P

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Stuart Baker — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:01:55 -0000

Ben, great post, great discussion.

Bret, picking up on what you said about respect, I would like to see attention given in schools toward consciously working together and cooperating. This touches on respect for others and for yourself. Our relationships with others are so key.

I would also like to see time given toward students being able to explore their sense of meaning in life and the value of giving and sharing. This could be reflected in self-designed projects.

Thanks,

Stuart Baker
www.consciouscooperation.com

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Ben Yoskovitz — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:43:35 -0000

Geri - I do think faith + religion are taught in religious schools, but does a Catholic school really teach about other religious? What about a Jewish school?

Jeff - There's no question that parents need to step up. My son isn't in school yet but I've already thought a great deal about what it will be like and what I'll do to educate him. Certainly I don't think reams of homework is the answer.

David - I like the idea of more arts education in schools. I know in Montreal there's a highschool called F.A.C.E that's dedicated to the arts. Pretty interesting concept to have specialized highschools although I have no way of knowing if it works or doesn't (since I haven't looked into it at length.)

Thank you for everyone's continued comments!

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

David Airey :: Creative Design — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:04:40 -0000

I've 'dugg' this post too.

I hope this hasn't already been mentioned, but negtiating a raise and writing letters of resignation should also be touched upon in school.

Two valuable lessons.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Ed — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 23:26:00 -0000

I agree. I am sure that it would be hard to incorporate every single one in the high school curriculum, but teaching the basics would be a good start.

Re: 10 Things They Need To Teach In Highschool

Miriam — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:39:01 -0000

I know this may sound a bit old-fashioned or super-conservative, but how about learning about marriage? People don't know what is really important for a lasting and fulfilling marriage, and many people aim for Hollywood movie values (not a great example: look at their marriage track record).

In addition to careers etc., many people do aspire to eventually get married, have kids, and then hopefully stay married. It's an important part of life, but people really don't seem to know how to do it anymore. Why not try to teach high school kids a bit about it before they head off to real life?