25 Useful Things That Schools Should Teach But Don’t

Posted by , Updated on January 16, 2024

During our younger years, we learned much about the world through our schooling; from reading to writing, and writing to math, our teachers always tried to give us the most important information to help us excel later in life. Unfortunately, no matter how hard schools might try to prepare us, some subjects simply can’t be taught in a classroom. Whether they’re too specific, too extraneous, or just too personal to fit into a standardized curriculum, here are 25 Useful Things That Schools Should Teach But Don’t.

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25

Taxes

taxesSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Taxes are confusing enough for people who do them every year, and a lot of adults strike out on their own only to find out they don’t even know where to start. Some online programs can help make paying your taxes a little simpler; however, getting a real understanding would provide you with a lot more insight and help make the whole process smoother.

24

Surviving Without Technology

technologySource: http://successfulstudent.org/

In a time when everybody and their mother has a smartphone in their pocket, being able to function without our convenient technology is becoming increasingly difficult. While our pocket calculators and digital clocks might seem like a blessing, we’re dead in the water if we ever run out of batteries.

23

Personal Health

healthfitnessSource: http://briankim.net/

Although many school offer a couple classes in physical fitness, really knowing how to take care of your body takes a lot more than just running laps around a field. A healthy lifestyle consists not only of exercising regularly, but also of eating smartly and striving for emotional stability.

22

Shopping

shopSource: http://thoughtcatalog.com/

Whether it’s for groceries, clothing, or just a fun time, there is never going to be a time when buying things isn’t a part of your daily life. A true shopping guru knows all of the best brands, outlets, and sales to make shopping a pleasurable experience, but for the rest of us, we just end up stumbling from isle to isle with a half-finished list written in chicken scratch.

21

Talking

talkerSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

The physical act of speaking is something that is up for you to learn on your own. Actually conversing with someone, however, can be a lot more difficult. The ability to maintain a formal and intelligent conversation with people is truly a form of art, and no matter what you end up doing, it’s going to be one of the most important skills you can have in life.

20

First Aid

medicalSource: http://www.mayoclinic.org/

The ability to treat a wound or provide aid to an injured person can be invaluable and in some cases can even save a life. Simple procedures, such as cleaning and dressing an injury can be picked up by most people fairly quickly; however, more risky and dangerous procedures such as CPR or AED should only be attempted by medically trained individuals.

19

The Law

lawSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Sure most of us took some sort of government class back in high school, but to really understand how our judicial system works could take years of studying and thousands of dollars for law school. Students should, at the very least, be educated on the common misdemeanors that will most likely affect their lives.

18

Patience

hurry/patienceSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Some people are naturally patient and can wait for as long as need be while the rest of us pass our time by grumbling and pacing. Being patient is really more of a personality trait rather than a learned skill, but some people claim yoga and meditation are ways to help take the edge off.

17

Finding a Job

job applicationSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Finding a new job can be tough, especially if it’s your first one. Although some schools may teach the basics on building a resume, going out and finding a job can be a challenge all on its own. Always talk to friends and family members to see if they know of any work opportunities; some of the best first jobs come from connections.

16

The Metric System

metricSource: http://www.disabled-world.com/

Although this mainly applies to people in the United States who never participated in track and field, the conversion between the US customary units to the SI metric system is a time consuming and frustrating task that always ends up hindering international relations. Although many American schools teach a bit of metric in early math, it’s often not enough to be really useful later in life.

15

Car Repair

carrepairSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Cars can be incredibly flaky at times, and knowing how to change the oil or replace a spark plug could save you a time consuming and expensive trip to the auto repair shop. Also, you never know when you might blow a tire on the highway, and being able to swap out for a spare on your own is an incredibly valuable skill to have.

 

What other hands-on things should students learn? Check out number 6! It might surprise you.

14

Computer Maintenance

computerSource: http://lifehacker.com/

In an increasingly digital world, knowing how to use a computer is a very important skill to have. Of course we’re referring to really understanding the technology behind the machine, not just using Microsoft Office. Being able to repair and maintain your own PC will surely save you a lot of time in the long run, especially after you take into account just how flaky those things can be.

13

Making Friends

friendsSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Going out of your way to make new friends can be a chore, not to mention quite the risk. That said, having friends and relationships can help you through a lot of rough patches in life. Scientific studies have shown that being part of a social group can have additional health benefits as well.

 

If you’re enjoying this post, you might also enjoy 25 Student Frustrations That You Probably Never Thought About 

12

Building Credit

creditSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Transitioning to a credit card can be hard, and building and maintaining a good credit score can be even more of a struggle. To make it even worse, bad credit can make renting a house practically impossible, as well as result in increased insurance rates.

11

Time Management

25 Useful Things That School Should Teach But Doesn'tSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Especially relevant to students, managing your time productively can mean the difference between passing or failing a class. Some people are naturally good at prioritizing their time; however, if you aren’t, it’s never a bad idea to try and keep a schedule or daily planner to keep yourself on track.

10

Negotiation

negotiateSource: http://lifehacker.com/

While some schools offer classes in public speaking, debate, or some basic communications, many students are neglected the opportunity to learn how to negotiate. It’s unfortunate because whether you’re buying a car, asking for a raise, or just trying to weasel out of your chores, the number of times when it’s handy to be a good negotiator are actually quite numerous.

9

Dating

dateSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Romance is tough, and finding the bravery to ask out that special person can be even tougher. To be fair, a class on how to be in a relationship could never really work; it’s just one of those things that every person has to approach in their own way.

8

Breaking Up

breakupSource: http://thoughtcatalog.com/

As hard as it might have been to get a relationship started, ending it will likely be just as bad or worse. There is a high likelihood that everyone will go through a breakup or two throughout their life, and although they can be quick and unanimous, there’s always a chance that it will be drawn-out, messy, and leave one or both parties in a state of depression. Breakups are never fun, but being upfront and mature about your feelings, as well as knowing when to end a relationship, will help a lot to keep the fallout from being too disastrous.

7

Sustainable Living

windmillSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Every day, more and more scientific evidence is released in support of global climate change, and it’s up to all of us to find ways that we can do our part to save the planet. Many scientists are already fighting to have climate change added to the school curriculum, sometimes as early as junior high, and in the meantime, we should all try a little harder to live an eco-friendly life.

6

Home Repair

home repairSource: http://successfulstudent.org/ Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_42428_-_Home_Repair_after_Flood.jpg

Inevitably, your house will at some point need some work done, and just replacing a few boards may not be enough. Hiring a carpenter, electrician, or plumber can be an expensive hassle though, so learning the right techniques and tools to fix the little things on your own will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

5

Handling Money

25 Useful Things That School Should Teach But Doesn'tSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Many young adults ready to strike out on their own find themselves greatly hindered by a lack of experience with money. Knowing how to save and invest your money wisely is a valuable skill to have, and while some schools offer courses in accounting, business, and finances, they often neglect to cover how one should manage their own bank account.

4

Self Defense

defenseSource: http://www.rad-systems.com/

You never know when you might find yourself alone in an unsafe part of town, and knowing how to defend yourself is definitely a helpful skill to help you out of an unsafe situation. Martial arts take a lot of ambition and time to master, but if you’re just looking to protect yourself, many local police departments offer classes teaching simple but effective self defense techniques.

3

How to Dress

suitSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Everybody likes to look nice. Whether its just a casual dinner, a friendly party, or an important job interview, the right outfit can speak volumes and make a great impression. That said, ill-fitting or clashing clothing can do more harm than good, so it might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion if you’re dressing up for something really important.

2

Cooking

cookSource: http://successfulstudent.org/

Cooking is one of the most important skills any independent person can have; it’s healthier, cheaper, and more self-fulfilling than going out or eating microwave dinners every single night. Luckily, the internet provides lots of free recipes, so if you have an oven (and hopefully a fire alarm) in your home, why not try out a couple of culinary experiments?

 

Speaking of being a student and eating well, check out these 25 Awesome And Useful Tips To Help Busy Students Eat Healthier.

1

Self Awareness

self awareSource: https://markmanson.net/

Although it may seem like a strange thing to teach, the ability to be self aware is a very useful skill to have. Many disagreements and conflicts of interests arise from people who are unable to separate their personal opinions from reality, and teaching people how to identify and recognize those opinions for what they are is a great first step in reducing the bigotry in today’s society.

 

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