Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Education System


We've been complaining about the education system again. I guess it is a normal thing in my line of work. One man was saying how we are missing the basics, learning how to spell, doing mental math, memorizing the times tables. I think that the "system" expects kids to have help with a calculator or spell check, and so they don't need to figure things in their head.

One woman was talking about the skills one needs as a mother - basic nursing skills, knowing how to teach, cleaning and organizing, time management, etc.

Another woman said she was in a financial management class at a library, and very few people came, so she got personalized guidance on her finances. This is yet another set of skills that we don't teach our children. I was one of the lucky ones who was taught how to balance my checkbook at school. At that time, it seemed too simple and I knew that there was more to learn, but I didn't know what questions to ask to learn any more.

I think that if the teachers don't teach it in the schools, then it is the parent's requirement to teach it at home. I'm not sure I did such a good job keeping up with my requirements. Luckily, my job isn't over, and I can continue to help her with these tasks when the time comes. I think I've taught her the philosophy of these things, but I don't think she is ready to sit down with me to learn a lesson about mortgages right now.

There are a lot of good books available to review right now - they come in surges, there were three I wanted, so it was hard to choose. I requested a money answer book. I expect it to tell people to maximize the revenue by get a good job that maximizes their skills and talents, to keep going after that promotion. And it should talk about mortgages and investments and paying off the credit card, and retirement. It should talk about minimizing expenses.

6 comments:

Lindah said...

I have to agree that a lot of this stuff should be taught/demonstrated in the home on a daily basis. The hows of taking care of oneself and a family and home, relationships, world view, etc. These are things I did not care to entrust to an outsider. The formal part of education...math/science/history, etc were traditionally open to outside tutors/teachers. But even there I wanted to keep an eye on what was being taught/caught.
Interesting post.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

It is a conundrum of immense proportions.

Allie said...

I didn't learn any of that in school - OR from my folks - they were good parents, but they thought the school would teach me. Of course, my kids didn't go to school, lol, so they've been learning all along how to do all that stuff. I do think learning how to save is one of the biggest things we should be teaching our children - everybody else seems to teach them how to spend!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

I have always been into that type of thing, don't know where I got it from, certainly not my parents, i can remeber trying to teach my Mum about Christmas clubs at about 13, because she needed budgeting tools! There is a great book over here, Paul Clitheroe's "Money".. (I think). I have it, and it has been a great help to our family, Cheers, Tracey

Libby Fife said...

It is a tough one. Many parents simply aren't equipped to teach some of these things. I had to learn lots of things as I went along. Quite a problem I would say.

Tanya said...

I have a feeling that my parental influence is on the wane. Definitely for my son... Maybe I can still instil some "education" in my daughter. A lot of things I know I tried to teach and the kids claim that they never heard it from me. Rats.