I love the fall — it’s an exciting time of renewal — a new school year with shiny floors and everyone looking refreshed and energized. It is also a time when I hear lots of suggestions about what we should be teaching. Here are some of my all-time favourites:
- changing a flat tire
- surviving in the wild
- negotiating a contract
- filling out a federal tax form
- growing vegetables
- performing basic pet care
- displaying manners such as holding a door
- investing in stocks and bonds
- sewing on a button
‘Basic pet care’ was new to me this year. Not sure what that means beyond feeding your dog, putting out some fresh water, going for walks, and taking them to the vet when they need it … but I digress. That’s not really the point.
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The Power of Why 
[heart] Sarah Ross reacted to your message:
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Some of these life skills, like creating a realistic student or household budget wouldn’t be a bad idea, because they involve critical thinking and establishing priorities, while applying mathematical processes (especially when related to creating a working spreadsheet). I agree, though, that in a world of instant information, being able to tiangulate and distinguish reliable sources is way more important than learning the “stuff.” How one can apply what one learns, and use evidence to form an opinion, are also essential life skills.
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Thanks for commenting, Sheila. I appreciate your comments and insights.
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Mark Twain once said, “I have never let schooling interfere with my education.”
This speaks to the education you get in the classroom vs. the education you get in the real world. I think some things are best learned from experience, trial and error, failure, etc. and some things better in the classroom. And hopefully, humans will make connections between both.
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Love it! I agree completely with your sentiments. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Kris.
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