# Things schools don't teach that you think they should **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385 "2010-06-16T02:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/41 "2010-06-16T17:27:10Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > My idea along these lines would be making Physical Education actually about … well, physical education. I was going to mention PE, but didn’t get to it. I agree that more emphasis should be placed on building healthy bodies. When I was a kid we had rotating sports. We’d start the day with calisthenics, and then a jog around the perimeter, which must have been a mile. One week we’d play basketball, the next week it would be volleyball, another week would be flag football, another week would be soccer, and so on. Soccer was just becoming popular in jr. high, so most of us were pretty bad at it. Better than flag football, though. Team sports and individual sports are important in schools, but I think more emphasis should be placed on physical conditioning. Again, I believe this will bring benefits later in life. When I was a kid, exercise was called ‘playing’. We didn’t have computers or video games, so we rode skateboards and bicycles and chased each other around or had adventures. With children being more sedentary nowadays, physical activity in schools becomes more important. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/42 "2010-06-16T22:10:59Z")
> [@](#): > > So, we institutionalize all learning? No way. Some things are better taught at home. If some parents are too lazy, or stupid to teach the basics to their kids then I’ll be fucked if my tax dollars should support the alternative. And you’ll also be fucked if your tax dollars don’t support the alternative. Everyone suffers from poor education, not just the poorly-educated. The students who aren’t taught about civics make poor choices in the voting booth, that get politicians elected who are bad for the whole country. The students who aren’t taught hygiene pass on diseases to everyone. The students who aren’t taught finance are a big part of the reason we’re in the current economic hard times, which have effected pretty much everyone. Yes, these things _should_ be taught by parents, but the sad truth is, they often aren’t. Given that fact, what do you want do do about it? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/43 "2010-06-16T22:31:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Make PE teach useful shit like martial arts instead of square dancing. No argument on that!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/44 "2010-06-16T22:43:50Z")
I can’t think of more unnecessary classes. > [@Lumpy](#): > > Firearms 1: Basic Knowledge, Safety and Laws (prerequisite course for-) > Firearms 2: Hands-on Instruction (elective, with parental approval) The Right to Bear Arms is a right, not a requirement. Taking away any other class (hell even a study hall) for this would be a huge waste of time and money. [QUOTE] [li]Citizenship 1: Local & State government (what district you live in, who represents it, and what their voting record was since the last election.)[/li][li]Citizenship 2: National government (who your senators and representative are, etc.)[/li][/QUOTE] Not a bad idea, but a class about your representatives could be out of date by the time you take your mid-term. And will almost surely be useless trivia by the time you graduate. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/45 "2010-06-17T02:33:43Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Not a bad idea, but a class about your representatives could be out of date by the time you take your mid-term. And will almost surely be useless trivia by the time you graduate. In grade 9 I did a project which, among other things, involved looking up my MP, MLA, city councillor, their political parties, and other related information. The point was not so that I would know the name of my MP etc., but that I would know how to access such information in the future and in what ways it could be relevant. As you can see, it worked quite well. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/46 "2010-06-17T03:09:40Z")
Driver’s ed should be taught in every public high school as a _requirement_ for graduation. No exceptions unless you’re blind or otherwise _ **never** _ going to drive. I’ve taught high school science for twenty-six years. Some kids will never be able to balance an equation or do a Punnet square, but they’re all going to drive. I’d like them to know how to do so safely. Not knowing algebra isn’t going to kill others, but not knowing how to drive properly can. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/47 "2010-06-17T04:27:45Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Driver’s ed should be taught in every public high school as a _requirement_ for graduation. No exceptions unless you’re blind or otherwise _ **never** _ going to drive. I’ve taught high school science for twenty-six years. Some kids will never be able to balance an equation or do a Punnet square, but they’re all going to drive. I’d like them to know how to do so safely. Not knowing algebra isn’t going to kill others, but not knowing how to drive properly can. I don’t drive, never have, never learned, and don’t need it. I’m sure it’s different in other areas, of course. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/48 "2010-06-17T05:19:51Z")
Hell, I’d be happy if they still taught reading, writing and arithmetic. Phonics would be good too. Other things to have in school would be a policy of flunking kids that don’t do the work necessary to pass, and maybe even classroom discipline. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/49 "2010-06-17T07:01:27Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > My idea along these lines would be making Physical Education actually about … well, physical education. Rather than a focus on team sports, focus more on actual teaching of how to exercise, how to eat right, how to take care of yourself. Most adults who work out aren’t just playing kickball, after all - I think a lot of people would feel a lot more confident about joining a gym if they learned basic things like how to use weight machines and free weights, or even basic stuff like “these types of exercises build muscle, these types of exercises are cardio workouts”. Stuff to combat myths (e.g. women shouldn’t lift weights because they’ll look like freakish she-hulks) would be really helpful, too. You could even focus on techniques to exercise without a gym or equipment. Basically, take the mystery of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle into adulthood. Nutrition and first aid could be covered in PE too. Only a very small handful of adults go on to play any team sport after high school, and even fewer play after college. Team sports should be considered an elective, NOT a core requirement. Physical education, that is, actually taking care of your body, and how to improve it, does need to be taught. When I went to school, we had a class called Social Studies, which was mostly learning about the US and other countries. It included a little bit of geography in it. I’d like to cut out a lot of the busywork. In my junior and senior Social Studies classes, for instance, the teacher used to pass out things like crossword puzzles and find a words, and then she’d nap during most of the rest of the class. She’d have a student wake her up just as class was ending, and collect the busywork papers. Next day, she’d pass them out, making sure that no student has his/her own paper, and then have us grade each other. A lot of the students gave each other undeserved high grades. Other classes might or might not have teachers who did similar things, but that one teacher was notorious for having an easy class. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/50 "2010-06-17T12:38:05Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > In grade 9 I did a project which, among other things, involved looking up my MP, MLA, city councillor, their political parties, and other related information. The point was not so that I would know the name of my MP etc., but that I would know how to access such information in the future and in what ways it could be relevant. Don’t get me wrong, it would make an excellent project in Social Studies class (which New York state requires three years of, **Lynn Bodoni** ). But creating a semester-long or year-long class around your elected representatives and how they vote? Huge waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/51 "2010-06-17T14:03:57Z")
I should have put these in my original answer: Courtesy Respect Self-discipline Perseverance ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/52 "2010-06-18T02:21:32Z")
To matt mcl- You may never drive. Have you ever ridden in a vehicle on a highway or crossed a street? Having drivers know what they’re doing isn’t just for their own safety. Most of the U.S doesn’t have public transportation. I’m 49 and I’ve only met two adults who never had a driver’s license. One was born in the nineteenth century. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/53 "2010-06-18T03:01:24Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I don’t drive, never have, never learned, and don’t need it. I’m sure it’s different in other areas, of course. With all due respect, **Matt** , it is different in other locations. In your current location, I’d agree that you don’t need to drive. Montreal has an excellent public transit system–as does Toronto, where I lived for many years. Between the subways, buses, and commuter trains (which I know you have in Montreal too); I rarely needed a car, and when I did, I could rent one. But I’ve also lived in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge; and in terms of public transit, none of those cities can hope to match what I became used to in Toronto. None has commuter trains to bring people in from the bedroom communities, and none have buses or trains that (with very few exceptions) go where you want them to without taking a long time to do so. To give an example, my wife’s Calgary commute was twenty minutes by car, or two hours and three transfers by bus. As a visitor, you’d be stuck with less-than-adequate public transit or very expensive taxis. Under these circumstances, I’d suggest that a car–or the ability to rent one–is necessary. As you say, it is different in other areas. But I’d also suggest that driving is a skill you might wish to learn someday. Should you ever leave Montreal for another part of Canada, you might well find that you’ll get around easier if you know how to drive; rather than anticipating that other locations have the equivalent of the excellent Montreal transit system. I agree with the poster who said schools should teach driving. Driving has certainly been more useful to me that doing quadractic equations, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/54 "2010-06-18T03:06:53Z")
Driver’s Ed is taught in schools around here, even though many people in Chicago never drive. Where I grew up in the suburbs, it was an elective, but absolutely everyone took it. Here, it’s required, and many kids don’t ever get their licenses, including my son (well, so far. We’ll see if he changes his mind should we move to a more rural place). I think it’s just fine as an elective. I think the current testing process before you can get a license in my state is appropriate, but I don’t care how you get the requisite knowledge and practice, be it public school, private classes or learning from your folks. If you can pass the test, you’re good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/55 "2010-06-18T04:05:22Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > **Linguistics** > I’m not even truly clear on what Linguistics is, or why it’s needed, so I think it’s fair to say I never learned it. It’s the science of language. It doesn’t need to have its own class, but English teachers should absolutely have at least some background in linguistics. It’s shameful how little understood our language actually is. There’s a lot more to it than the half-understood and consistently misapplied composition and usage myths that pervade most “English” classrooms. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/56 "2010-06-18T04:43:06Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > With all due respect, **Matt** , it is different in other locations. As I said, I’m sure. However, the poster said that “Driver’s ed should be taught in \*\*every \*\*public high school as a requirement for graduation. **No exceptions** ”, because “\*\*all \*\*[students are] going to drive” (emphases mine). I’m just pointing out that this isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/57 "2010-06-18T05:08:06Z")
Interesting. A lot of this is taught in schools over here (well not fire arms education:eek:) I wish NZ schools still taught budgeting skills. Some may, but my kids never had it & a lot of them in today’s cashless society still don’t understand about money.\* - The school I went to only the mid level & lower streams had budgeting taught. I guess they figured the bright ones would work it out for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/58 "2010-06-18T05:41:57Z")
You guys didn’t learn how to balance a checkbook in school? Sheesh. I’ve never even _seen_ a checkbook in real life and we learned how to balance them motherfuckers in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/59 "2010-06-18T10:13:44Z")
I think about two suggestions in this thread actually deserve to be taught in school. I don’t know why balancing a chequebook as a suggestion is so popular: cheques are literally on their last legs. They’re being phased out in the UK before 2018, and the rest of the world is soon to follow. Paying by cheque for anything seems slightly antisocial to me, and it seems to be the sole province of the elderly. > [@JonnyLA](#): > > Obesity is a problem in this country. The only bright spot is we’re no longer the fattest nation on Earth. (Thank you, Australia!) Obviously nutrition is not being taught, or at least taught well, at home. Kids don’t need to be taught in school how to cook. I’m self-taught, and reviews have been quite positive. But more emphasis needs to be placed on nutrition, and presented in such a way that it ‘sticks’. I’ve heard of kids who learn about nutrition in school and try to teach their parents. Occasionally parents will learn the lesson, but I suspect that they generally don’t. Obesity causes health problems and brings social ostracism. Health problems tend to become greater later in life, which increases the need for health care. Ignoring health problems when they are small is false economy. It is better to spend the money to remedy them early, than to wait until they require more expensive treatment. I think spending money on Nutrition will save money in the future. We have nutrition taught in schools in England. It’s fucking boring, and should be scrapped, as more emphasis is placed on nutrition than actually learning any cookery skills. We still have obese people, and their numbers are rapidly increasing. Nutrition isn’t a mystery science, it’s pretty damned basic, and it stretches credibility to claim that people don’t realize eating a fried breakfast every morning is bad for your health. They just ignore it. Similarly with PE. Keeping healthy isn’t a mystery: go run around your nearest field if you want to get fit, and stop eating so much. Scrapping playing team games to teach a term long borefest on “healthy bodies” would literally be a disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385/60 "2010-06-18T12:54:49Z")
PE needs to be revamped completely. It ought to focus in the early years of connecting physical activity to fun with games that are active that everyone can play together. In Middle school it should split off into a team or athletic track and an individual/ personal training track. Those naturally inclined can pursue traditional sporting activities, the rest can take a course that focuses on improving personal fitness and individual goals. High school should continue this divide, offering martial arts, weightlifting, crosstraining or other alternative activities. _ **Basic** _ First Aid should be taught likewise throughout the years, increasing in skills as the children age. The military does an excellent job of this and we spent about 10 hrs on it total, though I remember all of it. This should be combined with Ethics. We have far, far too many people who just mill around confused or scared to help. For the love of OG we need a decent sex ed class. Hang the parents and the religious right. It is a matter of public health and safety that people be informed about the facts surrounding sex. This should be taught co-ed. It is just as important to understand the biology of the opposite sex as your own. It should be taught early, and refreshed throughout all levels of education. As the children reach the age of experimentation practical knowledge such as condom use, etc should be included. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-schools-dont-teach-that-you-think-they-should/543385.md?page=4)