Yhat idea for "Relationship Ed" is a great one. Unfortunately, I can't imagine a world in which we'd have (a) enough really awesome teachers who wouldn't fuck it up (or derail it by injecting their own issues or prejudices), and (b) students who would shut up long enough to actually learn something from it.
Sadly, some of these life lessons have to be learned through experience - some of it negative. And some people will never learn these lessons no matter how well they're taught.
Self-esteem is a HUGE issue for teens and it can continue into adulthood. People who respect themselves tend to have healthier relationships. There's a world of need for these kinds of practical life lessons, and I don't think there's a magical solution to impart them. Parents, educators and society at large all have a role to play.
Very true about the pitfalls of non-awesome teachers and students not being ready to learn. Both of those go for regular sex ed too, I suppose!
I've often thought high schoolers should be taught basic financial stuff too, such as how credit cards work (and all the potential rip-offs there), how to balance your bank account, how to develop a good credit history, etc. I mean, 18th-century European history has its place, but what about stuff people will need every day of their lives, no matter what career they choose?
Er, sorry for the tangent. I think you're right that even if relationship lessons were taught in school, it's something you do have to experience for yourself before you can truly learn it. But I do think giving kids a basis of information about healthy relationships would be helpful, especially for kids who haven't had models of those in their own lives. There are good sex ed teachers who are already doing this, I'm sure.
I so VERY agree with you about a Personal Finance 101 class that really ought to be mandatory for high schoolers. That kind of thing, unlike "Relationship Ed", isn't really as subjective, and would be easier for a math or economics teacher to teach. Learning skills like budgeting, debt and interest, how to manage credit, how to deal with taxes (even with part-time jobs, it's relevant to high schoolers), the basics about mortgages and credit ratings and how not to fuck up your life due to student loans... this is all stuff that should be learned BEFORE you get out in the real world. And so many people never understand it at all
( ... )
I was lucky too -- Dad isn't an accountant, but he's very frugal, and he taught both explicitly and by example the importance of saving, not buying things you can't pay for, etc. I think I inherited his frugal gene too; I'm just not one of those people who sees things (iPads, clothes, high-def TV's) and desperately wants to buy them. I'd rather save up my money for travel!
Wow, I've never heard of it, but that show sounds really good. I have occasionally seen Suze Orman do a show in which people call in and ask her if they can afford something. She grills them on how much savings/debt/income they have and how much the thing they want to buy costs, and then tells them whether they can realistically afford it. I think more of us need to get into the habit of thinking through every purchase rather than buying on impulse.
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*gasps*
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Sadly, some of these life lessons have to be learned through experience - some of it negative. And some people will never learn these lessons no matter how well they're taught.
Self-esteem is a HUGE issue for teens and it can continue into adulthood. People who respect themselves tend to have healthier relationships. There's a world of need for these kinds of practical life lessons, and I don't think there's a magical solution to impart them. Parents, educators and society at large all have a role to play.
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I've often thought high schoolers should be taught basic financial stuff too, such as how credit cards work (and all the potential rip-offs there), how to balance your bank account, how to develop a good credit history, etc. I mean, 18th-century European history has its place, but what about stuff people will need every day of their lives, no matter what career they choose?
Er, sorry for the tangent. I think you're right that even if relationship lessons were taught in school, it's something you do have to experience for yourself before you can truly learn it. But I do think giving kids a basis of information about healthy relationships would be helpful, especially for kids who haven't had models of those in their own lives. There are good sex ed teachers who are already doing this, I'm sure.
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Wow, I've never heard of it, but that show sounds really good. I have occasionally seen Suze Orman do a show in which people call in and ask her if they can afford something. She grills them on how much savings/debt/income they have and how much the thing they want to buy costs, and then tells them whether they can realistically afford it. I think more of us need to get into the habit of thinking through every purchase rather than buying on impulse.
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