‘SCHOOL days are the best days of our lives’. So many of us grew up with this mantra. Opinions will differ. This writer has fond memories for sure, but sadly they are more of the craic-in-the-corridors type than the intricacies of the modh coinníollach or how to solve for X when Y is ...well, unfathomable.
But there is little doubt that our school years set the tone for the path we create in life, and the knowledge we glean from those few years should equip us to deal with at least some of the challenges we will face.
And they do, to a certain extent. But it’s hard not to wonder why some of the most basic life skills are – or were, a couple of decades back at least – neglected in the educational curriculum.
Teachers and principals reading this will most likely roll their eyes, and they’d be perfectly entitled to. Who’d be a teacher, given the unreasonable and unattainable weight of expectation placed on teachers to be educators, counsellors, stand-in parents and all-round positive influences?
But not everyone has the benefit of a solid home life, and in light of that, here are some practical, cognitive and social skills that this writer would love to have been taught in school.
Personal-finance skills: Instead of learning algebra and theorems (regular features in my at-least-monthly Leaving Cert nightmares, along with Irish Paper 2) it would have been nice to leave school equipped with the learned ability to not end up broke ten days before payday. (Add also: the importance of a regular saving habit and how a pension might save us from poverty in later life. I’m certain it would have been a riveting class.)
Tax returns: On the topic of finance, knowing how and when to file a tax return and having the ability to decipher and complete that damned Form 11 would have been one of the most useful life skills any enterprising ’90s kid could have taken away from secondary school.
Empathy: Some might argue that this shouldn’t have to be taught. Others will say it is learned before school every begins. But empathy is the foundation of humanity and in today’s world of toxic online commentary and extreme polarisation and unnuanced dichotomy, the simple art of placing oneself in the shoes of another appears to be dying. Barnardos’ ‘Roots of Empathy’ programme, however, involving school visits by parents and their newborn babies, has been proven to increase empathy and reduce aggression among children.
Feminism: Often misunderstood, feminism is simply about equality equal rights and equality of opportunity. It really is that simple. The world would benefit greatly if boys, in particular, were taught in school that women are worthy of their full respect, and not (a) there for men’s sexual gratification, (b) their enemy, (c) worth less, academically or professionally, or (d) keen on being assaulted or murdered.
Self-love: Stop sniggering down the back (though now that you mention it, that too). Teaching the value of caring for oneself, and the importance of good nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, connection with others, and the physical and mental impact all of these have on us would surely lead to a healthier and happier society.
Critical thinking: In the era of conspiracy theories and the rapid rise of the far right, teaching young people to question what they are being told and more importantly, who is telling them and why, would lead to healthier public discourse. But then again, if critical thinking had been taught in Irish schools in the ’80s and ’90s, civil war political parties would not still be destroying the country.
Relationship management: As convent girls, we were discouraged from acknowledging the very existence of boys, let alone being facilitated to fraternise with them. Hence the whole area of discovering that boys were mere fellow humans and not aliens, particularly for those of us with no brothers, was a bit of mystery and rather stressful in the beginning. Education on the importance of communicating, consent and respect would make for healthier relationship outcomes all round.
The intricacies and protocols of public officialdom: This is a niche one, but the protocol around official Ireland in terms of invitations, introductions and the order in which to address officials and dignitaries would avoid diplomatic faux pas and prevent bruised egos in council chambers and function rooms all around the country. Bonus points for educating our young people on who really does the work to make things happen and who holds the decision-making power in Official Ireland. (Hint: they are usually not the same people.)
Basic DIY and maintenance: On a more practical note, learning how to change a plug, unblock a drain, paint a wall (tidily), use a drill and change a tyre would stand to every individual and save us a fortune too.
In an already packed curriculum, where would we find the space to fit any, let alone all of the above? Well, we could abolish religious indoctrination, for starters. We could pack out our Transition Year curriculum. And of course, those of us with young people in our own homes could do a bit too.
OPINION: Things I wish I’d been taught in school
32
11
27.04.2024
‘SCHOOL days are the best days of our lives’. So many of us grew up with this mantra. Opinions will differ. This writer has fond memories for sure, but sadly they are more of the craic-in-the-corridors type than the intricacies of the modh coinníollach or how to solve for X when Y is ...well, unfathomable.
But there is little doubt that our school years set the tone for the path we create in life, and the knowledge we glean from those few years should equip us to deal with at least some of the challenges we will face.
And they do, to a certain extent. But it’s hard not to wonder why some of the most basic life skills are – or were, a couple of decades back at least – neglected in the educational curriculum.
Teachers and principals reading this will most likely roll their eyes, and they’d be perfectly entitled to. Who’d be a teacher, given the unreasonable and unattainable weight of expectation placed on teachers to be educators, counsellors, stand-in parents and all-round positive influences?
But not everyone has the benefit of a solid home life, and in light of that, here are some practical, cognitive and social skills that this writer would love to have been taught in school.
Personal-finance skills: Instead of learning algebra and theorems........
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