Today, it seems that one of a young person’s most important tasks is to prepare for college and, more importantly, “the real world.” When one has to sit through a full year of geometry or biology, students often find themselves asking the question, “When am I ever going to use this material?”
After four years of high school, students are experts on the American Revolution and quadratic equations. They learn about working in group settings managing their time. Although many of these skills are essential, students are missing out on major life skills. By the time students graduate high school, many do not know how to file a tax return, write a check, or do their own laundry. Does the average student know how to act during a job interview, or how to change a flat tire?
Schreiber provides adequate life skill classes, like health and Financial Algebra, in which students are taught how to manage stocks and money, as well as balance a checkbook. In addition, students are provided with electives such as auto shop or FACS.
“FACS provides students with several cooking classes such as foods and nutrition, culture and foods as well as clothing and textiles, human development, housing and environment, and senior experience. In these classes, students are learning essential life skills like sewing, childcare, babysitting, parenting, how to move out on your own, career exploration, and more,” said Family and Consumer Science teacher Ms. Robyn Block.
These classes are not mandatory, and students may feel as though they are wasting their time because they do not count for honors or AP credit.
“Whether it’s health, technology education, family and consumer sciences, accounting, or economics, our school does provide life skills classes,” said Assistant Principal Mr. David Miller. “As education continues to evolve, however, schools tend to aim for higher level instruction like honors and AP courses. Because of this it may seem as though there are not enough life skill classes.”
For many, college is the next step in life after high school, but for others, this may not be the case. Some students may decide to go into the military or to a trade school. Because of this, there should also be a class for upperclassmen that gives students insights into pathways other than college.
There is also a lack of classes about job skills. After graduating high school, students are expected to have an idea of what they want to do for a living. However, many students are not aware of the job market and which jobs will be needed in the future. If the school were to have an entrepreneurship class, students would be informed about up-and-coming fields and have a better idea of which career path they want to choose.
Although Schreiber has life skills classes, the school should provide students with mandatory life skills classes where FACS, tech, financial algebra, and economics are all combined into one curriculum. In addition, the school should have a class to teach students about options after high school. These will help to further guide students and allow them to be independent.