Things You Wish They Taught in School

I've had the conversation multiple times - maybe based on something I read in the past - that the
business of taking care of your money, your credit, taxes and expenses is something that was never touched on when I went to school.

Well, these have been proclamations rather than conversations. I boldly state that this stuff should have been taught in school, and the listener either nods politely, excuses themselves, or puts down their weapon and goes off to rob someone else.

Formal education has its purpose of course. The mechanics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as early exposure to the scientific method, history, and possibly the arts and so on is valuable and not material that all young people will necessarily be exposed to.

There are other mechanics of life that vary from location to location. In theory, a school that's located in a certain place could teach the particulars of that city or town, like how to get a driver's license or other identification, how to replace lost I.D, or more general knowledge like what to do if your property is stolen. How do you get married or divorced? A lot of this stuff is picked up by parents or friends, or the institutions of government, or these days, online.



But what about the bigger questions? Some things - like finding our passion or meaning in life, choosing a partner and so on - those are an individual journey of discovery. Although education can help with the skills to figure it out, and showing possible pathways.

Other things, like handling our own anger or that of others, or an abusive friend, partner or stranger, how and when to stand up for ourselves or others, how to be strong when you're alone and right and how to realize when you or the people around you are wrong, and a hundred other things along these lines - I believe this is where the power of story exists.

Fiction tells us how to live, or how not to live, by dramatic examples that we may or may not see in real life. Or if we do see it for real, we may only see one flavor of behavior.

What do you wish they taught in school?
What are the lessons you've learned from stories, either as a kid or later in life?

This was a bit rambly, apologies for that. I wish I'd paid attention to the lessons on not rambling!


Have a good one,

Banes