As a continuation of my previous post titled “Should real world subjects be taught more in schools?”…
So what are some “real world” subjects that could be taught in high school? Maybe in some schools, somewhere, these courses are standard, but I can tell you that at mine, they certainly weren’t.
Personal finance. This could be broken down into sections that cover budgeting, saving money, how to develop good spending habits, money management, etc. During high school, many teenagers may be getting their first job, and making money, so this could help guide them to better spending and saving habits, rather than blowing it all on fun stuff, and then continuing that habit into adulthood.
Banking. The multitude of banking options out there can be intimidating for those without any knowledge or experience about them. Some questions that could be answered include: “How do I find the bank that best suits me?” “What is the best way to responsibly use a checking account, without bouncing checks or incurring overdraft fees?” “Is overdraft protection a good idea?” Additional areas that could be covered include information about high-yield savings accounts, banking at a credit union, online banking, etc.
All about credit. I think this would be an incredibly useful course, and one that could help students approaching the age of eighteen know how to responsibly obtain credit and build a solid history. This way, when they enter college and are bombarded by credit card companies advertising at their campuses, they will have a better idea of what to do and not to do. This course could examine what a FICO score is and the components of it. And ever so important for students applying for colleges, it could have a detailed section all about student loans, and how to find the best one. There are so many intricacies about credit, so maybe a detailed course such as this would help send the students out into the real world with an arsenal of knowledge to help them avoid damaging their credit scores.
Real estate 101. So are high-schoolers too young to be learning about purchasing a home and finding the right mortgage? No way! Even though many won’t be purchasing a home until much later in life, this could be a helpful course overall to help them prepare at an early age for that big step, and set goals to save for it, if they so choose. They could learn all about the different mortgage types, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Being informed about how the market works, and what influences the price of a home and learning about how to work with a real estate agent could be helpful as well.
How to purchase a car, and the basics of maintaining one. Need I say more! This curriculum could talk about how to look for a good deal on a car, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing or leasing a new car, buying a used car, and the different types of financing available. Additionally, it could cover the ever-so-important basics of the proper maintenance of a vehicle, and how it can save money over the long run.
Detailed strategies of managing finances and paying the bills. How do I organize a system to ensure all my bills are paid on time? How do I track everything? How do I handle setting up utility accounts? What is a checkbook register, and why should it be used? All good questions that could be answered in this course!
All about the different kinds of insurance. As they get older, young adults need to be prepared for shopping around for insurance, and to make sure that they are not under- or over-insured in the necessary areas. Information about this could help them understand the different kinds of plans that exist and the coverage needed for auto, renters, health, dental, homeowners, life, and many other kinds of insurance. We all know how confusing this can be!
Resume writing 101. As a manager, I know how important this is! I have seen dozens upon dozens of resumes come across my desk at work, and unfortunately, many of them leave a lot to be desired! It is readily apparent that this is not a well-honed skill in much of the general populace. I can not begin to tell you about the multitudes of errors (grammatical, punctuation, spelling, etc.) that I have seen on resumes, let alone the lack of cover pages, and even the most basic components that all proper resumes should have. If a course, or section of one, was devoted to this most necessary information, maybe more individuals who enter the work world could have this skill ingrained, so resume writing could be a breeze!
How to look for, apply, and successfully interview for a job. This one needs very little explanation, but could be tremendously helpful!
Overall, these are just some ideas of subjects that I think could be of an extraordinary amount of benefit to young adults going through high school. I think they would very much appreciate some courses they could easily apply directly toward their life, and to help them prepare for a sound economic future. I mean, that’s why they go to school in the first place – so they can get into college and prepare for a job that they can make money at for most of the rest of their lives. What a disservice I think it is for schools to overlook these most important life skills. Why can’t we give them a more well-rounded education that really prepares them for life out there?
Please feel free to leave any comments about any other ideas of courses you think would be beneficial to be taught in public schools.
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