HS kids

I think a "Life Skills" class could be a very useful program for high schools. I have had numerous interns from all across the country come through my work, and I always end up teaching them the same things about life, not work.

For example:

1. If you're using a landline phone, you need to dial "1" before the area code.
2. If someone says "How's it going?" while walking fast, they don't want a five minute description.
3. Teach how circuit breakers work.
4. Teach how to change a tire on a car.
5. Teach how to drive a manual transmission vehicle.
6. Teach how to start a diesel vehicle.

These are just some examples of things I have had to teach younger adults, and it's far from comprehensive. Much of it has been over the phone, some in emergency situations (luckily teaching someone to drive a manual transmission, while an emergency, was not over the phone.)

In middle school I had to take wood shop and Home economics. I remembers my brother taking a basic car maintenance class. Those have all been very useful to us as adults.

I know I'm not a subject matter expert on this since since neither I nor my brother have kids, so I don't know what is being taught or required to be taught, but a class that teaches kids how to "adult" instead of just preparing for standardized tests would benefit society as a whole.

Cnorm said:

Military drone manufacturers are making their controllers match game console controllers. Then the Air Force recruits kids that are good at gaming.

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Bat-mite said:

Ready Player One is not far away.

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"Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Ko-dan Armada." (1984, The Last Starfighter)

kyle said:

I think a "Life Skills" class could be a very useful program for high schools. I have had numerous interns from all across the country come through my work, and I always end up teaching them the same things about life, not work.

For example:

1. If you're using a landline phone, you need to dial "1" before the area code.
2. If someone says "How's it going?" while walking fast, they don't want a five minute description.
3. Teach how circuit breakers work.
4. Teach how to change a tire on a car.
5. Teach how to drive a manual transmission vehicle.
6. Teach how to start a diesel vehicle.

These are just some examples of things I have had to teach younger adults, and it's far from comprehensive. Much of it has been over the phone, some in emergency situations (luckily teaching someone to drive a manual transmission, while an emergency, was not over the phone.)

In middle school I had to take wood shop and Home economics. I remembers my brother taking a basic car maintenance class. Those have all been very useful to us as adults.

I know I'm not a subject matter expert on this since since neither I nor my brother have kids, so I don't know what is being taught or required to be taught, but a class that teaches kids how to "adult" instead of just preparing for standardized tests would benefit society as a whole.

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Yeah. Sigh. Every chance I get, I teach my kids how to do practical stuff. "C'mon, kids, we need to fix the door switch on the dryer.' "Today we're going to fix a hole in the drywall." "Let's take the door off the dishwasher and see why the breaker is tripping."

Where else can they get these skills if there is a parent to teach them?

Bat-mite said:

Yeah. Sigh. Every chance I get, I teach my kids how to do practical stuff. "C'mon, kids, we need to fix the door switch on the dryer.' "Today we're going to fix a hole in the drywall." "Let's take the door off the dishwasher and see why the breaker is tripping."

Where else can they get these skills if there is a parent to teach them?

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There's a slow movement toward schools bringing these classes back. My daughter is enrolled in a construction trades class at her high school. There's also a really cool program over in Yakima near us where they team-teach a tech class and an algebra class. The tech side uses 3-D printers and NC routers/lasers to teach the concepts of the x-y plane as well as the technical skills. They said that bringing in that real world experience has made a huge difference in pass arts for the class.

I'm running for school board right now, and thought that the trades stuff was going to be a niche issue for employers and unions. I was really surprised that this was the plank in my platform that literally everyone I've talked to supports. So much so that my opponent is trying to copy me.

Bat-mite said:

Agreed. Very few things are bad in and of themselves. It is the abuse of things that leads to harm. Playing video games a few times a week? Fun, and as you said, perhaps beneficial. Playing video games to the extent that you never go outside and never have any friends? Big problem.

I try to play a good game every year. PC only. My favorites have been Nocturne, the Thief series, the Bioshock series, the Dishonored series, and the Evil Within series.

I just bought Blair Witch to get me warmed up for Halloween.

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Right right. I have played video games since the Atari 2600. I rarely play anymore now though, when I do it's something casual, 7 Days to Die or Fallout 4. However, I may have a slight addiction to Fallout 4. LOL Love that game, the whole Fallout universe is great, but 4 is my favorite. Playing Dragon Age Inquisition now, when I feel like it and have time. Mass effect was a great series. My daughter asks quite often to play 7 Days to Die. Lol. I turn the zombies off.
A bit excited for Mechwarrior 5 but my dinosaur desktop won't run it, not sure if my laptop will.
At my job I get to work on/play with lots of cool military ... stuff. Fairly easy transition from a PlayStation to a TOW or Javelin and others. Us gamers have a much easier time figuring them out and blow everyone away when it comes to the sims and trainers.

AfterBurners said:

My company has a special day once a year where employees volunteer their time to do outside projects to help different organizations. I’ll be at a local HS helping the students prep for their first job and going over interview skills. After reading over the suggested list of questions we must ask the students as a mock interviewer I find the questions are a misrepresentation of what a real-world interview is all about. I don’t really see how they will benefit the student in finding a job. Then they tell us to be “gentle” on them because, after all they are HS students. Well unfortunately the real world isn’t going to be gentle on them. If anything, they will have to learn how to handle rejection and learn how to learn from each situation and use it to their advantage to make the next interview better.<snip>.

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My short answer is: while I admire the effort to volunteer to help others, it sounds like you have the wrong idea on how to teach people.

Basketball is not taught by throwing children into FIBA matches against professional players. Reading is not taught by starting out on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Rocketry does not start out with your first build being loaded with an N5800.

You are not there to interview and select these people for an upper management or highly skilled engineering position, you are there to give them an introduction to answering questions about themselves. A chance to put them on the spot in front of a adult and get an idea of what they need to have in their armament of ready to fire answers when they prepare for the real deal. This is their Estes Alpha before the level one, the dribbling and shooting practice before the junior league. Some things have to be learnt under pressure from necessity, answering questions and making a good impression isn’t one of them.

AfterBurners said:

This is my second go around...would love to help them, but sometimes I get pissed off the way the school system is today. HS should be more like a career development or trade school. Teach these kids real world skills and give them the tools they need to get a leg up in the real world. Don't reward them for finishing last, because in the real world life isn't about that.

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If you have a burning desire to HELP those HS kids, - then please do just that. You will have a few hours with them. It's a wonderful opportunity for you (and them) if you are able to share a bit of your life experience. Your posts here suggest - your heart might not be fully engaged in this task. If you are not up-to-it, please ask your employer to assign a different volunteer activity.

I also want to share one of my own experiences as an example. When my oldest daughter Stephanie was in 3rd-grade she joined the Chess club at school. One Saturday, her school held a "tournament" and invited students from a few area schools to compete. Steph wasn't a very good player. Not good at all, but she wanted to go to the tournament as a spectator. She wanted to watch and see if she could learn some "good moves" from some of the other players. One of the teachers encouraged her to enter and play. "It will be fun" he said. - I went to school to pick her up after the tournament. For as long as I live, I'll never forget the expression on her face - the biggest grin I ever saw. She was so proud to show me her medal - 23rd place. (there were 23 kids in her "section") She asked if we could attend another tournament next Saturday at a different school. She played in over 100 scholastic tournaments over the next five years. Her chess skills slowly improved. She was selected to be on the varsity chess team during her freshman year in High School.

Another one of my fondest memories is when Stephanie's teammates came running and screaming out of the tournament hall. Stephanie was on the last board playing and had just made the winning move at the Wisconsin State HS Championships. She and her team took 1st place for Wisconsin Division 1 HS Varsity chess.
They were High School state champions two years in a row.

She was shy, timid and afraid to even play at that first tournament in 3rd grade - then beaming with pride after "winning" the last-place medal. Last place to state champion. Encouragement works miracles. It's a universal constant. For folks that downplay the idea of rewarding last place, I recommend See You At The Top! by Zig Ziglar.


Wisconsin HS State Chess Champions - 2012

I shared my infinite wisdom

Where