I was inspired to make this topic after reading this article (bit of a disclaimer, Jezebel is a strongly liberal and feminist news site, if you do not like these things I would advise caution). It got me thinking: are we adequately equipping kids with basic life skills? Do you know how to do things like iron, clean household messes, work the washer/dryer, sew buttons, pump gas? What about others around your age? Where did you learn these skills? I do think it is the responsibility of the parents to teach these things, but not everyone has the benefit of attentive parents/guardians. Especially in our current economy, many people have both parents working, and hardly any time to learn these sorts of things. Therefore, I think we could benefit from requiring a class like this be taught in middle and high schools, perhaps even elementary for some of the more basic tasks. Personally I don't think I do too bad--I learned to use the washer/dryer in fifth grade and have been washing my own clothes (and sometimes my family's) ever since. I learned to iron shortly after. I took my first and only Home Economics-esque class in the 7th grade (I was twelve, for those confused by American schools lol), where we learned to use a sewing machine and make biscuits, basically. I wasn't really pleased with the class, it was only about five weeks long (40 minutes a day, five days a week) and I hardly remember anything from it. I've honestly no idea how to pump gas or change my car's oil. We were discussing this in my Sociology class where a classmate said "If you don't know how to pump gas you shouldn't have a license," which, while a bit extreme, is a decent point. He remarked about two minutes later that he had no idea how to work a washer or dryer though. :L He's 18. Maybe it's just around here, I live in a pretty affluent neighborhood, but I just feel like there's this huge loss of knowledge in terms of basic life skills. A lot of kids end up being forced to find a way to do them in college, and develop bad habits that stick with them for the rest of their lives. I'd love to know how to cook, really, haha. I suppose I could look up recipes on my own and all, but I hardly even know how to do any basic recipes. Left to make myself dinner, I usually end up making pasta, heating up leftovers, or putting some pre-cooked food in the oven. v: I think we could definitely benefit from more/mandatory Home Economics classes. So yeah. Interested to hear if I'm not the only one, hah.
My parents tried to teach me stuff, and sometimes they succeeded. Mostly if they didn't it's because I was avoiding them, because, well, tense relationships roflol don't need to get into that. But yeah there are some things I don't know (or didn't know when they would've been prudent). Car trouble, clothes trouble, and so on. I think what least occurs to parents to teach are not the basics, but what to do if something goes wrong. I had to go to a laundromat once while I was away at college, and no matter what I did my clothes would not come out dry. Ended up taking most of them home damp, had to call my grandma and ask for advice. Eventually I had it sorted out and the only real consequence was having to hang up most of my clothes in various places around the room to keep them from getting soggy and musty and sh#&, but yeah. Knowing the damage control steps in advance would've been nice. Is a class the right answer? I dunno. If you can get people to pay attention. I took college preparedness classes in collegiate high, and they... didn't help that much. (That was my first C, but still.) I suppose there's no harm in having a basic life skills class. Or maybe encouraging communities to get together to hold independent, parent-run crash courses. All in all, you learn what you need to learn, and you don't learn what you're too scared to ask someone to teach you. Maybe we should start by building a culture where we aren't so terrified to admit to not knowing what to do.
I occasionally can't remember one or two household chores in exact details, like the temperature on a washing machine or the buttons on a iron, (which annoys the hell out of me) but in general I can cope by myself. I also might not be the fastest thing when doing them (much to my mother's annoyance), but I get them done. My mum is the one who has 'taught' me most all of them, though she gets annoyed when I ask her what to do at any point, or try to learn more asking what some buttons do here and there, presuming I already know. I'm happy in my household we kind of just do the chores when we can and we usually aren't too worried about it, so it's always good that we do stuff for each other. However, my dad's quite lazy and believes women should do the job, but to be honest my mum's enough of a shouter that he hasn't got much choice but to do it most of the time. I don't know how to change oil, I know how to check, but after that I don't know, I know how to get petrol, put in the window screen wiper fluid and that's about it. I learned all that from my driving instructor. I know that a number of males don't know how to do any of them, wouldn't cope, and let the females of the household get it done. Meh, as long as I can cope i'm fine, and if I need to teach someone because they ask then I will.
I am totally for a Home Ec/Basic Life Skills class. I've been living in my current house for about 4 months and I still don't know how to use the oven. :| lol.. Not that I ever cook anything other than bacon and things that can be warmed up in the microwave (oh also I made chilli once..). I'm not sure why ironing is even considered a skill, though? Plug in, wait a bit, rub the heated metally part on clothes, right? I guess I wouldn't know - I haven't ironed anything in about 7 years. I also don't know how to work a dryer or how to do anything car-related, but that's okay as I have never owned either. On the other hand, I am a washing machine whiz kid and I can sew up busted seams all right. :B There are so many things that I want to be able to do, such as cook meals, that my Mam never really had time or energy to teach me. I cooked quite a lot of things at school when Home Ec was compulsory (for a couple of years) but those lessons were few and far between and we didn't get a whole lot of individual help in a class of 30-40 and all of the food I cooked tasted terrible lol.
My mom had a mother who didn't tell or teach her anything, so she compulsively told and taught me as much as she possibly could. ...Everything. To a disturbing level. My dad is obsessed with me being a proper 'lady' and wife someday, so the two years I lived with him, I was enrolled in classes for etiquette. I took two Life Skills classes there and I've had three years of Chef/Cooking classes. I also know a lot about babies because I pretty much raised my two baby brothers. Herp. I was really lost at first when it came to college and loans and how Financial Aid worked, but then my grandmother and aunt swooped in and walked me through it. My mom also explained how bank things worked ... And my dad has already walked me through buying an apartment and my first house, which is weird, but okay. When I was younger my mom used to let me pump the gas. ... I know how to change a tire, how to get my car 'unstuck' in the snow. My parents didn't exactly prepare me for the emotional side of things, though. I was raised on Disney and taught to be optimistic, and shoot for the stars and dream big, yadda. I was also taught that I was special. But they never talked to be about death, or the flip side of Religion (or Christianity, specifically), or how to be strong and confident and not let words tear my heart open and shred my soul . So even though I'm basically prepared to live on my own, etc, things hit me pretty hard. I am highly sensitive and unrealistically empathetic. When I first experienced losing a loved one, I like ... fell apart. I really did. I'm still not over it. I was taught that things would be lovely and sunshine and flowers and God was merciful and loving and would never put you through anything you couldn't handle, and then things started to fall apart and I was NOT prepared for these things at all, lol. AND NOW I'M A VERY BITTER PERSON WHO IS NINETEEN AND AFRAID OF PEOPLE AND THE WORLD. I was also not taught to take school very seriously. Well, my mom didn't force it. My dad encouraged good grades, etc. He'd punish me when I didn't do well and typical strict dad things. But my mom was so lax. She didn't like school either, so I think she felt for me, but I wish she had encouraged me to take it more seriously. I wish I had done better, especially in high school, but I just kind of derped around and got all 'rebellious/non-conformity **** the system' and now I sort of regret it. I've wasted about two years now trying to make up for doing poorly so I can move on with my life. But yeah. Everything else is pretty okay. They wanted me to be prepared, I think, because they weren't prepared at all for life, and then they had me when they were still teenagers so it was a world of OH GOD WHAT ARE WE DOING.
This occured to me, yeah. Like in my Home Economics class, I remember there was an assignment that said you had to do a few loads of laundry etc. We didn't have a machine in the classroom (obviously?) so she couldn't really teach us/oversee us in there. Unfortunately I don't think the majority of the class took it seriously and just got their parent to sign off on the project sheet without doing the actual work, or just forged the signature. But I figure, if it helps a good chunk of the class, no harm in running the class. That's the basic idea, yeah, but there is sometimes a bit more to it--sometimes you have to refill the water or change the setting to suit the clothing you're ironing. You should also make sure the shirt doesn't have polyester threading because it will melt and you won't notice until you've been wearing the shirt for an hour or so and then you'll be stuck with the worst itch ever. ... Ironing can be difficult. v: Oh lordie this too! I'm dreadful when it comes to the whole college thing, I have older sisters so I just end up mooching off of them. And I barely know how to go to the bank, I was a bit spoiled because my mom worked up until a few months ago, so I would just have her manage it all, deposit my paychecks, etc. She's been making me use the ATM and make deposits lately, though. Not very good at it still. :'c Well, I'm not sure this is something that can really be taught? I guess it's best learned through experience, is what I mean to say. But having someone guide you through it is probably important. My mom was quite lax about grades as well, but I'm actually thankful for it. I would get pressure occasionally from my dad (but he cared more about my sisters' grades than mine v: ), and from my dad's parents, but as long as I was above like a 75 my mom was totally fine. I do much better than that (though I don't work too hard, lol), but that taught me not to freak out when I get one bad grade.
i think it's a good idea, i don't really see a negative. i wish i would've been taught some more skills when i was younger such as sewing so that i wouldn't have to buy a new pair of pants whenever mine get too visibly ripped. i would also love to have a workshop type of class or a car repair class, which i think are classes that are helpful to just about anyone.
I think it goes without saying that the US education system has no interest in the ability of the individual to survive on their own. A government and the corporations that would fund a compulsory education system would not want independent workers, but dependent ones. The US schooling system was created and still functions as a means of producing a standardized workforce in a factory-like setting, making way for industry. The reason they do not teach or do not take home economics seriously is because it will not help you earn a company money or increase your tax value. It is the same reason why they cut out most art classes, but art can be sold and is often more valuable to them, so even that is taken more seriously. Not to mention all of the universities that would profit from people paying for art degrees. But there is no university for independence, and there is no class for it either. No one is willing to pay for your independence but you, and your contribution is not worth the effort when they could make so much more with you lacking independence and having to pay others to do things for you. I would fully support such a class, but the fact is that neither the parents nor the kids are the ones who have a say. The only people that the school districts are likely to listen to are their investors, the federal government and lawyers, such as those from the ACLU. Because the organization does not profit from a do-it-yourself class in any way, they would refuse to teach it to you, and since your contribution is minimal and school is compulsory they can force you to pay for and attend school whether you like your classes or not. Even if a kid wanted to learn these things, they would be kept occupied by other classes most of the day for most days out of the year. Look for the profit, and you will find your result. Trying to fight the money in favor of individual independence is useless as far as the US government is concerned. They have not taken the path of individual liberty over the path of profit since the War for Independence.
I know how to do a few basics things: ironing, washing/drying clothes, a little bit of cooking, and...dunno what else to consider a basic life skill...plunging a toilet? I don't know anything about working cars except pumping gas, since I don't drive yet nor own a vehicle (whoo 19 and still need rides...) I also don't know how to sew or craft clothing at all. I can do fine getting wrinkles out, but a busted button? Here Mom~ I'll probably learn how to do that car stuff when I drive and have one, but I don't think I'll really need to know the sewing part. Doesn't seem that necessary. I'm pretty good on the basics I know I'll need so far.
Ah, my apologies, I did not address your questions directly. No. I would definitely say that "we", as in most people in the Unites States under the age of forty, are neither equipped nor are we equipping others with the means to live their lives independently. Most parents prioritize studying text books over hands-on work, and children spend most of their time thinking that memorizing things is preparation for life. The skills they are learning are not useful to them as individuals so much as to companies that want to employ them. Skills that are essential to an independent and efficient lifestyle include everything needed to manage one's property. That includes finances, basic electrical and plumbing mechanics, how to perform maintenance on a vehicle, how to cook food, how to wash laundry, what to do with waste, and et cetera. These skills should be the foundation on which all individuals stand. It is far better to be able to function alone than to complete a specific task for some corporation and pay everyone else to take care of you.
I do feel that a good amount of kids nowadays are being somewhat spoiled nowadays because a lot of parents have put studying above everything. While I agree that school is an important factor in most of our lives, it feels as if it's being forced down the throats of so many kids. Fortunately for me while my parents did want me to study, they didn't neglect basic life skills that I would need later in life. I do know how to cook basic things like rice, beans, pasta, meat among a few other things although I'm not that skilled in it since I don't cook for myself often. I usually eat at school so I only cooking when there isn't food there. I'm also able to work a washer and dryer to get my clothes clean. I also know how to check my oil and pump gas but I don't own a car nor can I even drive so neither are necessary at the moment. I also learned a lot of things from my dad since he is very much a do-it-yourself guy. Instead of calling somebody over to fix something, he would usually do it himself and seeing as how I was the only other guy in the house, I would usually have to help him and I picked up a few things along the way. But I do realize that I'm not a specialist so when I don't know how to do something or even if I do know how to do something sometimes, I will ask somebody who knows how to do it to do it for me simply because I could make an error and end breaking something instead of fixing it. Better safe than sorry in my opinion. The stuff that wasn't taught to me, I've been picking up as I go along since I moved out. For example, where I'm currently living doesn't have a washer or dryer so I was a little lost as to how I was going to clean my clothes. After some trial and error, I eventually learned how to hand wash my clothes with some help from my house mates. I'm also learning to be more frugal with my money. It's not like I didn't waste my money before I moved out but you don't really seem to realize how much money you can unintentionally waste on things that aren't really necessary when you don't have your parents to fall back on. >_>;
I actually just finished a personal social development course at the moment...That covers most of the basic life skills...Not really cleaning but most everything else. It's not a mandatory course though I've learned quite a bit from it and everything...To be honest they make it out to be a course for drop-outs... But I think that society would benefit a lot from a more mandatory life skills course...Or even a variety of courses...For example "You must choose 2 from the following: Cooking and cleaning Money and independant living Health and hygene etc."
