Teach your Kids
Knowledge Squirrel and Rabid squirrel walk into a coffee joint…while savoring the ‘Nectar of the Gods’ (Caffine) and eating nuts, when this post came up in conversation, followed by another post by Gabriel....which then led to this post. (How many times can one say 'post' in a sentence)?
How much posting can a blogger post
if a Blogger posts about posting?
Back to Conversation...
About 10 years ago both my sons had graduated from high school. In Alberta, one of the compulsory courses for graduation is known as C.A.L.M, Career and Life Management. This program is supposed to prepare you for life after high school.
In this course, the objective to learn secondary education and career life path, budgeting, and preparing for the future. Originally I thought this would be a great addition to the core subjects. Now one would think that a course like this would teach real-life scenarios.
Oh, Nay Nay!
None of the scenarios were realistic:
Example:
Thing 1 was given the profession of being an optometrist. (Not his choice of profession... they would draw cards for Profession). How he became an Optometrist (education, cost, and so on, were NOT a part of the learning process… it just was).
His income card was $700,000.00 per year. He had a boat, a sports car, and a vacation home. There was no mention of taxes, personal or business, he just made $700,000.00 per year.
This ended up being a far-fetched game of Monopoly, without the board. No research, nothing, just fill in the blanks to the questions asked in the tests.
(What are the benefits to your job?.... Uh, I make $700,000 and have a boat…no seriously this was the question, and answer)!
(I dedicate this Picture to FKelso)
So here's what my Career and Life Management course would look like: (Rough Layout from 10 years ago)... the Rebel in me tried to get the School Board to change the program to be ‘realistic’... I was met with stares that translated to… “Did you fall off the Turnip Truck?”
What profession do you want to be in?
What education do you need to achieve that?
How will you fund the education?
How much is current rent, or home purchase your area today? How much will your mortgage payment be?
The current cost of utilities (cell phone included)?
Insurance? (car, renters insurance, or home)?
Taxes… income, property, sales tax… this list never ends!
How to build a resume. (That's something that wasn't taught. You would think that in a course like this, how to build a resume, would be one of the main key lessons).
We are not taught to be entrepreneurs. We're not even taught money management... it's kind of scary when you think about it.
What We Did About C.A.L.M
Since I couldn't get the School Board to change policy of this program... mainly because it was a Provincial issue, I set about changing the perspective of Thing 1 and Thing 2, and taught them myself about the 'Real World'.... that may just be a post for another day...
So how does this all tie in with Wealthy Affiliate? I have no idea! Just ‘food for thought’….
Knowledge and Rabid Squirrel are considering planting Turnips now…
Shaunna & The Squirrel Council
Recent Comments
16
Oooo yummy, this was a topic of conversation of the 'Meeting of the Minds' last week. Invitation only and address unknown...'Sssh, say no more.'
Over here in the wild wild UK, there is, hang on, this was going to turn into a hijacking, precis mode.
Assume everything is school related ages 11-16+. At point just before taking course for final exams (GCSE's or 'O' Levels back in the day) Students are given options, core subjects have to be taken leaving a bowl full of fruit to be chosen. We lovingly called this 'Noptions' As there were no real options. 2nd eldest managed 12 in total (27 separate exams) Youngest has taken 19 exams with a possible 9 victories. Year before last they made history compulsory along with Geography, take your pick.
Once they have left, they have to do two years, in the system, further education or apprenticeship, either way they have to stay in till they're 18.
After much discussion at secret meeting we decided on behalf of the entire country that this segment of education (The exam years ages 13-16+) should be 'Vocational' First year being on a rotational basis so all have chance to sample...you can argue over what you think the areas should be. Second and third years concentrate on their chosen vocation, with an option after the first two terms, in the first year, to change. At the end they move to the 16-18 section where they focus on just the one 'vocational' subject.
All the way through this you would be doing 'compulsory' English and maths but with a bias towards usage in the real world. Bank, accounts, taxes, rent, mortgages, being able to understand documents etc.etc.
By this time we had finished sandwiches and lunchtime was over. Unfortunately and I say this without undue care and attention, those who make the decisions, well, I'm not sure they came through quite the same education system as the majority of us.
T,
I am amazed at the similarities. Math and English, especially.
One day I may rant about the New Math Program... total farce really.
(Ex: 2+2=? to get the answer you would have to break it down into a simpler formula)... Seriously!
Testing for Achievement here (Yep... that's what it was called), began at the Grade 3 level. I was opposed to this...it wasn't testing the knowledge or their Academics, it was testing the ability to memorize, and the Teacher's ability in that memorization.
S
So, Showolf, here's an unrelated question. Are my squirrels called brown squirrels or red squirrels? Which is correct?
You have uncovered a real problem with the schools. I am not sure if we can change much or not. Career counseling should be a realistic help to a youngster trying to decide on their path. It certainly wasn't for me, and that was a long time ago. I guess nto much has changed.
Dear Showolf and Sqirrel Council,
I had the ssme fear of their program, 700k pffft yeah right!🤣
Who comes up with this stuff?
Maybe if it was an ophthalmologist who discovered the cure for demyelination with repairing the optic nerve by progenitor nerve cells and immunomodulator therapy....
We just switched schools and could you whisper in the greatest granpappy squirrel's ear pssssst Juliebug got straight A report card.
amazing to me!
I think radishes and turnips are great and sometimes it takes someone like you talking to school boards to get a voice out there that the premise of the calm makes some parents quite the opposite.
This speaks to leadership, education, and entrepreneurship yes completely relevant and fun to consider in squirrelly terms.
Thank you for this! Have a great day,
Nurse Becca
Still a little early to be planting Turnips, 2 months. Add some Mustard greens to the patch for variety in the greens. You can also add some carrots and radishes along the edges. And throw in some parsnips. :)
Wonder why they don't teach these things in school anymore?
My thoughts on the education system of America? I doubt if you would really want to know. It has gone so far downhill since my high school days 50 years ago.
And the Squirrels today are so much smarter.
Sonny
I wish I had known you 40 years ago when I was raising my children!
Great Post! More Ethics needs to be taught!
Janice
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Hi Shaunna. Love the way you write, keep it up. It is a sad situation how our schools are failing our children. We had shop, home economics and of all things typing. That was back in the day. Thank you too because you gave me an idea. I am burying that one in the back yard for now and hope to find it later.
Thanks
Ray
Thank You Ray!
Shop & Home Economics are still there but as options. Those are probably more valuable than many of the 'core' subjects available. Everyone should be able to cook, and have an understanding of how to fix certain things.