Why don't high schools teach the right things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For instance my state requires students to pas the earth science test in forder to graduate. They must learn about polaris, bedrocks and all. However they don't require students to know how to write a resume or interview for a job, and public schools don't offer any classes for these things or other things more likely to be used in life like personal finance.

Right according to who?
Most of us think they do already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure everyone would agree on which things are “the right things” to teach.

For myself, I agree some basic financial literacy, the ability to read/write, and the ability to do basic math are essential. I also would like to see a better job of teaching the US Constitution and how the American federated government divides up roles & responsibilities, not only among the 3 branches of government but also between a given state and the federal government.

I doubt it will happen though.

Have you seen the 8th grade civics curriculum (at least in VA)? Kids learn quite a bit about distinctions between federal, state, local structures. Also, in 7th grade social studies/history my kid read the various constitutional amendments along with news articles from the time period of the discourse why they were passed--who was arguing for what and why etc. It's a strength of the curriculum I think (this is in FCPS--and I've had kids go through it over the past 6 years and it's been consistently strong).

[Anonymous]

Well if we taught them the right things it would effect the bottom line of colleges profiteering off of perpetual debt of Americans youth.