Editorial: Schools must prepare students for real life Hundreds of thousands of high school students graduate with the unit circle memorized every year but without knowing how to pay taxes or interview for a job. As students’ formative years of learning flow past, they enter an entirely new education arena in high school. In most cases, everyone takes the same core classes to graduate, but there is more flexibility in students’ schedules as they enter their junior and senior years. They can take electives such as ASB and journalism, take more classes in the subjects they are interested in, and even challenge themselves by taking AP or college-level courses. These choices may seem to provide students with a wellbalanced schedule, but they are often clouded with the looming pressures of college. This strain may come from a variety of different sources, including parents, friends, teachers, and mentors. The idea that high school’s sole purpose is to prepare students for college remains consistent. However, developing skills beyond general education that are applicable to the real world is especially important for students who do not conform to the expectations of attending a four-year university. Although core curriculum and general education classes are undoubtedly important, American high schools tend to prioritize testing scores and challenging courses over preparing students for real life. With an overwhelming college-oriented
mindset, many students have limited time to learn valuable skills for a future beyond college. Testing can only do so much to provide students with relevant experience. While the core curriculum sets a solid foundation to succeed in college, it does not teach students the time management, money management, and communication skills necessary to thrive in their future careers. Research from the University at Buffalo found that job skills and personal traits are devalued to focus on increasing standardized test scores across schools nationwide. The study ultimately discovered that schools fail to balance academic and soft skills, which are essential to students in their high school career as they prepare for their future. School curriculum should prioritize balancing teaching information with vital life skills, including communication, teamwork, and complex problem-solving. All too often, schools excel in promoting efficiency and routine while simultaneously discouraging creativity. Public schools need to prepare students for the real world beyond high school boundaries. Life skills must be implemented into the core curriculum to prepare students for what is to come, rather than limiting their ambitions to high test scores and GPAs. Ultimately, students should have better access to tools to help them understand the challenges and complexities that adulthood holds.
30 HIGHLANDER OPINION
