A Critique on the Public High School System

I find when a student reaches high school level he/she will start making important choices regarding their adulthood. I believe the high school system should be responsible in nurturing developmental desires in adolescent students and guide them to make appropriate decisions that will greatly benefit them in the future. Of course, there will always be students who won't take this seriously and take it as a joke. Naturally, this period of their lives will the most carefree months ever. After they graduate from high school, they will be forced to look at career prospects, post-secondary institutions, paying bills and so on. As I attended high school, I took cooking, sewing, and computer classes. There wasn't enough room for mechanics and other things. But they should make room. As I attended these classes, some of my classmates fooled around, thinking they will never need the knowledge they acquire from these classes. They are obligated to be taught the most important necessities of adulthood even if they do resist. Maybe they will rethink their attitude and go along with it. One could only hope.

The Ministry of Education and Regional School Boards and Districts should introduce courses that should make the lives of adolescent students easier to manage. The more prepared you are, the better you will accept and overcome challenges. I firmly believe students should learn the essence of taxes, personal budgets, car repair and maintenance, electronics, and mortgages. These are one of the most important aspects of modern living and they are events that we cannot escape. We have to do them. Taxes, for instance, is mandatory by law to complete annually. If you don't do them, the government will make it hard for you to move on.

Vehicles have been around for more than one-hundred and thirty years. Their impact on our modern world is unmistakable. They have had an influence to almost everything we do. Many people can't live without them, many companies can't operate at all without them. Cities, communities and industries have been revolutionized by them. We have become more free with them by making family vacations more memorable, Since they have had an incredible impact on our world, it is common sense to make courses in car maintenance and repair mandatory. I am not saying they should become full-blown mechanics, they should know the basics and even diagnose some problems. It is unacceptable that many drivers don't even know how to change a tire, don't understand or don't care how a vehicle works. Hell, some cars are filthy and rusted to a point that it is falling apart. They don't even bother opening up the owner's manual! At the end of the day, a person should know how a vehicle works, how many of its features work, how to change windshield wipers, the battery, brake pads, tires, check engine oil, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids, replacing head-and taillights, even knowing how to change the fluids that are critical for the longevity of the vehicle. A regular person uses a car for almost everything everyday, from going to work, getting groceries, and fulfilling errands in town. It is fitting that he/she know what to do when something goes wrong with the most important machine you will ever own.

Taxes are required by law to fulfill. They are one of the most crucial sources of income for the provincial and federal governments that use the money to enable services and comfort for their citizens. You are not only doing it for yourself, you're doing it for the citizens of the country you call home. There are ways of completing them: you either hire a bookkeeper/accountant or you do it yourself. There are software programs that make it easier for you to do them but if you don't have a computer or don't want to buy software, the school district should introduce courses that educate students on taxes and how to complete them transparently. Taxes can be complicating which is why many people choose professionals to complete them. High School courses can make them fun and make people more efficient and proficient. You will learn so much and you will have a much better understanding of the system if you can do it yourself.

Since we are talking about finances, let us move on to budgets. Drawing up your own budget makes you financially competent. Controlling your money can yield massive dividends and help you plan for the future. These plans can include saving up to make a down payment on a house/condo/duplex (mortgage) by opening up a Tax-Free-Savings Account, RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plan), or in 401k, equipment, a car, or even your own business! Some of these ideas are investments that could be the biggest you could ever make. Imagine how amazing it can be when they turn out to be successful? Imagine how great to do things others cannot? It is always worth thinking about and it all starts with making a budget. Mortgage on a property is considered good debt. You want to have that kind of debt because the value of your property usually increases over time. Each month you make your payment, the more the property will become yours. Once you sell, you will get that money back and if you want, you can even reinvest it into something else. It is also important to put money away as an emergency fund in case something bad happens. That way, you are better prepared and less stressed. Anything can be thrown at you. It is best to keep yourself ahead of the game. Don't rely on credit cards! That is one of the most dangerous mistakes you can do financially.

Electronics have brought human kind into the next phase of progress and ingenuity. It has further transformed societies which have affected our ways of life tremendously. Computers, smartphones, smart watches are the most paramount devices that have shaped our current world. Learning how they work, how to put a computer together, knowing what to look out for, are key traits one can learn. Software, coding, and the internet contain invaluable functions that are also important. There are a lot of dangers on the internet and many users do not know about them. A course can bring any user up to speed and educate them what to do and what not to do.

I also think maintaining your own garden and growing your own food is crucial too. In fact, you will save more money in the long run when you grow your own fruits and vegetables. They are healthier too since produce in grocery stores tend to have growth hormones, fertilizer, or other chemicals that aren't suitable for consumption. Some grocery stores are better than others, of course, and they watch for them. Some have delicious fresh organic varieties that are worth considering. But the less dependent you are on companies, the more resources you have for yourself. Furthermore, it feels terrific to work on your own garden. It is excellent psychologically and you will feel more accomplished with yourself too.

I find the current high school system lacks important material and resources to educate students on a wide variety of things that they use in their daily lives after they graduate. By fully understanding the importance of the above-mentioned skills can make you a better person, can help improve yourself, and make decisions that will greatly benefit you. Instead of skipping what is available already, take them. You will be glad you did.