Readers Demand Practical Life Skills in School Curriculum
A recent review of the England national curriculum has sparked a lively debate, with Guardian readers calling for the inclusion of practical life skills, particularly financial and tax education. The discussion was triggered by a report on 4th November regarding potential changes to what schools teach.
As one employer from Sevenoaks, Kent, highlighted, there is a critical gap in young people's understanding of the financial realities they will face. William Alexander emphasised that school leavers often have minimal comprehension of how PAYE, National Insurance, tax codes, and student loan repayments are calculated. He argues that a lesson on HMRC and personal taxation would be invaluable, helping students understand essential forms like the P60 and P45 as they transition into employment.
Echoes of a Gendered Past in Education
The conversation quickly turned to historical examples of how school curricula have previously failed students, particularly along gender lines. Janette Ward from Tarrington, Herefordshire, shared her experience at a girls' secondary modern school where the curriculum was heavily limited. She was told her future lay in 'sticking eyes in bendy toys,' and while the school had a domestic science teacher, it lacked a proper science teacher. Undeterred, she pursued her education through evening classes, eventually graduating with a university degree and a PGCE at the age of 31.
Another reader, Phil Rhoden from Low Habberley, Worcestershire, recalled the stark gender division at his secondary modern school in the 1950s. 'The girls did home economics and French, whereas the boys did technical drawing and algebra,' he noted. The justification given to the boys was that algebra was necessary for a future in engineering and bridge construction, illustrating the deeply ingrained career expectations of the era.
Further reinforcing this point, Alyson Elliman recounted a telling incident from 1959 at her grammar school. Before her first term began, parents were given a vote on whether to spend limited funds on improving the school kitchens or on providing domestic science education. The kitchens won, another decision that subtly shaped the educational opportunities available to students.
The Lasting Impact of Outdated Policies
These personal histories are not just reminiscences; they underline the long-term consequences of educational policy. Janette Ward points out that even after she qualified as a teacher, her career was impacted by the school budgets policy of the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher, which led to the privatisation of supply work and lower pay for educators.
Collectively, these letters paint a picture of an education system that has, at times, been out of touch with both the practical needs of students and the principles of equal opportunity. The call for a modern 'life skills' curriculum that includes financial literacy is a direct response to this legacy, aiming to equip all students for the complexities of adult life in the 21st century.
