Make the school of hard knocks compulsory

 What does schooling really prepare us for? Educators will say that schooling will help us secure a good job, and financial security in later life but high school really only prepares us for higher education, and nothing much else. Not everyone wants to become a teacher. Our education system might teach us the curriculum but it doesn’t prepare us for life’s pitfalls. It’s ok to fall down so long as we get right back up again, and learn by our mistakes but they don’t teach that stuff in the classroom, and they should. It doesn’t have to be that way. Our education system should focus on teaching us how to cope in the real world emotionally, responsibly and financially. Students aren’t prepared for anything when they leave school. Graduates are literally thrown in the deep end, and told to sink or swim. Our education system is a failure, and educators need to teach life skills as a core subject. Teachers aren't advocating change so perhaps it's time for the government to take control in setting and prioritizing new education standards where students are prepared in the classroom for everyday life. Jens Ward, Wardswords