This writing is for those great folks who have stood by their kids from kindergarten all the way to eight grade. Now, you are about to send your pride and joy into high school. And God help you. God help us all.
I have three kids. All in school. Grades eight, sixth, and kindergarten. Thomas is my eighth grader. A kind hearted kid who loves video games and water polo. For the past nine years he has done what his teachers have asked and in return he has learned how to read, write and do simple math. And it only took nine years.
Next year, will be a whole new group of teachers. And what are they going ask of him? More of the same. But he already knows how to read write and do basic arithmetic. What else does he need to learn?
To me, this is a waste of four of the most influential part of our kid’s lives. It’s a waste of time because it’s repeating what he has already learned. These skills are important. But what about social skills?
Oh kids a learning social skills alright but not by the teachers. It’s taught by the school of hard knocks. A giant group of 14-18 year olds thrown in a pot and stirred to consistency. The result is a batter of misfits, rejects, high class, low class, and everything in between.
Every freshman year, kids are thrown to the wolfs to fend for themselves. Socializing the best they can. Some will have support from parents and peers. Some will not. But by graduation, they will have developed their personality. But why leave it up to chance? What if soft skills was part of the high school curriculum.
What if… what would be the classes?
I came up with five classes to insert next to writing math and history. These five skills are critical to success.
Skill 1: Creativity and Innovation 101. Creativity is producing original ideas. Creativity is the is the ability to be wrong. The ability to look a fool. The ability to risk social credibility. The ability to say “I don’t know.” The ability to not care what people think. And the technique to becoming creative is practicing consistently. Everyday. While reflecting what makes each kid unique.
Skill 2: Active Listening 101. Listen like it is a contact sport. And while doing this, open your mind to the person being heard. Be open minded. Even someone who is younger and or lower in status can be an asset. Be present.
Skill 3: Networking 101. More specifically—the skill of how to be famous. Fame creates trust. When I go to a restaurant, I want to see people there. Popularity gives people and businesses credibility. The more people who know someone the more opportunities someone will have.
Skill 4: Teamwork 101. Teach them to execute ideas with other people. Part of this is also learning how to organize. How to get things done that allow deliverables to be early and under budget. Moreover, how well do you work with others? Do you share. Do you take charge? Do you sacrifice for the greater good? Will you will fire someone? Will you do the dirty work? Teach them to overcome the insatiable desire to be liked.
Skill 5: Communication 101. Teach them to speak to thousands of people, hundreds of people or one person. How to communicate effectively. With empathy. Teach them to speak. Speak with economy of words. Speak honesty and truth.
Could these skills be taught? Could a curriculum be created for high school students to learn these skills? I believe it can. But for now, it’s up to the parents to guide these kids through the tumultuous social waters of high school.
The Takeaway
High school is about kids learning how to interact with other humans during the most developmental part of their life. What they learn in the classroom is only going to reinforce what they have already learned in their first nine years of schooling. It’s the classroom outside of the classroom that matters. And in this “outdoor” classroom, kids are on their own. So it’s up to the parents to create a curriculum the kids can follow to help them understand what high school is really all about.
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