I think my thesis is just that we are forgetting the importance of survival, morality and community and many children really are not being taught these things either inside or out of the education system. Kids are often missing basic life skills and have not learned how to connect with those around them.

My intuitive response as to whether these things should be taught within the formal education system or outside of it would be outside. Daily life should teach us these things. Parents have the power to teach these things and many do, but I think some are overly reliant on the schools to teach kids everything they need to know.

For example, how many parents suddenly realize their graduating teens have never done their own laundry? (I have heard many admit to this sudden epiphany.) This is a basic skill that I certainly do not think we should make the schools teach our kids. Perhaps you will not die if you don’t have clean clothes, but I think life skills are the modern equivalent of survival skills.

I think we are losing touch with these basics and if we, in whatever role we play (parent, teacher, grandparent etc.) can make sure we are helping with these things, we will have a higher number of competent balanced young adults.

Thank you for your thoughtful response to my post.