Answers: Preparing Students

What do you think Iowa public schools should do to better prepare students for work or higher education?

FROM OUR INBOX

One subject I think that needs much more attention to prepare students no matter what intentions they have after graduation is personal finance. Students should have a basic understanding of how to balance a check book, the importance of good credit, how to build a good credit score, the dangers of too much debt, how to plan for retirement, principals of investing, savings, etc.

Joe M.

Swisher

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The essential question centers on how to encourage and teach people to confidently think independently, with depth, and creative approach. This is powerfully done through arts integration into the curriculum. Too many people fear the learning power of teaching through the arts, instead prescribing a 'robotic” approach to learning. What good does it do a society to produce people who can't think with independent vision? Embrace arts integration!

Bob C.

Cedar Rapids

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I believe there is not enough education on life basics such as paying bills, taxes, balancing checkbook and managing funds. These skills seem much more important than most of the math they are learning now.

Jamie N.

Creston

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FROM FACEBOOK

' Ken I.: Teach them some 'hands on” jobs. Such as automotive repair, plumbing, being an electrician, etc. These are jobs that pay a good salary. Not everyone needs or wants to go to a college.

' Deb B.: Finances, budgets, saving.

' Morgan T.: They need more real world knowledge like how to manage money (not all parents are good examples on how that should be done) focus on more classes they may actually use as they get older.

' Alex R.: Test them using real world problems they will actually face in life.

' Andrew R.: Teach them a programming language early. Knowing how to communicate with a computer is very important.

' Jennifer C.: My children were very well prepared - thank you Iowa City City High - we couldn't ask for more - they learned how to study, prioritize, manage time, take notes, take tests, and on and on!

' Danny B.: It's not the school's job, unless the parents and children ask for the help. Let the kids be kids, one size don't fit all.

' Chris C.: Judging from the way the article and most of these comments have been composed, I might suggest grammar.

' Nicole K.: I was actually impressed with Kennedy hearing that they are encouraging kids to consider going into the trades. There is so much pressure for kids to seek a higher education at a top university and to load up on as many AP classes in order to achieve success in life. It was nice to hear from my kid last week that they were learning about careers as an electrician etc. that can be lucrative without all the student loan debt included!

' Cheryl N.: Number one skill all entry level positions look for is computer skills. Word/Excel/PowerPoint. Offer 3-4 YEARS ... so kids become experts.

' Brenda M.: Educate the parents also.

' Nikki H.: At least one trades class should be required (drafting, metal shop, wood shop, etc.) for graduation. And a track that allows kids to pursue those skills. Also, a business & technical writing course. Taking this in college is too late.

' Adam S.: Teach them how to study. I hear schools are letting kids take home tests or take them over the course of two days. This is ridiculous.

' Erin S.: An entire semester on understanding student loans, their interest rates and best course for repayment. Also, basic finance: buying a home or car, saving money, budgeting, retirement planning.

' Billie U.: Kids need to learn how to write a resume. Some kids work part-time while attending school and full-time during the summer after they reach the age of 14. They need to learn how to complete an application, how to identify skills they have learned in school and previous jobs. They need practice on how to dress for a job interview, how to give a firm hand shake, look people in the eye, speak up, relax! They need to be able to give info on themselves, without reading it off their resume. They new to be able to identify those skills that would make them ideal for the position they are applying for. They need to research the job and company, to be able to ask questions.

' Christie C.: The kids need less computer/tabs etc. time and more hands on time! All kids do is these days is TEST, and do SOME learning, and more TESTING on computers! I am meeting 18yr olds that have never used a hammer! Yes, they need to be computer smart but they also need hands on smart!

' Andrew R.: As a former welder turned computer programmer, I agree to a certain extent. However, you will find in the next 10 years, more things will be automated by computers, so you will see the job market for physical labor decrease even more. It's sad, but if somebody doesn't want to do something, someone will develop the program and the hardware to do it automatically. I'd much rather be the guy automating it than the guy losing his job.

' Brandon B.: Teach classes that explore the creativity of the startup, entrepreneurial development, financial management during an economic downturn. These lessons desperately need the help and guidance of teachers. Society will ultimately benefit from the basics of a new entrepreneurial economy.

' Joey S.: I would say go back to the 'old school way”.

' Dawn C.: More focus on social emotional learning. It impacts everything!

' Chai K.: Parents need to help kids with homework see how they do at school.

' Carrie E.: Teach them how to balance a checkbook, invest in retirement and how to file taxes. The true fundamentals of being a responsible and knowledgeable adult.

' Dennis F.: Kids as young as 4th grade have coding camps now. If you can learn this, you will likely have a job somewhere, because software isn't going to stop.