NationStates Jolt Archive

I am wondering what you believe your child should know how to do once they are 21 (not counting their public education or college, but also making sure that within that realm they also learn certain specific things).

I am well along the way in teaching these things to my children. Keep in mind that I am in the US, so some subjects will be "American". Your mileage may vary.

Before a young person leaves home, there are certain things he or she should know and certain skills at which he should be adept. We used to kick this around on watch and we covered a lot of ground. What should a young person of 21 know and what should they be able to do? There are no conclusive answers to those questions, but they are certainly worth asking. We agreed upon "civics" or what was called American government. A young person should know how this country is run and how it got that way. They should know the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and they should know recent world history. If they does not know what has been tried in the past, they cannot very well avoid those pitfalls as they come up in the future.

Superficialities, of course, are rife. A young person should be computer literate, and moreover should know Hemingway from James Joyce. They should know how to drive a car well - such as is not covered in "Driver Ed." They should know how to fly a light airplane. They should know how to shoot well. They should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local. They should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany. They should be comfortable with calculus. They should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy. They should be well qualified in armed combat: boxing, wrestling, judo, or the equivalent. They should know how to manage a motorcycle. They should be comfortable in at least one foreign language, and more if appropriate to their background. They should be familiar with remedial medicine.

Post your own suggestions or disagreements...

I am wondering what you believe your child should know how to do once they are 21 (not counting their public education or college, but also making sure that within that realm they also learn certain specific things).

I am well along the way in teaching these things to my children. Keep in mind that I am in the US, so some subjects will be "American". Your mileage may vary.

Before a young person leaves home, there are certain things he or she should know and certain skills at which he should be adept. We used to kick this around on watch and we covered a lot of ground. What should a young person of 21 know and what should they be able to do? There are no conclusive answers to those questions, but they are certainly worth asking. We agreed upon "civics" or what was called American government. A young person should know how this country is run and how it got that way. They should know the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and they should know recent world history. If they does not know what has been tried in the past, they cannot very well avoid those pitfalls as they come up in the future.

Superficialities, of course, are rife. A young person should be computer literate, and moreover should know Hemingway from James Joyce. They should know how to drive a car well - such as is not covered in "Driver Ed." They should know how to fly a light airplane. They should know how to shoot well. They should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local. They should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany. They should be comfortable with calculus. They should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy. They should be well qualified in armed combat: boxing, wrestling, judo, or the equivalent. They should know how to manage a motorcycle. They should be comfortable in at least one foreign language, and more if appropriate to their background. They should be familiar with remedial medicine.

Post your own suggestions or disagreements...


Anything I can teach them ... like the old saying goes "knoledge is power" they will learn about anything I can teach at a pace that I feel best about

They should have memorised the Karma Sutra.

They should have memorised the Karma Sutra.

Kama Sutra...

I want my kids to know how to think for themselves, how to make sound decisions, and how to respect others rights. I don't really have any goals as far as what books they should read or what book knowledge they should have, because they seem like the kinds of kids who would surpass my goals if I set them anyway.

Kama Sutra...
That too.

Parents need to make sure the kids are able to be self-sufficient at 21. The child should know how to hold a job. They should know that they aren't going to be paid CEO wages with their first job.

They should know that their first job, or even their first career isn't going to be their last. And they should know that the more education they get in fundamentals, the better off they are. That makes switching to that second and third career a little easier.

Kids should know that cell phones have an off switch. And that "drive the car" comes before "answer the phone".

Kids should know that backpacking and fishing are fun.

They should also know that food doesn't originate at the grocery store.

They should know how to fly a light airplane.
Whoa... do your children know how to fly a light airplane? because that's a pretty rare skill. Actually, more specifically, are they licensed? there's a difference between having the knowledge to do it and having the skill to do it.

The child should know how to hold a job.

Ah, learning the joy of "hard work".

In my opinion, they should know how to think for themselves, how to exercise critical judgement. They should be aware of the various influences which may shape their opinions and their outlook on the world around them, and they should submit those to critical judgement, too.

They should be knowledgeable about foreign cultures, other ways of living and doing things, so as to be aware that their own way of life is neither a "norm" nor the only one.

They should have at least a solid basis in philosophy, literature, history and geography, both of their own country and of foreign countries.

In other words, they should never be content with being ignorant about something.

Fly a light airplane?

Anyway, they should know how to manage their finances, and how quickly credit card interest adds up.

Ah, learning the joy of "hard work".
That's one thing the Sikhs have right. The knife thing is another. But the hair and turban, they can keep.

Parents need to make sure the kids are able to be self-sufficient at 21.
that reminds me, in my family before you got to go take your drivers test you had to prove to my grandfather that you could change a flat by yourself, check your oil, and all your other fluids, pump your own gas, push your own car, and drive on ice (we used a loose gravel road to practice spinning out) He said anyone who doesn't have at least that much knowledge shouldn't be alowed to drive. (I kinda cheated though, because I used a hydrolic jack when I changed my tire in front of him, nobody else got that benifit, but they were all jacking up hatchbacks and I was jacking up a conversion van)

Fly a light airplane?

I am of the opinion that most adults should be able to drive or manage the following vehicles, at least to a minimum degree of competency:

car, motorcycle, single engine aircraft or glider, sailboat, powerboat

that reminds me, in my family before you got to go take your drivers test you had to prove to my grandfather that you could change a flat by yourself, check your oil, and all your other fluids, pump your own gas, push your own car, and drive on ice (we used a loose gravel road to practice spinning out) He said anyone who doesn't have at least that much knowledge shouldn't be alowed to drive. (I kinda cheated though, because I used a hydrolic jack when I changed my tire in front of him, nobody else got that benifit, but they were all jacking up hatchbacks and I was jacking up a conversion van)
I wondered if I was the only ogre that did that. I made all of my kids help work on the car. It's paid dividends for at least one. She is the resident mechanic in her circle of friends at school.

no i cant say as i agree with the necessity of most of that stuff.

at 21 a person should know how to get up and go to work every day. with all of the preparedness and grooming that go with it.

s/he should know how to cook well enough to never have to make dinner out of a box. (although as an adult s/he may eat out of boxes all s/he wants)

s/he should know how to keep a tidy house

s/he should know basic clothing mending skills

s/he should know how what to wear in pretty much any situtation

*edit* oops hit submit by mistake

s/he should have a highschool diploma plus a couple years of some kind of training after that

s/he should know how to drive and basic car maintenence.

s/he should know how to throw a punch

s/he should know how to manage money--balance a checkbook, pay bills on time, live within his means, when to get a loan.

They should know how to cook, clean, manage their finances and perform basic acts of DIY. Driving a car should have been covered as soon as they got near it, whether your driving examinations require you to know or not.

I am of the opinion that most adults should be able to drive or manage the following vehicles, at least to a minimum degree of competency:

car, motorcycle, single engine aircraft or glider, sailboat, powerboat

Whhyyy...?

I am wondering what you believe your child should know how to do once they are 21 (not counting their public education or college, but also making sure that within that realm they also learn certain specific things).

I am well along the way in teaching these things to my children. Keep in mind that I am in the US, so some subjects will be "American". Your mileage may vary.

Before a young person leaves home, there are certain things he or she should know and certain skills at which he should be adept. We used to kick this around on watch and we covered a lot of ground. What should a young person of 21 know and what should they be able to do? There are no conclusive answers to those questions, but they are certainly worth asking. We agreed upon "civics" or what was called American government. A young person should know how this country is run and how it got that way. They should know the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and they should know recent world history. If they does not know what has been tried in the past, they cannot very well avoid those pitfalls as they come up in the future.

Superficialities, of course, are rife. A young person should be computer literate, and moreover should know Hemingway from James Joyce. They should know how to drive a car well - such as is not covered in "Driver Ed." They should know how to fly a light airplane. They should know how to shoot well. They should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local. They should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany. They should be comfortable with calculus. They should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy. They should be well qualified in armed combat: boxing, wrestling, judo, or the equivalent. They should know how to manage a motorcycle. They should be comfortable in at least one foreign language, and more if appropriate to their background. They should be familiar with remedial medicine.

Post your own suggestions or disagreements...

A large part of me thinks you mean by 'recent world history' the fall of the CCCP, and by 'pitfalls' you reference leftism/communism/socialism. Of course that's quite likely just my paranoid self, but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't taking potshots at my beliefs. Anywhoo... that issue is for another day perhaps.

let's see what skills I have that you think I should(I'm 18) - civics, American(and frankly many of the world's nations) government knowledge, historical knowledge, computer literacy, Literature, mad driving skillz, geography, unarmed self-defense(though as a pacifist you won't find me using it), I'm working at French and I know first aid basics.

So I guess you'll consider me well-adjusted if I learn to shoot, fly, operate a motorcycle, learn zoology and botany and am comfortable with calculus. Unfortunately I don't care what anyone's opinion is... I'm never learning calculus. I don't need it for any career path I am considering, and I don't feel it will contribute significantly to my personal development. So screw calculus. Perhaps brushing up on Zoology and Botany isn't a bad idea though.

I guess my points of disagreement would be on shooting(again, pacifist), flying(come on... I don't own a plane, man!), and calculus(Trebek - the answer is Not Kroisistan! Sean Connory - The question is Who needs it?) The rest is probably a good idea though. I also think any well-adjusted 21 year old should know a little of differing political, cultural and religous belief systems. I think the exposure does one good.

I wondered if I was the only ogre that did that. I made all of my kids help work on the car. It's paid dividends for at least one. She is the resident mechanic in her circle of friends at school.
I was mad when he made us do it, but it only took one time being out in the middle of nowhere at 3am with a flat and no cell phone for me to figure out why.
My grandfather loved us enough to make sure that if we ever got into trouble that we could handle it. I hated it that we all had to learn a stick shift before we were allowed to drive an automatic, but it only took me one time when all that was available was a 5 speed and I needed to leave right then, for me to understand that too.

Needless to say the Pre-driver test test will be a tradition that is carried on with my kids and yes, their first cars will be standard transmissions too.

Whhyyy...?

1. It's a good skill to have - you never know when you'll need to do it, or want to do it - and when you're an adult, you won't have to look like a goof learning how.
2. Learning to fly teaches you something that you can't learn in a classroom (in my case, it was the idea that you don't die of a stall, you die of the fear).
3. Sailing is another skill that teaches you something you can't learn in a classroom.

The one thing I focus on with my children is making it real. I want them to do real things - play sports, sail, fly, etc. - not do it in a video game. I want them to shoot real guns - not grow up to be Airsofters.

1. It's a good skill to have - you never know when you'll need to do it, or want to do it - and when you're an adult, you won't have to look like a goof learning how.
2. Learning to fly teaches you something that you can't learn in a classroom (in my case, it was the idea that you don't die of a stall, you die of the fear).
3. Sailing is another skill that teaches you something you can't learn in a classroom.

The one thing I focus on with my children is making it real. I want them to do real things - play sports, sail, fly, etc. - not do it in a video game. I want them to shoot real guns - not grow up to be Airsofters.
While I have done all those that you listed it was because of enjoyment ... my parents were there to help when I showed an interest but they did not force me to ... I am grateful for that

I mean there are some things that I was forced to learn ... things like operating a 4WD vehicle and towing large loads not to mention tractors, plows, planters, diskers, and methods of moving cattle
But that was so I could contribute to family income

My kids will always have the opportunity ... but I am hardly going to punish them for finding their fun in airsoft or paint ball or video games

I was mad when he made us do it, but it only took one time being out in the middle of nowhere at 3am with a flat and no cell phone for me to figure out why.
My grandfather loved us enough to make sure that if we ever got into trouble that we could handle it. I hated it that we all had to learn a stick shift before we were allowed to drive an automatic, but it only took me one time when all that was available was a 5 speed and I needed to leave right then, for me to understand that too.

Needless to say the Pre-driver test test will be a tradition that is carried on with my kids and yes, their first cars will be standard transmissions too.
My kids learned to drive on a 5-speed Saturn. I don't know if they have ever set foot in a standard transmission car since we sold the Saturn, but I'm sure they could at least get the thing rolling if it was required.

I was watching the employees at a tire store try to find someone who could drive a standard. They ended up getting the owner back into the store from the Waffle House next door, just so he could drive his car up on the lift.