A lot of recent high school graduates have been complaining about not being prepared for their future. Some of them may not have payed enough attention in school… but is it really all their fault?

Schools spend a lot of time focusing on only English and Mathematical points that have no relevance in students futures. Yes it’s important to have good grammar, to know who Shakespeare is and what he wrote, to know basic math skills but is it necessary to spend all year on those things? What about teaching students how to pay their taxes or budgeting their money, some of the simple basics of being an adult. Time is being wasted on mandatory curriculum that is no longer relevant and it’s leaving students unprepared for the real world.

Classes that have been made required by Common Core are partly to blame. These requirements make students take classes that teach how a plant responds to internal and external systems or the true symbolism behind Grapes of Wrath. Students do learn these things, but do they apply to a majority of parts in adult life? A class teaching insurance, career opportunities or budgeting isn’t required but would be more valuable for students. People could argue that as a high schooler, these classes aren’t relevant since we aren’t adults yet, but don’t you learn a bit about the alphabet before you go into kindergarten? These classes are needed to give some insight instead of entering adulthood blind to the responsibilities put upon you by life.

This year was the first year that financial literacy, a class giving high school students insight on financial responsibilities of being an adult, was made mandatory for students at West. This is a step towards the goal of preparing students for adulthood. Hopefully after this more classes will be made mandatory that will keep students engaged and entertained, while still preparing them for the future.