I understand why students need certain subjects to graduate. Language, history, basic science and math all make sense. I even get why algebra is a requirement. But I don't get why algebra 2 is now required to graduate high school in the state of Minnesota. Honestly, how many people actually use algebra 2 in the real world?

There are so many skills that kids need to make it in the world that are often ignored or little emphasis is placed on them. According to a survey, here are 10 things that people wished they had been taught in school

  1. Money management and budgeting.
  2. How to do your taxes.
  3. How to manage your emotional wellbeing and mental health.
  4. Understanding credit cards and student loans.
  5. How to negotiate.
  6. Time management.
  7. How to fix stuff around the house.
  8. Relationship and conversational skills.
  9. Car repair and car maintenance.
  10. How to find a job
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The survey also asked what useless things you learned in school. If you're going to be a teacher, scientist, doctor or something, then yes, you need to know this stuff. But the only way most of us would ever use it is if we're helping our kids with their homework. And by the time that happens, we will have forgot most of it anyway. Besides, there's always the internet. Here's the top 10.

  1. The Pythagorean theorem to figure out the dimensions of a triangle.
  2. Knowing that Pi is 3.14.
  3. Memorizing the periodic table of elements in chemistry.
  4. Learning the different types of rocks . . . sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.
  5. Learning the parts on an atom.
  6. Learning what mitochondria is.
  7. Naming all of the presidents in order.
  8. Learning about osmosis.
  9. Learning how to make paper snowflakes in elementary school.
  10. Learning about photosynthesis in plants.

More about the survey here

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