In Utah, lawmakers and school boards constantly debate over curriculum. But the most obvious gap in our education system keeps getting ignored: we aren’t learning real life skills.
High school students here can recite the state bird, solve complex math problems and write essays on Shakespeare, but most of us couldn’t file our own taxes, cook more than ramen or explain how credit works. For a state that prides itself on strong families and preparing kids for the future, it’s pretty strange that schools don’t focus on the skills we’ll actually use once we graduate.
Utah’s economy is growing fast. That makes financial literacy and basic survival skills even more important. Knowing how to budget, avoid debt, cook at home and manage money responsibly keeps people from drowning in bills. Yet these topics are barely touched in most schools.
It’s not that academic classes don’t matter — they do. But when Utah graduates walk across the stage, they should feel ready for adulthood, not panicked about how to pay rent or do their taxes. Imagine if every student left high school confident in running a household, balancing a budget, and preparing for college or the workforce. That would be true education.
If Utah leaders are serious about helping the rising generation, it’s time to stop fighting over test scores and start adding courses that prepare us for life. The truth is, no one’s going to need the quadratic formula when they’re trying to figure out car insurance.
Ella Kemp
Lehi