Today's lectured in my US History course focused on using the Bill of Rights to win debates. I'm trying to hammer into these kids the concept that they have fundamental rights in this country and that knowledge of them in crucial.  I was talking about how in life, you are constantly in debates about truth. Whether in the classroom, with friends, enemies or other bloggers.  Being able to reference back to the Bill of Rights is always a useful tool because those laws are solidly supported.  As we were discussing the death penalty, a student asked me why this was important, that he never discussed politics.

This led me to recognize again that these kids need a class on real life.  That life is constantly a struggle for what is right and that their life only gets more complicated. I can remember as a kid thinking that adults had all the answers and only the hardcore criminals did things wrong. Each year I became older, I realized more and more that most adults mess things up along the way and no one is 100% sure they are doing everything exactly right.

I'd dig a mandatory class for students that taught the following:

1. Taxes and Bills. Kids need to understand how much it costs to live.

2. Investing. Explanation of bank accounts, stocks and options.

3. Manners: Professional dress and behavior. (Why don't we teach this?)

4. Manners: Everyday. Cell phone etiquette, tipping, and general public behavior. Everyone seems to be free range deciding what's appropriate these days.

5. Tolerance/Respect. An understanding should be mandatory that everyone is different, you do not have to like them but you have to respect them. That means non-verbal attacks, etc. (bloggers need this).

Any other suggestions for what kids should be taught in a Real Life Course?