Intuition is a terrible guide. Because it is a sense of comprehension we experience that does not rely on formal reasoning; it traps us in a false sense of security abut what we know and what we can decide on. Common sense is only marginally better. It is, obviously, a widely accepted way to think and behave that operates within certain societal boundaries that have become the established norms. 

At the same time, when it is applied to complex problems it tends to lead to logic-defying actions that trap us in ever-escalating behavior with no real end in sight. I explored this in some detail back in 2012 when I looked at the war on drugs, piracy, the war on terror and education. 

That we have yet to break out of the behavioral loop imposed by our flawed reasoning speaks volumes about the processes we have in place and the vested interests that keep them operating in a change-avoidant mode. 

Still, we’re making progress, not least in the broader understanding of the issues at hand, we have as individuals, and our expectations of solutions to be found by our chosen political leaders. All of which bring me to this topic and my revisiting of education. 

Back in 2012 I explained that “Our system of education seems to be out of alignment with the needs our world asks of us and the way we are being made to learn.”. Not that much has changed in that regard and the unfortunate systemic stress our world experienced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has not significantly helped to improve matters. 

However, online at least, we are beginning to see discussions take place where the idea of the work education should be doing are finally happening. Inevitably some part of education is going to be aimed at basics: reading, writing and arithmetic (or the three Rs as it used to be called back in the 19th century). That’s its core, but if it is to be deemed fit for purpose in a new century it will need to address three basic skills that are rooted in fundamental human behavior. 

What are they? 

Sex Education – The word ‘sex’ triggers people. As a result there is an adverse reaction against any form of sex education at school driven by the mistaken belief that it will lead to more sexually active adolescents and possible promiscuity at an early age. Yet, we’ve known since 1998 that quality sexual education prevents unwanted pregnancies in adolescents. Subsequent studies have shown that this trend holds up every time we choose to educate young students about their reproductive health, capabilities and forming healthy relationships. A 2016 Australia Research Council (ARC) commissioned report found that in the absence of formal sex education young people received their information through less formal sources that included the internet (and porn), friends and printed publications. 

Traditionally there is a very garbled and largely incoherent response to formal sexual education that stems from moralising knee-jerk responses and ill-informed opinions and perceptions. This leads to poor sexual literacy which, in turn, makes it more not less likely that teenagers will turn towards porn.

Sex is a fundamental human drive that powers many if not all of our behaviors. By failing to tackle it at a young age we perpetuate stereotypes, hide behind societal mores and avoid the difficulty of navigating an admittedly sensitive topic, better. 

At the same time if we want to truly blossom as humans in a century that, despite the problems it’s thrown at us, has not even begun testing us properly yet; we must be able to effectively educate our young with age-appropriate materials as they progress through our education system so they can become more effective humans. 

Money Management -  Money is such a fundamental force in our world that in popular idioms it is often used interchangeably with love as the driving force in the world. Whether you think it’s love or money that make the world go round is immaterial. In life we need both. 

The possession of basic financial literacy has such long-lasting effects on a person’s life trajectory that in the UK the House of Lords examined a proposal to make it part of the national curriculum. 

A Penn State University opinion piece states that the reason most schools don’t teach students about money management is because they consider this to be a parental responsibility. Yet, like sex education, we have data that shows that financial literacy at a young age leads to improved credit scores in life, better career choices and improved outcomes when it comes to the accruement of wealth. All, desirable outcomes in a modern society. 

Emotional Regulation – I've saved the best or, at least, the most contentious, for last. The ability to self-monitor physiological arousal and emotional states is turning out to be a crucial survival skill in a digitally connected world full of potential emotional trigger moments. It’s not just adolescents who are at risk. It can, apparently, happen to any of us as the case of Kathleen Hale makes abundantly clear. Maintaining control of our emotions is a skill that requires an awareness of the language of emotion. This, in turn, allows us to make better decisions in a complex world fraught with unexpected situations. 

Like with sex education opponents and critics of emotional regulation (called Social Emotional Learning or SEL for short) conflate misinformation and biased perceptions that arise from intuitive responses. The data though paints a much different picture.

By putting in place active practices that combat emotional dysregulation researchers say they achieve improved outcomes in terms of behavior and values.

Arguably, if money management is seen as a parental responsibility the far less seemingly practical issues of sexual education and emotional regulation should fall under that umbrella too. Parents however are distracted. The external world throws constant challenges for adults. They outsource education to professionals by taking their kids to school. 

Should educators assume that the parents are responsible for soft skills that are hard to measure through tests then young adults fall in the devolved responsibility gap between the two and the real victims of this are us – society as a whole. 

The Solution

The future is more uncertain than ever before. The adults of tomorrow will have less time to acquire the skills they need to navigate it and will need more of them. Coming into that future uncertain how to navigate issues such as sexual identity, reproductive health, romantic relationships, money management and emotional control is a recipe for disaster.  

These are all skills that logic dictates to be in the school curriculum now. It would help create better consumers, better business people and better humans, overall.