Kids are in school for at least twelve years before they go to college. Some parents pay college-level tuition for middle school and high school. Kids take classes in a variety of different topics that some never get around to in their lifetimes.
And yet, with all of this time and all of this tuition, schools still don’t teach kids how taxes work in the United States.
When did we allow this to happen?!?
Think about it.
Something that every American is required to do by law – pay taxes – our schools don’t teach.
Yet, our education system subjects kids to semesters or years of geometry, trigonometry, calculus, English, Spanish, physics, chemistry, and a host of extracurriculars.
Where is the outrage?!?
This makes for an excellent example that may help us grow. After all, we like to create silver linings around here.
An example of how, while school is important, we need to make sure we are educating our children on the things that matter.
Things like:
TaxesHow to handle money in generalPersonal healthThe lost art of relaxing and slowing downGetting along with peoplePatienceResilienceHow to build a skillFinding your passion
And the list goes on and on.
School does not cover these. Even the ones that would be relatively easy to teach, like taxes.
While we have all been through the system, school is largely based on fear, compliance, and decades of tradition. We learn what we learn because that’s what has always been taught.
Even well-meaning teachers who want to create an exceptional experience are required by the system to figure out metrics and hand out grades for performance. Outcome before process.
But, we don’t have to throw our hands up in defeat. We can take education into our own hands for the next generation. By understanding what matters, we can incorporate it into our kids’ lives.
So, my challenge to you is this. If you don’t know how taxes work well enough to explain to a middle schooler, figure it out today. It will be helpful for your own taxes, too.
Then, find someone who has no idea how taxes works. It could be one of your kids, or a friend. Explain it to them.
This can be our first step towards making up for the education we missed out on. The first step towards true learning.
First, we’ll figure out taxes. Then, we’ll change the world.
