Why don't schools teach USEFUL stuff like time management, basic finance management, healthy habits, etc?

Reading and math SHOULD lead a person into developing critical thinking skills. That should lead to decision making in regards to health, money, time management, etc.

I say SHOULD because I've known a few too many adults who can barely read or put a basic 5 paragraph essay together. How they get so far in life is beyond me.

Well, when I was at high school in the 1950s, we were being taught how to critically examine such things as advertising ploys, so as to see through them... The basic skills of maths and language are often lacking in otherwise quite advanced students these days it seems - maybe they are behind in these skills and haven't got to the REAL important things yet, like, "Look before you leap (sign anything)", and "Budget wisely or you'll run out of money".

Obviously the school boards or Education Departments setting up the syllabus don't consider these things as of PRIMARY importance (even though they are of PRACTICAL importance). Perhaps they are hoping the parents wll pass these skills on?

Parenting is a full-time job - especially if you have been so ill-advised as to have 5 or 6 kids! I found one was quite enough - that and a full-time 9 to 5 job as well!

Schools are run by government and years ago the poor were not taught at all some would not employ anyone with intelligence.
Now I feel there is more education however it is still limited to those that can access it. Some tutors certainly prefer some students to others.
All in all it is not a fair world.
We soon will be rich and poor again and well my mother said the good old days . Why are we worrying. Those on the dole get free this and that it does not pay to have all your own things anymore. Pride has nothing to do with anything. Jeremy Kyle will be axed.
I say kids these days have a hard tough life.

Schools DO teach time management, financial skills, healthy lifestyles, etc. But, as one famous wit once said, attending math (or any other class) is not the same as learning math (or any other subject). Teaching is only part of the equation; learning is on the kids and the parents. Maybe you should examine the effort these two parties put into education before passing judgment on education.
That being said, I'm pretty sure that the structure of education, at least in America, was designed by a psychotic. A particularly out-of-touch psychotic. That is, politicians have designed the public education system. If they know anything about education, they keep it well hidden.
The answer? Educate the parents about education before educating the kids. You'd be amazed at the intelligent kids we produce in public schools around here. They go to Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, etc. Look at the suceses and you'll see where the failure resides.
'Nuff said.

DS

you ever hear of home economics? balancing check books, making a budget, grocery shopping, saving accounts were all taught in that class when I went to school in the dark ages

They do teach it in Civics and Economics. Some people just don't pay attention or have common sense.

And teach us to respect each others beliefs, ideas and dreams?