Kay Hively: A class on adulting

I noticed that a college recently added a class on "adulting." The class is designed to deal with things today's young people should have learned before college. These are the kind of things that are usually taught in the home by parents, grandparents and even siblings.

This college thinks that young people are not learning these things for a variety of reasons. Some reasons for the failure are spending too much time on computers, video games, and cell phones.

Also, sports-minded kids are almost always on a structured team and do what the coaches say. Few kids get together and play ball or other games with no one but themselves around. As a result, they have to settle the inevitable arguments. Also, many get to play different positions, instead of being assigned as the second baseman or the catcher.

I once heard a retired professional baseball player say that he learned more, and was in better shape, because he played "free ball" as a kid.

In this college class, students are taught economics. They are told that getting a student loan is not like a scholarship. A loan must be paid back. They hear that when you get a job for $10 an hour, you are not going to get the full $10. Things such as taxes, social security and other deductions will cut into your pay. They also learn that you have to file income tax reports every April.

Students learn about about different kinds of cars, and all the responsibilities that come with a car. They are reminded about buying such things license plates, insurance, maintenance and the cost of fuel.

They hear about responsibility in life. They are told they need to get up in time to make it to class or to work, and the importance of being properly dressed. Manners needed on the job, in school and in their everyday life are part of the class.

Such things as the value of helping others or volunteering is noted. Good health habits are taught. Students learn to make choices in everything from eating (apple or chocolate bar for a snack) or to choose between a night at the bar with friends or writing a paper for English class. They were taught to comply with a police officer's command instead of talking back, even though you didn't do anything wrong.

Robert Fulghum wrote a book called "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Some of things he mentioned were: share everything; wash your hands before you eat; when you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together; play fair; clean up your own mess; and say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

I'm sure many of the things Mr. Fulghum wrote are in that college adulting class. I hope the students who take this class really need it. Too often, that is not the case, but one can always hope.

Just between you and me, many of us could re-learn these lessons from kindergarten
(Kay Hively is a historian, author and former editor, reporter and columnist for the Neosho Daily News and Neosho Post.)