Ever think back to what you learned in high school? For a lot of us, it was filled with equations, geometry, and chemistry projects. But you probably didn't learn how to balance a checkbook or change a tire.
These are all parts of our education that we expect to learn along the way. But many of us don't. Especially young women, who might feel like these responsibilities are a "man's job." That statement immediately becomes void the second you happen to get stuck on the side of the road after running over a nail on the highway.
Learning just the basics about cars can go a long way. And that's why Stella Maris College near Sydney is making the news. It offers a course for its year 11 students (about 16 to 17 years old) to learn what to do in case of an emergency.
The lessons taught to the year 11 women are as follows: checking a tire's air pressure, learning how to change a tire, learning about oil and coolant levels, and figuring out the best action to take if you're in a car accident. These lessons are handy for everyone to know, but by teaching it to young girls, the college is breaking a huge stereotype.
By properly maintaining a car, you'll help increase its lifespan. And by learning how to change tires and oil, you'll also likely save a bit of money if you find yourself in an emergency. The big question is, why isn't this a part of standard education today? So many people depend on cars for transportation every day.
The push to offer a basic skills course came in part due to a company called Galmatic, which focuses on car education. The company offers workshops that can happen directly at school or even online. The in-person workshops are hands-on, meaning that students learn by actual experience.
The Galmatic team is made up of women, which is yet another positive. They're openly showing other young women that cars don't need to be a masculine interest. Everyone should learn the real basics about how to maintain cars the same way we put effort into learning how to drive them.
Eleni Mitakos has run the program for well over a decade and has taught many young women the basics of owning and operating an automobile. "We teach up to 100,000 teenagers a year in schools, across all parts of Sydney," she told Daily Mail Australia. "The primary aim is for teenagers to feel comfortable behind the wheel. Ultimately they are driving very big vehicles which can be very expensive if not looked after properly."
"We can't stress enough to all our students you should never ignore a problem with you[r] car, you need to address it for your own safety," she added. It's a message that often gets lost. With teenagers, there's so much focus on getting your license that they forget that maintenance is all part of it.
Amy Smith, the assistant principal for well-being at Stella Maris College, believes that the program is a real hit. Not only does everyone seem to have fun, but she feels like the instructors are confident and knowledgeable.
"The feedback was very positive," she said. "The ladies from Galmatic were very patient and thorough in what they were explaining."
"All the teaching staff and our principal Elizabeth Carnegie felt a workshop like this would be beneficial for many reasons, mainly skills the girls need to learn before they leave school," Amy continued. "It was also important to show the girls that they have the capabilities to handle situations themselves once they are on the road, rather than rely on someone else."
It's always good to prepare young drivers with as much car confidence as possible.
It makes you wonder what other life skills should be taught in high school. Students should know the basics about how to do their own taxes, and it's always important to include classes regarding budgeting. Unlike geometry, these are skills that children are more likely to use daily once they become adults.
What this course offers is the ability to practice — which is something that many teens don't get at home. They're able to learn hands-on, which will give them the confidence to change tires when an emergency eventually happens. But first and foremost, it's showing young women that they can — and should — learn about their cars.
