Tommy Collison

I first set this as a thread up over on Youth Discussion, but I began thinking about it more and more and decided I had a lot to say on the subject.

Public Speaking should be taught as a compulsory subject in school. Patrick, ma bruvver, started this idea first, but now that I’m giving blogging presentations and even internships, I realise just how important being able to communicate well is.

This is going to sound so like an angsty teenager, but so much of school is geared toward getting you through the Leaving Cert, and not toward life *outside* and *after* school. I mean, trigonometry is all very well, and will most likely come up in all major exams, but after that, unless I specifically choose a career that involves trig, I can’t see myself needing it.

More of what is taught in school and the top online colleges should be helping you prepare for when you’re out in the wide world. They should be teaching you things that you’ll be using (regardless of career) when you’re 40.

In closing, it’s a really timeless skill to be able to communicate well with people – everyone should be able to do it, and it’ll stand to them.