Austin, in my junior school, we learnt to cook, sew, knit, sing, play sports, basic hygiene, the food pyramid (meat at the bottom in those days), and more. The guys learnt wood work (and stuff like that).

Once we were through junior school, those things were forgotten.

Japanese schools teach all those basics as well.

I think, currently, education doesn't teach one the things we really need for real life. It is very sad.

I'm glad you had the common sense to go to a trade school.