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Originally posted by RabbitChaser
"... freedom to pursue the education of their choice" -- He chooses to homeschool. I just wanted to make sure that was clear.
Originally posted by kosmicjack
Very good thread but I'm surprised that there are not more members participating, as practically everyone has an opinion on this topic.
At risk of offending (which is certainly not my intention) some of the very persuasive and well-written teachers on the thread, I am going to maintain that there are three key factors that need addressing.
Teachers
Parents
Government
As a former education major I jumped ship before my senior year of college after doing many in-school-observations and activities. Honestly, I was not impressed with my peers or the teachers I observed in the school. The school I was assigned to was a magnet high school for gifted kids, so I expected to see some great professional examples. Not so. Many of them seemed less than enthusiastic about their jobs, as they did not exhibit a passion for teaching; instead they seemed more excited about their schedules and summers off.
Lastly, the government needs to get out of the business of babysitting and into the business of education and preparation. No more teaching to tests. No more passing kids who are not cutting it. It does not do our society any good to churn out socially and professionally unacceptable career candidates. A great example is the removal of tag and dodge ball from school playgrounds or the limiting of competition in general from the schools. In the real world you have to compete. It ensures that the best and brightest among us help to shape our society instead of the weakest. Survival of the fittest is how humans have maintained the top of the food chain for eons. When we teach to the lowest common denominator and we eliminate competition, we are short changing our children’s future and churning out a bunch of weak and ill prepared cry-babies.
Originally posted by kosmicjack
One question is, world-wide, what educational system is producing the best results?
I guess another comment is - What exactly is the goal? To prepare students for life? For college? For a career? All of the above?
I am inclined to say that we can't even fix the system as a whole because the problems are too big and the system too complex. Additionally, there are students in flux, in the system, that won't be adaptable to change based on their current skill set.
As such, I think we need to phase out what is not working and implement whatever plan is adopted starting with students entering Pre-K in the year 20xx - fill in the blank. And then roll the changes out incrementally from that point forward.
Originally posted by Skyfloating
Teachers: Can you tell me which committe it exactly is that determines and defines the national curriculum???????
Originally posted by sc2099
I'm not a teacher, but I believe that would be the Department of Education. And then of course the State Superintendent and the District Superintendent decide how this curriculum will be implemented.
As an aside, I think the real problem with education and its involvement with government is that members of government are constantly fighting each other on everything. How can they decide and execute what is best for students when they can't decide and execute what's best for the country/state/town?
I feel like they are teaching me to become a good quiet little worker
Originally posted by Anti-Tyrant
Excuse me if i offend anyone by saying this, but i thought the nessecity to reform our education system was common knowledge?
Basically, the Labour government we have in britain actually got into power on the basis that it would reform public schools - and to an extent it has done, but not the way tha majority of the voters wanted i think.My belief is that when Governments decide it would be a good idea to do something, they quickly get distracted by more pressing concerns - like wars and the economic difficulties that war brings.
Well - in my rather young and amatuerish opinion, it's that the political establishments (U.S, U.K) lack guidance from members of society whom are best placed and best informed to provide it - instead they rely on those whom are trusted and are known not to mess up, which unfortunately we have few people who are known not to mess up where educational reforms are concerned.In otherwords, our Political Establishments lack confidence in us, like the true elitist scumbags they are.