More on How to Decide What People in a Culture Should Know
Last week was crazy busy. I had started posting this, but it included another poll on your opinions that got far too long.
My last public entry did not really trigger much debate on this actual question. I think the science poll distracted everyone (except for jeltzzRather than trying to poll you on each and every possible topic one could teach to those ( Read more... )
My last public entry did not really trigger much debate on this actual question. I think the science poll distracted everyone (except for jeltzzRather than trying to poll you on each and every possible topic one could teach to those ( Read more... )
Simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division should be necessary. These should be the only focus in High School, but it should be drilled into students who may find themselves without a calculator.
Language:
Our country already fails at teaching our own language. I think English should be heavily enforced (in lieu of Algebra, Geometry, etc, in jr & high schools). I also believe that from 1st or 2nd grade the local flavor language should be required, with an eventual proficiency for students who grew up with that local flavor language. In places where there is no 'local flavor' language, there should be an option for either Spanish or for a good "Business Language" such as Japanese. High school graduates should be near-fluent in the second language. I also believe that the current "college freshmen" courses in English should be required for the Jr. and Sr. year of High School rather than A.P. or Senior English. Those two classes should be Freshmen and Sophomore English. The 'local flavor' language may pose a bit of isolationism and regionalism to a particular locale, but why not?
History:
Who only matters in the large picture. Alexander the Great should be taken out of history books, replaced with "The Greeks", and Cleopatra with "Egypt". Cause and effect should be the primary focus, so specific dates are unneccesary. Teach what happened and how it affected the world, and what we see in life today as a result.
Science:
Drop "science" entirely from high school requirements, but as one commenter noted, bring back Social Studies. Let's study the influence of people and how to influence people.
Do I seem drastic? Okay let me back up.
Continue to offer as many classes as necessary on each topic, from science to albegra and so on (with perhaps exception to the foreign language, let's just learn what's local first, if someone wants to go somewhere, include some sort of distance learning at another high school that may have that student's desired language). A student may try out whatever "beginning class" he chooses. Heck, let him drop in and out of the class as he desires. Keep the "beginning" classes extremely basic and ungraded. When someone drops in and thinks, I like this class, he can continue to stay in that particular class or he can study on his own and register for an "intermediate" for the following semester.
All students should have 6 required periods, 3-4 should be in the required subjects and the remainder shall be "free periods" where a student must be in -a- class of his or her choosing. If the student registers for an intermediate class, that will then be a "required period" and that student will lose a "free period". College and Uni "general education requirements" should drop sciences entirely, as well as maths. For all registered voters, Political Science should be required. For all foreign students, "International Relations" should be required in their first semester.
I have many other thoughts, but this is a basic rundown. It would allow for all students to be more specialized instead of everyone a "jack of all trades" sort of thing.
Reply
Reply
err..
pitfalls would include, of course, fewer people in "normal" industry, and more people vying for the few jobs available in some industries, especially considering the lack of funding for a great deal of projects already. Can't win them all.
Reply
Leave a comment