The purpose of school.

[futurebird]

There were not as many responses to the 2nd post as the first. But, I think that something is starting to develop.

(Purpose.) What's wrong with the way public schools are used?

The first thing to fix about schools is the PERCEPTION of the value of schools, whether the kids think they can REALLY be successful, and to take it seriously. If you dont

Comments

[underlankers]

Public schools were simply a means to a specific end. They were never intended to actually teach anything useful.

[paft]

A means to what specific end?

[meus_ovatio]

Economic suitability.

[paft]

Creating suitable workers, you mean?

What do you think would be the result if public education were eliminated?

[futurebird]

This article explores three alternative goals for American education that have been at the root of educational conflicts over the years: democratic equality (schools should focus on preparing citizens), social efficiency (they should focus on training workers), and social mobility (they should prepare individuals to compete for social positions).

I think we have all three mentioned in this post. I'm going to look for the paper-- it sounds great!

[anfalicious]

A lot of that arbitrary achievement comes from things like standardised testing and the need for schools to prove their doing "something" (rather than actually doing "something useful").

[futurebird]

Look like an OK book.

[little_e_]

I think if we polled Americans, most of them would say that the purpose of schools is along the lines of teaching things, and that public schools in particular should teach useful things, especially those related to jobs and general adulthood survival. I don't think there's a problem here; most of us agree on the basic purpose of schools

[futurebird]

I think if we polled Americans, most of them would say that the purpose of schools is along the lines of teaching things, and that public schools in particular should teach useful things, especially those related to jobs and general adulthood survival. I don't think there's a problem here; most of us agree on the basic purpose of schools.Just becuase most people think this is the purpose of school doesn't mean that school *should* operate in this way. The purpose of educational institutions is to preserve disseminate and expand the body of human knowledge so that young people can

[little_e_]

99.9% of people are not going to be leaders. It makes no sense to design a system to produce an outcome which is useless to the vast majority of people in it

[futurebird]

99.9% of people are not going to be leaders.

Well, if we educate most to follow I guess that will be true. There are more ways to lead than heading a corporation. The things I list would be good for a plumber with a passion for establishing communities gardens to know. It would be a good level of knowledge for a hair dresser who runs her own business and goes to trade conventions.

--I don't know why you are getting sidetracked in to if people are forced to learn. This is what I think the purpose of schools should be. Clearly they can't reach everyone. But, I think we could reach most. The rest will learn to read and how to add and subtrct.

[dwer]

the purpose of schools is to give people the opportunity to learn.

And the purpose of life...

[sophia_sadek]

... is to throw people into the deep end and ask them to sink or swim.