Friday, November 11, 2016

Changing the Future

So this will not be really about spirituality but something that has been on my mind for a while. So I am a parent of a special needs child and I am pretty aware of how schools are run these days, which is very different from when I was in school. I also have many educators in my family like my mother and sister. But so many people know the way they are running schools now are focused on rushing them through school with few things to bring to the real world. Common core.... not even going to address that mess.
So I was thinking of sharing what my ideal school curriculum would be for majority of students because they really do need beneficial things and not just rushing them to graduation and leaving them high and dry.
The things that should be kept in schools that already are in are English/reading, math, P.E. music, and art. Everyone needs to experience art of all kinds because it is scientifically proven to help their intellect be it music or painting.  Everyone needs to know how to read and write and do basic math. A lot of algebra is useless unless you are in the science or architectural careers. I have almost never needed to use advanced math that was taught in high school and I think depending on what someone wants to do with careers shouldn't have to be enforced except what could be used in daily life. Physical education is a must, end of story.
Now for things that should be required in school in some form.
Updated home economics. Not like our grandparents or parents home-ec, but what applies now. Cooking is something everyone needs to learn how to do in some form. Doesn't need to be fancy but knowing how to make regular meals that aren't instant because we are of a time that if it isn't microwaved or boiled for 30 seconds, it isn't eaten anymore. Cooking isn't the only thing though. Cleaning like laundry, fixing basic thing around the house like changing a light bulb, and of course learning what each chemical in the house is used for. Even now I have no idea what some stuff is for.  All of these should be taught even if the kids are lucky to have a parent or both parents home to teach them because in this day and age, parents aren't available for things like that now.
Managing money is a whole class on it's own. I had a class similar to home-ec that did focus for 2 months on finances like how to write checks (which at this point is basically obsolete), taking us on field trips to figure how to manage a sh oping list with a certain amounts of funds, first hand and that was something that always stuck with me. Also including how to understand what taxes are about since so many don't do their own, but they should learn what it means and how it affects you. Money is a thing everyone needs to know how to use properly and so many don't.
Computer science. Some schools have this thankfully but most just have basic typing classes which isn't enough. Knowing what computers can do and not just use it for internet is something useful to know especially for when you have a job. I was taught in community college how to use other Microsoft Office programs other then Word, and even then I learned different things about it I would have never known. This is so incredibly important because computers are no longer the future, they are what we use now everyday in every way.
Real sex ed and parenting classes. Most schools in the US have sub par and abstinence only education and it has been proven to do nothing. Comprehensive sex positive education where things are very bluntly discussed with real medical terms, and not just how babies are made but STD's, what is normal physical maturity, learning about consent. So much more. And there is a high rate of pregnancy in teens particularly in the south. I remember having a day in class that we had to care for an egg in middle school and in high school a mechanical crying baby.  The egg was useless, but the crying baby, never gave me sleep and was way more accurate to real life and everyone should have that experience for a full week. It does give you a different perspective.
Comprehensive history and politics. This is covered in part at most schools but it does tend to use outdated books and focusing on the white males perspective. We should know our history across the world but of both genders and all ethnicity's. I had a college professor who was Bulgarian and gave the most amazing stories about his experiences and his topic of history. He made it interesting and applied it to real life. The political stuff knowing what every aspect of it is is incredibly important too which was never covered in school for me except hey, there are two groups, a house, senate, congress, etc. The end.  Experiencing what just happened here with politics, our kids get to feel the screwball future because of so many not really understanding politics.
One thing most schools can't do and an experience I was lucky to experience was having small classes so teachers can give individual attention to those who need it. I went to a Blind School in WA and at most we would have 9 kids in a class and many times 4-5 kids. I was able to finally get the individual help I needed with topics I struggled with. Things are personalized to the youth which it should be. Everyone does not learn the same.
Comprehensive science. So much we learn in science class is completely useless and never used again unless you chose a Field in it. Forcing kids to cut frogs open is out dated especially with technology being what it is now. It is unnecessary. Yes we should learn what makes up our bodies, what makes up the world with things like geology and oceanography,  botany, so on so forth. Science is important but the way it is taught now isn't comprehensive and taught in a way it doesn't stay in the brain.
A spin off history, learning about different cultures, by really experiencing them. A lot of hands on projects, visiting places that have those cultures if possible, and not just those that are in your region. Where I live, Native American heritage is abundant and strong but even here where it is in everything, it is barely touched on. Also, we have a history of Hispanics and Japanese heritages that are incredibly unique to the region that is never touched on. I learned last year that there was basically during world war II that there was a concentration camp (I am unsure if that is the right word where they held them against their will), in the town I grew up in. Which is crazy. Hands on experiences make things sink in much deeper and longer then just reading a book about it.
Field trips every month for some class should be required too if not more. As explained above, experience sinks into memory much better then reading words.
I can go on but I want to hear what you have to add or say on this topic! We can change things, so see what you can do in your area!
You activity for this week, whether you are a parent or not, make a list of 8 different classes you think should be in schools now.

8 comments:

  1. I agree with you on the updated Home Economics class. I think children need experience items with their peers because when we try to instruct our children they seem to not take the information to heart. Great read.

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  2. Cooking proper meals, my daughter had to fruit salad once, a variety of PE not just hockey/netball for girl, football/rugby for boys, more fun and interactive like Dance.
    English and maths are a given, we front do the frog thing in the UK, which I'm extremely glad about, being that two out of my four children are vegetarian.

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    1. I was lucky to go to a school that did have dance circuits etc and the PE was pretty involved with both genders of different types of stuff. But I know that isn't the norm.

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  3. Basic skills and experiential knowledge. My kids learned the most from classes like outdoor ed, tech classes, exchange trips etc.
    On another note, my friend is a University prof. She recently met a student who literally had never operated a broom before. We are failing to teach our kids basic life skills. We need to get off our butts and make/let kids learn how to care for themselves.

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    1. I agree and it is so sad. I mean most people use vacuums indoors now but other then a leaf blower, I dont know how they would get stuff off the cement driveways without a broom! I do think parents need to step it up as well but this is a joint effort.

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  4. I completely understand where you're coming from. The Public School system has failed my daughter, which is why I homeschool so she can get the basic education that she will need to live and thrive as an adult.

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    1. If I didn't think adrian would miss out on social education by being around his peers, I would home schooled as well and it is becoming more and more the thing to do bc schools just suck.

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