Education Part ll

[JOEBIALEK]

This is the second part to an earlier writing about education in the United States. As you may recall, I advocated for the privatization of all schools from kindergarten to graduate studies. This piece will focus on the curriculum that needs to be followed.

Everytime I encounter someone in the workplace, I am reminded of just how much we have failed to properly educate United States citizens in the fundamentals of communication: reading, writing and speaking. Few would argue that the time is long overdue for the United States to "get back to the basics" of a fully functional education system. We need to exclusively focus on the development of communication skills from kindergarten to eighth grade along with annual testing that measures apptitude and interest. Training in mathematics should be limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Unless communication skills are fully mastered, there is no need to advance to high school.

For those who graduate to high school, the emphasis could evolve into a curriculum of philosophy, sociology, economics, psychology, science and religious studies. Books such as "For Dummies" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide" could be used to foster an understanding of different religions. Athletic activity would be strictly confined to cardio vascular exercises and all sports would be eliminated. While there would still be an emphasis on communication skills, the focus would now be on developing a foundation of basic knowledge so as to be able to graduate to college. Testing for apptitude and interest would continue through high school increasing the chances of picking the right field of study . Those not continuing on to college would enter some type of apprenticeship training for the purpose of learning a trade. For those who do graduate to college, the student would continue to study an advanced version of the same curriculum as high school but only for the first two years then they would complete their education by strictly focusing on coursework designed to train them in their field of study. Nearing graduation, internships would be required to begin the transition to the working world. Think of how different our society would be if our education system could just teach the fundamentals of reading, writing and speaking.

[scrap]

Quote:Athletic activity would be strictly confined to cardio vascular exercises and all sports would be eliminated.

I'll just focus on this one statement.

Athletics are not just for entertainment value but are part of a well rounded education.

The competitive spirit learned can do alot toward motivating a person to excel in all areas of life.

Not too many College athletes are good enough to move on to the professional ranks but if you took a poll I'd be willing to bet that what they learned in sporting competitions has been put to good use in the private sector.

Oops have to run will add to this later.

[midcan5]

Joe, you sound like a communist? If we are to truly privatize something how is it we then make up the rules, isn't that a little contradictory. My wife has taught seventh grade for over 20 years and says the students get dumber and lazier every year. This is a parochial school and the curriculum is basic. Why are students in America dumber than other countries - can it be TV and the cultural attitude that education does not matter? Books in the for dummies series - are you pulling our legs, it is hard to take your posts seriously.

[MO]

If we are to truly privatize something how is it we then make up the rules,

Midcan made a good point!

I'd like to see school choice in the form of vouchers. That way, public schools can compete or go under. Consumers of college education can spend their federal grants at a public or private school. I see no reason K-12 should be any different. The public schools are competing with private schools in wealthy neighborhoods. That's why they're better. Time to give the poor the same educational chances by providing choice for all.

The current system is socialist. It keeps people in the socioeconomic class they were born to.

[TNRighty]

This is a very good discussion and I'd like to add my two cents.

I think Joe makes some very good points, and Medican, you should think twice about calling Joe a communist for advocating the privatization of the education system. In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx said that one of the essentials in creating a communist society was turning education over to the control of the government. Joe's proposal for privatization is actually very anti-communist.

As for the curriculum, my opinion is that from first grade until sixth grade, the only thing students should be taught is reading, writing and math (add, subtract, multiply, divide; on that I agree with Joe). Around middle school I think you should start to get into subjects which require the application the basic skills I just mentioned...social studies, history/geography, science, geometry, literature. By tenth grade or so you should have an idea about what you would really like to do. At that point advanced subjects like calculus, physics, economics, analytical history, etc...should be available.

As for sports, I think they are important and should be kept as an extra-curricular activity. I think art and music should be an extra-curricular activity, also. Just as you have sports teams, why can't you have art teams or music teams? People into art or music could meet after school with their coaches and practice their talents just like sports teams do. They could put on art shows or concerts.

High school sports coaches teach regular subjects like history or math and then coach their teams after school. Art and music should be the same way, that way the kids that are really into it will stick around after school and be able to practice it. Babe Ruth and Vincent Van Gogh didn't learn their talents in a high school classroom.

As for PE, I agree with Joe...pushups, pullups, situps, and running.

I went to college on a baseball scholarship, and I can tell you I carry a lot of what I learned as a college athlete to work with me every day. I think music and art in college should be an extra-curricular activity just like athletics. To me a music major is rediculous. Having a degree in music with a minor in violin is as stupid as having a major in athletics with a minor in baseball. I think it is great that there are people who make it to college on scholarships that award special talents such as athletics, musical ability, or artistic ability; I did. But I think that while in college you should major in a real subject in the event that your "good enough for college" talent won't make a living for you. I'll use my personal experience as an example. Like I said, I went to college on a baseball scholarship, but I got my degree in structural engineering, and that's what I do for a living now. I think colleges should provide an avenue in which people with special talents such as music, art, or athletics, have a chance to make a living with those talents. However, when you don't have the talent to throw a major league fastball or a major league violin solo, it wouldn't help to have something to fall back on.

[MO]

I've never defended Midcan, and probably never will again.

Private education is successful precisely because no government is dictating to them what the curriculum choices should be. In a free market, schools like the ones described would exist if there were enough parents that wanted it.