I disagree with forming school classes on the basis of age, but would rather see them based on interest and ability.

In other words, the student chooses the classes that interests them, and are aimed at their level, rather than being dumped with other students of the same age in a class they did not choose.

Todd Goninon

Children's rights- the next step!

The United Nations has a convention on the rights of the child, which is a step forward for mankind, no doubt, but ignores the primary human right which I believe all humans should possess- the right  to self-determination!  That is, the right to choose one's own path, to the best of one's ability.

Because children are not seen as mature enough to make their own important life decisions adults are given that role.  This is fair in the case of very small children but as the child grows and matures I think they should be given increasingly more autonomy and the freedom to make their own important life decisions.  Unlike many people, I actually think that if children had greater control over their life there would be a better outcome, not only for them, but for society in general.

As it is today, children and youths are treated as babies until they reach their late teens when they are given some control over the direction of their life.  The compulsory schooling system offers children and youths very little control over their life which results in a disconnect in many children and the building of resentment against their adult caregivers, and society in general, due to their lack of control.  If they were given more command over their lives, and access to a broader range of interesting activities during their schooling years, then I believe young people would engage more deeply with life and contribute more richly to the culture in which we live.  As it is, we encounter many problems with youth who find their considerable energies and talents largely wasted or stymied as they are forced to sit in classrooms and carry on with largely boring and irrelevant classes that have been foisted upon them.

See also: Teachers should not be prison jailers- children need choices, Enhancing the education system for all, and Schools not school.

Sharka Todd

Teachers should not be prison jailers- children need choices

I think the job of teacher and prison jailer should be kept separate. Somehow they have become merged in the modern schooling system, where children don’t have a choice whether to be in a certain classroom or not.  This is bad for the child and bad for the teacher.  It's impossible to teach someone who doesn't want to learn and if they don't want to be in the classroom they just become a disruptive influence.  This puts the onus on the teacher to "control" the child, which is really a nightmare for anyone but the most mean-spirited and controlling of people.  As a result, teaching attracts controlling types rather that those with a true vocation for education and a love of children.

Rather than the current limiting system it would be far more effective to give children a choice on where they go and what they do with their time.  This would make them happier and feel more in control of their life and would help to reduce the overwhelming resentment many youths feel towards the "adult" world.  this doesn't mean 2 year old should be given complete freedom but it does mean that children should be given as much choice as they can handle and soon as they are able to handle it rather than keeping them under adults tight control until they reach adulthood.  This would enhance their decision making ability, helping them as they mature, rather than them being trained to be passive receivers of experience.

Sharka Todd

Enhancing the education system for all

I don’t think one school should try to provide everything for students but, rather, having a multitude of schools may provide the best learning experience.  For example: schools of creative arts and design, schools of music, schools of language, schools of mathematics and technical study, schools of philosophy, schools of the sciences, schools of history, schools of building and the trades, schools of sport science, etc.  These schools wouldn’t have to all be in separate locations making travel between them difficult, but rather organised as a university is, with sections and buildings for each separate field of study and staffed both those with knowledge and passion for that speciality.

I think it’s asking too much to have one school (e.g. high school or elementary school) to do all these things well and yet I think all young (and not so young) people should have access to a wide choice of learning experiences.  The best way to do this would be for each school to have a variety of introductory classes to the various specialties it teaches and then have more advanced classes for those with a sustained interest in the subject matter.  In this way students could get a taste of those things that interest them and then pursue their studies further if their interest is sustained and enhanced by their introductory experience.

Choices between the various subjects on offer should be freely made by the student although there could be a stipulation that certain classes be taken by a certain age- such as introductory classes to spoken and written language, mathematics and social behaviour- where such learning is deemed essential.

As the student matures it is likely they will gravitate to a certain specialty that suits their interests and that area could become their career choice.  When a change in direction is desired then once again a person could return to the process of trying out new areas of interest and making their way towards gaining greater knowledge that they could then use to further the horizons of humanity.

This style of education exists to some extent at the University or College level for older students but I believe it would be advantageous to introduce this style of learning at a much younger age when the student doesn't feel pressured into studying subjects that will result in a practical, safe career choice.  At a younger age there is more freedom to explore areas of interest without feeling the weight of worrying about earning a living.  Also, by introducing the child to a wider variety of learning options at a younger age it means education will prove far more exciting for the child and they can choose those things they have a real passion for rather that wasting time with subjects that bore them.  This would no doubt have a positive impact on childhood and youth happiness which would be good for society as a whole.  It would also mean people found their true passions earlier in life rather then later  (if at all) after they have been through some kind of mid-life crises!

Sharka Todd

Schools not school

I personally believe in schools△, but not in school².

△Schools of Art, Drama, Commerce, etc.
²Primary School, High School etc.

I think it's good to offer people choice and not force things on them, no matter what age they may be!

The one size fits all approach we currently take to schooling where kids are grouped according to age rather than interest and ability is against the flow of nature and counterproductive. And most importantly, compulsory schooling, where children are offered no choice as to what classroom they must attend and what lessons must be learned, fails to respect the God-given free-will of all creatures.

School tends to turn people into passive receivers of information and experiences and this does not help them become a self-motivated and active contributor to a dynamic and changing society!

To enhance the multiple free-choice schools approach, each school that offers specialized education could have an open day or offer introductory courses.  This would give potential students a taste of what the school provides and would enable them to make a more informed choice as to whether to commit to a more detailed learning program.

In this way the individual would be driving their own education program.


Sharka Todd

See also: A New School System, and Enhancing the education system for all.