What, if anything, is wrong with the education system in your country, And how would you improve it? Options

[jcdietz03]

Discuss.

[Yuka]

Block scheduling and very little actual choice on the classes we take.

[aerozero]

I loved Block Scheduling in High School, free periods = awesome.

I think more financial aid should be given out to college students of lower, and especially middle classes, graduate students should also receive aid.

[Rhiannon]

Too much homework. Studies have shown that homework does not help at all.

It's also stupid that they insist on attempting to make everyone "well-rounded" with their education. It really doesn't work.

[Frisk]

Homework really doesn't improve your education?

I didn't know that.

There should be more subjects.

[Rhiannon]

This isn't the exact article that I read when I learned about it, but it's probably more relevant to this topic since it compares part of America's education to that of a few other countries.

[Wally]

Back in high school, there weren't enough classes that focused on fun subjects, like math and science, and there were too many mandatory English courses.

[jcdietz03]

First of all, I'm 26, so I'm writing from the perspective of someone who graduated 8 years ago from high school.

Block scheduling and very little actual choice on the classes we take.

It's because the adults want you to learn things you don't want to. It can't be helped. Please expand upon that: What are you forced to learn that you don't want to? If you could, what would you learn instead?

It's also stupid that they insist on attempting to make everyone "well-rounded" with their education. It really doesn't work.

I don't agree. The purpose of high school is not to teach you "X," it's to teach you how to learn. Certain things you learn in school (like typing) you use every day for the rest of your life. Other things, such as Shakespeare plot analysis, are exercises to help you learn how to learn. Taking different types of courses help you learn different ways of learning. I think everyone should be forced to take at least 1 course of each of the following types: foreign language, english, math, science, history. After that, if you want to specialize, be my guest. Yes current high school graduation requirements are significantly higher than this. Perhaps they could be reduced. One or two courses in each subject should still be required.

Too much homework. Studies have shown that homework does not help at all.

OK, so you have identified the problem and at least part of the solution: Less homework. What, if anything, would you replace homework with? Additional class time? Will reducing homework on its own increase student learning? Would it be a good idea to teach teachers courses on homework, as suggested by the article below?

This isn't the exact article that I read when I learned about it, but it's probably more relevant to this topic since it compares part of America's education to that of a few other countries.

Good article. I had no idea too much homework was counter productive.

[regruBgniK]

The largest problem is the lack of a no technical school in lieu of secondary education. There should be a split somewhere before college.

[Lloyd Seegymont the Rasier]

The no child left behide thing. I hated this so much. You have kids who work their asses off in school, then you get these lazy douches. Yet they STILL make it though high school.

[sandpenguin]

Yeah, I agreed on the 'The No Child Left Behind' fact. Long ago, the British used this technique in the schools, (Colonial, okay?) but after that, it's left to rot.....how I wish this act to be taken again!

Stupid fuckin buggers went up the grade even if they're not studying at all. Even if they get all 'FAIL' with no 'CREDIT' at all....stupid system.

[Frisk]

Replace the homework with after-school activities.

[Wally]

A recent Associated Press-America Online poll found that the average elementary school student does 78 minutes per night and middle schoolers 99 minutes, amounts far exceeding suggested guidelines of 10 minutes per grade per night.

Holy lol. In grade 12 I only spent around an hour every day working on homework.

[Raijinili]

Well, besides the fact that there's very little in terms of learning about computers (and the importance of TYPING CORRECTLY), the education in poor areas is lacking. Too many people in poor urban locations grow up cutting school and hanging out with their friends, or worse, in gangs. Parents can't be depended on to fix this, since there isn't exactly a mandatory parental education class. Teachers in problem areas should be trained to identify students who would need extra help, and convince them to go to tutoring.

Yeah, and homework sux. I nearly failed high school because of it. Now I'm taking graduate-level math classes in college so that I don't have to do as much homework, and it's great. In your face, homework-predicts-success-in-college!

This post has been edited by Raijinili: Jan 21 2008, 02:16 AM

[Liger]

HMM. Less homework sounds like a plan. ):

I already spend six hours in school, then I go home and spend another seven hours on homework. Joy. "I don't have much homework" usually means I only spend about six hours on homework. On really bad days, I only get about four hours of sleep before I have to repeat said cycle... I end up sleeping in my classes instead of at home. Wow, joy. And over long breaks, my teachers all believe "LOL YOU HAVE MORE TIME. DO MOAR HOMEWORKZ."

But I think the main problem there is that all of my teachers have the belief that their students' lives revolve around their class. Sigh. Or maybe my school's just crazy.

I find that homework helps in subjects like Maths or in AP-level classes where you can't learn all the material you need to in a 45minute block of time. But seriously. Writing essays for Physical Education is really pushing it (yeah. I've had those. Many of those.).