Education Reform Discussion

[Katganistan]

I've been talking and talking with my friends about this issue, mostly because I haven't been able to get on NSG regularly. Now that I am here however I would like to start a discussion about it here; what things do you think need done to reform the education in your nation?


I live in the USA, and I am not a fan of the 3 month summer break students receive every single year in most schools throughout the nation. Students are entitled to about 90 days of summer vacation on top of the 30 or more days (plus weekends) off students receive normally throughout the school year. In theory I don't disagree with giving students plenty of time off, however I think that an entire three month block of time of is far too much; students are then forced to play catch up at school with the first six or more weeks being used as a review of what they had studied the previous year.
My youngest brother whom is 16 years old has already used the "Well I don't remember this stuff anymore." excuse enough to make me want to perpetrate violence upon him. The three month vacation block should be repealed. A seemingly better idea would be a continuous block of classes with weekends off for a set amount of weeks, and then an allotted holiday that would go the entire year around.

This is just one idea, I would like to see that the rest of NSG comes up with.

Good luck with that one, seriously. Teachers need those three months to recuperate and also to continue their education so that they keep their jobs remain fine, up-to-date educators.

And what, precisely, prevents your brother from cracking a book all summer other than sheer laziness?

[Tekania]

Good luck with that one, seriously. Teachers need those three months to recuperate and also to continue their education so that they keep their jobs remain fine, up-to-date educators.

And what, precisely, prevents your brother from cracking a book all summer other than sheer laziness?

Another good point... During those summer months my wife spends most of her time going through mandated training and/or engaging in getting additional certifications/licenses degrees that she needs to keep her teaching license (and her job)... Which is virtually impossible during the school year, when she leaves for work at 6:00am, is with kids most of the day till 3:00, has meetings and paperwork do to till 5,6:00; and then assuming there's no parent meetings, she gets to finally go home...

[Katganistan]

...We didn't have snow days. Well, ok, we had one. But we generally get out between the 26th-28th of June, and generally go back the 28th or so of August. This year we went back the day after labor day.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

How about some actually standards? I mean, Jesus, there was a large number of students in their senior year who were taking middle school level algebra at my high school.

[Tekania]

How about some actually standards? I mean, Jesus, there was a large number of students in their senior year who were taking middle school level algebra at my high school.

Well, there are standards... Unfortunately the bar on math is low... There's no actual requirements for a student to have more than an extremely basic rudimentary knowledge of algebra to graduate... And even that is somewhat iffy with the commonplace practice of "social advancement"...

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Well, there are standards... Unfortunately the bar on math is low... There's no actual requirements for a student to have more than an extremely basic rudimentary knowledge of algebra to graduate... And even that is somewhat iffy with the commonplace practice of "social advancement"...

If I ever have kids, they'll be doing partial differential equations and abstract algebra by the time they get to high school, or they'll be disowned.

[Katganistan]

Well, there are standards... Unfortunately the bar on math is low... There's no actual requirements for a student to have more than an extremely basic rudimentary knowledge of algebra to graduate... And even that is somewhat iffy with the commonplace practice of "social advancement"...

If I ever have kids, they'll be doing partial differential equations and abstract algebra by the time they get to high school, or they'll be disowned.

Oh now, there's an incentive to learn.

[Chrobalta]

Well, there are standards... Unfortunately the bar on math is low... There's no actual requirements for a student to have more than an extremely basic rudimentary knowledge of algebra to graduate... And even that is somewhat iffy with the commonplace practice of "social advancement"...

If I ever have kids, they'll be doing partial differential equations and abstract algebra by the time they get to high school, or they'll be disowned.

Yep.

I think half of the problem is the kids themselves, and the parents. The coddle the kids, make excuses and don't make their kids work hard. Yet they blame the system entirely for their child failing. Yes the system is in dire need of reform, but a lot of problems could be solved by better parenting.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Oh now, there's an incentive to learn.

I can't help but detect about 35 milli-Fass's of sarcasm there.

[New Kereptica]

Oh now, there's an incentive to learn.

I can't help but detect about 35 milli-Fass's of sarcasm there.

I am unaware of this unit

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I am unaware of this unit

One Fass is the density of sarcasm that it takes to go over the head of Oscar Wilde.

[Tekania]

Oh now, there's an incentive to learn.

I can't help but detect about 35 milli-Fass's of sarcasm there.

I am unaware of this unit

It's a measure of the capacitance of sarcasm within a post

[Surote]

Make school a six day week or a extend hours from 8a.m.-5p.m. but lower week to four days so they can have sometime off but don't keep rid of the three month block.

[Katganistan]

Make school a six day week or a extend hours from 8a.m.-5p.m. but lower week to four days so they can have sometime off but don't keep rid of the three month block.

¿Qué?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

I have a crazy idea; maybe parents ought to take a more active role in their child's education. Hell, maybe they'll learn a thing or two also.

I have an even crazier idea: Maybe families ought to be able to make a decent living without at least two 40-hour incomes(or sometimes more) so they actually get to meet their kids from time to time.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I have a crazy idea; maybe parents ought to take a more active role in their child's education. Hell, maybe they'll learn a thing or two also.

I have an even crazier idea: Maybe families ought to be able to make a decent living without at least two 40-hour incomes(or sometimes more) so they actually get to meet their kids from time to time.

How dare you try to control the market, you godless, anti-American commie, liberal, fascist, reactionary, progressive, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, absolutist, relativist, elitist, hero to the proletariat!

[Tekania]

I have a crazy idea; maybe parents ought to take a more active role in their child's education. Hell, maybe they'll learn a thing or two also.

I have an even crazier idea: Maybe families ought to be able to make a decent living without at least two 40-hour incomes(or sometimes more) so they actually get to meet their kids from time to time.

40 hour? No, that would mean they'd have to be provided health-coverage... It's so much cheaper to cut them off at 39 hours for the week...

(This does not represent my personal views... S'one of the reasons I hate the free-market types... And even more of a reason why I will never believe nor trust them...)

[Greed and Death]

I have a crazy idea; maybe parents ought to take a more active role in their child's education. Hell, maybe they'll learn a thing or two also.

I have an even crazier idea: Maybe families ought to be able to make a decent living without at least two 40-hour incomes(or sometimes more) so they actually get to meet their kids from time to time.

Or just adopt Asian kids and they do well without supervision.

[Gauntleted Fist]

Having recently graduated, I have only one recommendation that I think might have a major impact:

Do not lecture in a monotone.

Do. Not. Do. It.

Ever.

For fear of repeating myself ad infinitum, I will stop here.

[Tekania]

Having recently graduated, I have only one recommendation that I think might have a major impact:

Do not lecture in a monotone.

Do. Not. Do. It.

Ever.

For fear of repeating myself ad infinitum, I will stop here.

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

[Gauntleted Fist]

Having recently graduated, I have only one recommendation that I think might have a major impact:

Do not lecture in a monotone.

Do. Not. Do. It.

Ever.

For fear of repeating myself ad infinitum, I will stop here.

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

If I could have, I would have thrown my shoe at that guy.

Edited because that's a really bad idea. <.<;

[RRichland]

Picture this; classrooms where each student has a personal computer that contains his entire educational history and follows him his entire school years. The computer is programed with learning/testing modules for every subject that need be completed within a certain time frame. The student can work through the modules in any order he wished as long as he has successfully completed the entire program in the alloted time.

I'm guessing here that two teacher/monitors would be required for 40-50 students to keep them on track and offer additional instruction as needed.

Students could then take off any days that are convienient for thier families as long as they meet the yearly minimum attendance requirement.

I realize that it is important that classmates need to occasionally interact as a group. This should be when it is actually meaningful to be in group session such as speeches from other students, open discussions, arts and music activities, sports and of course recess.

[Macindia]

^ I like that Idea

Anyways, what do you guys think of a school like this?


http://www.sudval.org/

[Greed and Death]

Picture this; classrooms where each student has a personal computer that contains his entire educational history and follows him his entire school years. The computer is programed with learning/testing modules for every subject that need be completed within a certain time frame. The student can work through the modules in any order he wished as long as he has successfully completed the entire program in the alloted time.

I'm guessing here that two teacher/monitors would be required for 40-50 students to keep them on track and offer additional instruction as needed.

Students could then take off any days that are convienient for thier families as long as they meet the yearly minimum attendance requirement.

I realize that it is important that classmates need to occasionally interact as a group. This should be when it is actually meaningful to be in group session such as speeches from other students, open discussions, arts and music activities, sports and of course recess.

I had that in alternative school. (got kicked out about some issue with a computer virus.) I finished 2 semesters of course work in a month and I was told to stop as no one would believe I had that many credits.

[Conserative Morality]

I would support keeping mid-late summer off, seeing as how damn hot it gets. Other than that, yeah, spread it across the year.