Many schools are in crisis. While the situation varies from one school to another, many schools are facing larger classroom sizes, shorter face to face teaching hours, outdated textbooks, fewer activities like music. The curriculum is being designed more and more towards standardized test scores. Humanities, art, critical thinking skills and creativity, these values seem to have gone by the wayside in modern education. Am I being to hard. The truth is, it is not the fault of teachers and administrators that schools are experiencing a downward slide. Politicians seem to have a fascination with standardized scores. Some how they need to get the message that there is no such thing as a standardized child. Reading, writing and basic arithmetic are the foundation of any good education.
I note in Australia that a lot is being said about the lack of historical knowledge that today's youth have. They do not know what date Captain Cook first set foot on Australian shores.
So what? How is that date going to help that child achieve anything in life? When I went to school I had to learn French or German. I chose French and I have not used a word of it since I left school. I loathed it and almost failed my whole year because of that one subject.
Relevance is the key to any learning. Provide any one, be it child or adult, with a reason to learn and then turn that into a need to learn and you will have a good student.
I do not deny that subjects such as history, languages and geography have a place. In fact they have an important place. They should be taught in a way that encourages exploration, research and critical thinking. Not as subjects where names, dates, places, pronunciation and geological names are of prime importance.
Teach children to think, and you have new leaders of tomorrow. Preparing them to think is the least we can do for a generation we have already saddled with overwhelming environmental and economic burdens.
My daughter starts school for the first time in three weeks. It will be interesting to see how she handles it. If and how she is challenged. Ultimately, how well she will be prepared for the future. I know one thing for sure, my role is pivotal. I cannot afford to leave it to the school system.
