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Simplify education and make higher demands on students.
I work as a teacher assistant in a Canadian school and see a very inefficient system frought with difficulties.I have seen international students who barely speak our language legitimately do better than many of our Canadian born students. Much of this frequently comes down to a poor work ethic or apathetic attitude from our pupils. I have seen teachers deliver perfect lessons that could not be any better. They use technology, various motivational and engagement techniques to little avail. The students are not succeediing because they are apathetic and plainly do not do the work or put in the effort.
Perhaps we have given students and adults too many rights without the responsibilities. Perhaps we have life a bit too easy and we have too many safety nets built into our society.
My stepdaughter is from an Asian country and has often commented about the laziness of our students here. Where she comes from, and education is often their only chance of success in life or way out of poverty. If they are not attentive in school, they are sent home where they may face a poor reception from the parents at best. Education is competetive and natural or logical results ensue from their actions or lack thereof. If they don't do it, they fail. Simple.
That is their motivation.
Not everything is perfect there, but education is often much more efficient and the students are more engaged.
Here in America, we often have a sense of entitlement, have many safety nets to save us. Many of us have gotten lazy as a result. I understand that things happen and we all have differing potential but we need to be realistic. Let us be rational and let common sense prevail.
I was and still am a slow learner and had to work hard for everything I have including a teaching degree. If I can do it, almost anyone can.
Thank you.
James Stork
Let that which is right prevail.
Robert Winner 50+
We can all see there are problems the question is what are we doing to resolve the problems. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution.
All the best. Bob.
Allan Macdougall 30+
Children are ready for education at different stages in their lives. Some develop early, some late. I think the apathy you describe could be rephrased as an 'unreadiness' to be educated into the adult world.
This is the problem with a standardised 'one size fits all' education system. Some wasted young talent will invariably slip through its clumsy net, just because they are late developers, or whose creativity and thinking style has not been recognised and nurtured by a standardised system.
James Stork
Call me a dreamer.
Bharath Kumar Kunjibettu 10+
It is indeed a very good topic raised by you .Coming from an Asian background , a lot about strict discipline was taught along with education in schools .Also studies were our only choice(apart from cricket). But what I felt was our education system talks about all subjects in a generic fashion ( atleast till I did my engineering ) but I feel in America , its more specific which is good , we can always explore them more. And thats where students all over the world come over to universities across America come and perform better.
To some extent I am surprised by this question since I read some best self help blogs and books from American nationals which has helped me a lot .
Regards,
Bharath
Barry Palmer 50+
I think this is the essence of your view of the problem. Of course, the entire history of human progress is based on the singular motivation of making life easier. So, should we make life tougher for our children? Not going to happen.
As Linda Taylor says, the system is antiquated. It has never been good, but students motivated by hunger or a very tough life managed to get out of it what they needed. It is now necessary to find a better way.
Personally, I think technological progress and private enterprise is going to put teachers out of business. In the next 10 to 15 years, computers are going to replace teachers. In the guise of games, children will learn everything they need to know and learn it much faster. Let the competition begin.
Gabo Moreno 100+
This is not just about making the life of children hard. I don't want any harm on them. This is about the reality that crises can and will arise, that people don't understand the problems, and are not willing to make any effort at understanding them. That depression ensues given the lack of direction and lack of enthusiasm. Overprotection is a huge problem. I wish the solution were as you suggest, games and computers. But, to steal your expression, that's not going to happen. This is societal entropy at its finest. More people ignoring problems, over protecting children, then these children have to confront a reality where they are expected to function, and fail to function because they were never interested, thus they pursue now a university degree, they find themselves unprepared for the attention demands, the system lowers the requirements to make these "students" happy, we get an overpopulation of useless university graduates, almost indistinguishable in paper from those who did learn something. Most students, obviously have no idea what next, so they enrol into graduate programs hoping that the degree will "give them a job." They are accepted into those programs regardless of their inadequacy, thus elevating the level of ineptitude. I am not just talking, I am witnessing this happening.
You are partially right though and part of the problem is that the educational system is a failure modelled, but even then not really proper, in a different era. But, again, is not as simple as getting computers and educational games either. We need to rescue our people's capacity to concentrate and do something. To plan, to have goals, to ... so many things ... I rather stop here ...
Linda Taylor 50+
The system is broke. The hours have no modern day work application. Parents are happy if the kid is out the door sick or not. Kids come home to empty house cause they get out 2 hours before parents. Summers off. Seriously??
The system was developed in a society that was heavily agriculture and manufacturing. Hmm. Let's think about that. What is the focus of those developing societies that seem to do so well with this type of education? Are you connecting the dots?
In our country we no longer live in that society. When our kids graduate high school there is no job waiting for them AND THEY KNOW THIS. So the system has turned into one giant mandated babysitting project until they are old enough. Parents here can go to jail for their kids truancy.
The system is antiquated and no longer serves anyone's needs. Teachers, parents, and most of all children are being short changed. Of course there are students that learn and survive and some that even thrive. But here we have an overwhelming attrition at the high school level around 50%.
Oh yeah, let me mention that I deal in higher ed. I get the joy of dealing with the product of the system.
Gabo Moreno 100+