Community Chat

[jaxs mom]

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@LTT1 wrote:

@jaxs mom

I'm not taking issue with you, but this is the question I kept asking myself when teaching...

"Is it MY lack of understanding of THEIR world (technology and its applications) or is it THEIR lack of understanding of MY world (my education was geared to the learner being able to join the work force in a factory)?"

Where do these two "worlds" intersect?  Do they intersect?  Will my students continually lose their jobs due to their inability to count change?

These are some questions concerning the decisions that must be made by the PTB for education.

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Ok I'm back. Personally I think that it always has to be about the real world that children are going to go out into. Not the one it was 40 years ago or whatever when the teacher was in school, or the fantasy world that is on someones agenda but the world that will be in 5-10 years when the child leaves school. And personally, I just don't see how big institutions accompish that well. But I'm a homeschooler. 

[SaRina]

"My answer was formulated after numerous students would say "I don't see why I have to learn this... I will never use it.""

I haven't read any other responses. Students will never "need" most of the subjects they take, but if they are not exposed to all these subjects, how are they to discover their own interest in a particular area for their future profession or even hobby?  

[abbeythe 8th]

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@JAXS Mom wrote:

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Ok I'm back. Personally I think that it always has to be about the real world that children are going to go out into. Not the one it was 40 years ago or whatever when the teacher was in school, or the fantasy world that is on someones agenda but the world that will be in 5-10 years when the child leaves school. And personally, I just don't see how big institutions accompish that well. But I'm a homeschooler. 

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Are you your children's teacher or are they part of a homeschool group?

[jaxs mom]

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@abbeythe 8th wrote:

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@JAXS Mom wrote:

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Ok I'm back. Personally I think that it always has to be about the real world that children are going to go out into. Not the one it was 40 years ago or whatever when the teacher was in school, or the fantasy world that is on someones agenda but the world that will be in 5-10 years when the child leaves school. And personally, I just don't see how big institutions accompish that well. But I'm a homeschooler. 

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Are you your children's teacher or are they part of a homeschool group?

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My kids are adults now.

[jubilant]

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@biancardi wrote:

omg, of course!!  This isn't the 1800's where we were all pretty much isolated.  Today's world is global and other countries are kicking our behinds in math and science. 

knowning math, science, world history (because it shocks me to see how many people don't even get current events, let alone things that happened 400 years ago), another language, communication skills, computer skills - all are very important skill sets

it makes for a healthy mind, an inquisive mind, a creative mind, one that will invent, and search for solutions and become a problem solver.

I may not remember my geometery that well, but algebra is every day stuff. 

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************   I am not saying it is not important to have keen minds and smart people.  Our country needs this. There are different kinds of "smart".  I have seen young kids struggle and feel so dumb because they absolutely could not get it.  These highschool kids and even some that are college material, even with tuturing, can't retain it.   What about some of these ADD kids?  Smart at everything but math.  Place kids  where they are most apt to excell.  Sure all the knowledge you can attain is most helpful....but I get tired of seeing a kid go to tutoring school and their parents spend thousands of dollars and $4,000 later they still cannot retain it even for a few months. Are we glad they tried to help their kids....yes, of course, but too much emphasis on it and not knowing when to stop can hurt a kid emotionally.

   They will probably not be scientists or brain surgeons....but we need to give them a chance to "be smart at something" .  I know people who have high IQ's. I know people who test very "bright" that cannot do Algebra. . Hopefully one can get at least beginning Algebra or enough to get into college.  If not, there is something else out there for them.   Everyone doesn't get everything. If we did we would be a jack of all trades and master of nothing, imo. 

[biancardi]

the thing is if you do not make it available as part of the HS curriculum, these kids will NEVER know if they are good or bad at it.

Failing a class or feeling stupid because you don't get it is not the end-all and be-all of HS life.  I was put in an advanced class (my father pressured my counseler to do it - I was not ready, knew I wasn't ready).  I got a D- in that course, while getting A's everywhere else.  The next year, I retook the course and got an A.

Kids need to learn that it is okay to FAIL at things.  Or not be smart at everything.  But if they aren't required to take the class, they will never learn that.  In fact, I hated history in HS.  I took the courses, loathed it. Same with  Government courses    A few years later, I learned that I loved history and government - and I had a leg up because I took those boring dull courses (at least to me) in HS, remembered the stuff I learned and expanded on it.

[Mominohio]

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@PamfromCT wrote:

Absolutely. With exceptions for vocational students.  

Students heading for college will find they will be taking many courses they may consider useless in everyday life.  In the community where I live, considered one of the top school systems in CT, this would be a moot question.  I might add that a college education will give you information you need to succeed in life, but also give you lifetime skills of learning how to learn.

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These courses and even higher math are necessary for many vocational students.

The days of vocational education being 'lesser' is long gone. Many vocational education students take as much or more high science and math courses as those in a college prep curriculum. And a very high percentage of vocational students are now headed to college as well, so they have to be prepared on two fronts.

[Deb1010yetagain]

I happen to have two very qualified people visiting me right now and I read them your question @LTT1 and here is what they said...

My niece who is a senior in an AP private high school agreed that algebra and geometry should be taught, but the focus should be on real world applications.

My sister who works in education said algebra and geometry should be taught, but trigonometry and calculus should be replaced with statistics and finance.

I agree with both of them.

[jubilant]

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@biancardi wrote:

the thing is if you do not make it available as part of the HS curriculum, these kids will NEVER know if they are good or bad at it.

Failing a class or feeling stupid because you don't get it is not the end-all and be-all of HS life.  I was put in an advanced class (my father pressured my counseler to do it - I was not ready, knew I wasn't ready).  I got a D- in that course, while getting A's everywhere else.  The next year, I retook the course and got an A.

Kids need to learn that it is okay to FAIL at things.  Or not be smart at everything.  But if they aren't required to take the class, they will never learn that.  In fact, I hated history in HS.  I took the courses, loathed it. Same with  Government courses    A few years later, I learned that I loved history and government - and I had a leg up because I took those boring dull courses (at least to me) in HS, remembered the stuff I learned and expanded on it.

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*********  Actually, I agree with almost everything you said.  I guess I veered from the question.  I do think it should be offered. Back in my day, some kids would be made to take it and learned to hate it.  A year or so later something developed in their brains and they took right to it.  Give the opportunity but test them for what they do best.  Isn't that the way they do it in Japan?  Are they still way ahead of us?  I don't really know as I haven't looked at the statistics.   Whatever we are doing now doesn't seem to be working. 

[JustJazzmom]

In response to @jubilant, part of the problem here in this country is that we still do the school calendar according to the way the farm industry worked-- off during the summer months (so those who lived on the farms could assist with harvesting and planting.) Nowadays, there are more people living in cities than in an agricultural society. Because we have about 3 months off in the summer months, many things are forgotten by the time school resumes again in the fall or late summer. The first month is spent reviewing and refreshing the children again on concepts taught at the end of the previous year's schooling.

Most countries go to school year round regardless of the weather and have various breaks during the year in 3 week increments. Their days are longer as well but time is given to the students to do their homework when at school with those longer hours.

Also in foreign countries, math such as algebra is introduced at an earlier age (say around 12 instead of the HS years). There is a higher expectation in foreign schools and there is opportunity for those who are not overly scholastic to get the opportunity to go to various trades instead of the university track. Testing is done on the children at a certain time in their lives to determine which path they should follow-- university or trade school?

Also certain cultures its ingrained from almost birth, that you are to excel at school and the emphasis is on education and not so much sports (the way we emphasize it here per se).

We haven't found the right answer yet to what is the best mix for students here.