If you could change the school system, what would you do?

Question

With bullying, abuse and fear based subjects, in the second most important place of where we form our idea of the world, the first being the parents, what would you change? Do you believe in the curriculum as it is? Or do you think the most important life skills are lacking? Given free run of your imagination, going back to your childhood school years--what would you do?

Answer 1

As a teacher I would envcourage creativity and less things leatnt by heart, knowledge and too many facts....We should develope skills and attitudes and prepare the kids for life. In my country the curriculum is very heavy compared to other countries...

Answer 2

I believe so many issues start at home. If you notice anything odd about your child's behavior you should investigate. Having an undiagnosed learning, behavioral or developmental difference can greatly effect a person's school experience.
Spending time and teaching basic social skills are just a few things that some children are not getting from their home lives. The child's environment is a major contributing factor. If a child sees inappropriate behavior from family, t.v. or movies they may think it is okay to act this way at school. I'm not saying censorship, I'm talking about using discretion in the presence of a child or young person. I feel it is unfair to expect the school system to carry all the weight.
I am an advocate of a holistic approach to a child's education. The family needs to communicate with the faculty and vice versa so that any issues can be addressed a.s.a.p.
All should be in the "loop".

Answer 3

People argue that teacher deserve higher salaries. I agree that this will solve the problem. Let's approach this question economically. Higher salaries will increase the demand for the profession. Hence, smarter and more educated people will apply for these positions. These new brighter teachers will replace the 60% (60% is a random guess no proof) of the idiot current teachers that were not intelligent enough to compete in other markets. Instead they decided to teach. However, they're not any good at it because once again they're not smart. Essintally creating a domino effect from the top. Kudos to the other 40% who do deserve higher pay to those teachers I extend my appreciation. (If you're a teacher reading this you'll probably lump yourself into the 40% think before you do though.)

Answer 4

Forget the curriculum...screen the teachers for psychological problems.
There are more problems these days and you hear about it in the news that the become prey to these sexually deviant teachers.
Then they get off because there are blond haired blue eyed beauties.

What ever happened to nun's that step on your hand with there wooden leg when you drop your only pencil(happened to me).

Basics are a given though and curriculum should evolve as our society does.

I hear discipline is a big problem with students who take there freedom of speech to verbally abuse the staff with no threat of repercussion.

Bring back the paddle - was never used on my butt....but is an effective deterrent which was publicly humiliating and therefore seldom used.

Well said Belly -D
I have seen home schooled children who very polite and smart also.

Answer 5

Putting the power back into the teacher's hands to dole out discipline. Kids run wild now since the teachers can't touch them anymore. Then make the teachers teach. I am tired of being told that the teacher's duty is to only lay out the lesson plan and not to teach or help the student learn anymore.
I have had several principals to inform me that a teacher's objective now is to prepare the students for the standardized tests and not teaching the students, and if a child is having problems its not the teacher's concern. They have told me that it is the parent's responsibility to teach the kids the lesson plans they send home.

Answer 6

The first thing I would do is weed out all the outdated teachers and the ones who really don't care . I'd hire and pay well teachers who did a good job.I'd continue to monitor them.I'd want them to teach all children at the highest levels that they could, and not to have levels that are called slow or normal. What does that do to the self-esteem of the children? We also need to have the parents be responsible for their child's learning.

Answer 7

I would have them get back to basics such as reading, writing, and basic math and quit teaching them how to pass standardized tests. I believe there is too much emphasis on these test results and not enough on learning the skills that will carry them through life.

I would also have teachers trained in the growing problems and understanding of children who suffer from ADD/ADHD and physcological problems. It seems that these children are lost in today's school systems.

Answer 8

English only English only corporal punishment, smaller classes, kick out the deadbeats.

Answer 9

Make it more towards mind improvement rather than preparing people for the employers!

Answer 10

to make a nice space and make students relax and bring interesting information in the books and make students feel confident