at grade 9 the student decides....college or techical skills. at that point the courses are designed to suit the needs of the student, college prep, or pursuit and exposure to an industry/field of the students choice.....lets say there are 7 from which to choose. all students are still required to take standard courses, but electives consist of courses that expose them to fields of their choice or to classes that prepare them for college..........
??????
2007-01-27 14:42:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Theoretically it's a good idea..but it wouldn't work in practice because you are talking about a bunch of teenagers and expecting them to stick to a certain course of study that they may well be stuck with for years to come, and everyone knows how fickle teenagers can be..they have a hard time deciding what they will wear in the morning..and now we are talking about asking them to decide on what career they want in 9th grade?
Could you imagine the amount of angry parents there might be lining up at the school when the vast majority don't graduate from 12th grade because they changed their mind about their choice of courses four different times and didn't earn enough credits to graduate?
Kids have enough of a hard time dealing with choosing electives, dealing with homework, and all the extra curricular activities that are available..let's not saddle them with having to make definitive career choices too so early in life. Heck, I know a lot of college students that haven't decided what they want to do with their lives yet...
2007-01-27 16:30:26 · answer #1 · answered by KED 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*I am an educator* The main idea you are talking about---a tracking system---is an EXCELLENT idea. I have been telling people for years that if I could get in there and change the public ed system for the better, this is what I would do. Of course, the specifics of this plan may need to be changed (grade/age level, how many trades to choose from, etc.) My proposal was that students are offered only four choices: college, trade, military, or religious studies (for those that want to do the preaching thing.) Not all students are going to college, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It does not mean they are less intellegent, and I know a lot of people that make far more money without a degree. Also, we are wasting our time forcing students to learn certain concepts that as students like to ask, "when are we going to use this?" They're not. So, let's have them be productive and learn how to fix a car, program computers, etc. I think this will cut down on both high school drop-outs and students who enter the real world and turn to crime.
2007-01-28 16:31:15 · answer #2 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In no way would I ever support this idea. Children are, of course, still children. When it comes to important decisions about career and future happiness, I would leave that to the parents who know what is best for their children. Obviously... some children are more motivated than others. And some children need to be prodded along all the way. That doesn't mean that they should take the easy way out. And technical school is just that. You can say that academic courses are taught in each setting. But, I am an educator, and I know better. Even the very laziest of students need to know math, science, and language. And technical schools are inadequate at teaching these skills under the guise of teaching a trade. Hogwash. If I had not been pushed into a college prep track, I would never have been as successful as I am. I make more money than any other sibling in my family of working class people. And only because I have a college education. Furthermore, my own children will be provided, at least, the opportunity to attend a college of their choice even if I do have to pay for their car payment, insurance, and cell phone bill. I know that some day they will be happy doing what they do, and it will all be worth it.
2007-01-28 00:17:15 · answer #3 · answered by Tonny D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense, but 15 year olds don't generally know what they want to do for lunch that day, let alone for the rest of their lives. Students in high school already feel pressured to figure it all out. However, most high schools in the US are already like what you're describing. Students have core classes they all must take, but they may choose various subjects for their electives. Plus you've got that whole real world thing going on already where you either go to college or get a job. So I guess the entire country supports your basic idea, but it's nothing new. Cheers!
2007-01-27 22:59:15 · answer #4 · answered by elizabeth_ashley44 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in Japan they do something like that. However, the students don't decide. They are tested and according to the test results take either college prep courses or vocational ones.
2007-01-27 22:48:18 · answer #5 · answered by thrill88 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The more high school and college drop outs = the less competition in the real world for those who achieve.
-and-
When children misbehave -- instructors should be permitted to use a cattle prod on them.
2007-01-27 22:51:44 · answer #6 · answered by YOU SUCK DONKEY BALLS 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋