As a current university student (who has finished my public schooling), I have plenty to say on the topic of the school system. For this post, I'm going to focus on elementary through to high school just for practicality, but I think that many of these ideas could apply to university as well.
These are the rules I would make:
1. No homework. Now, I know what you're going to say. Homework is necessary for learning and blah blah blah. However, I would argue that making school a little bit longer (for even an hour) and allowing students time to complete their work would do the trick. The issue I have with homework is, first of all, that a lot of it is pointless (I could point to countless "fun" projects that took hours and hours of my time when an essay would have demonstrated my learning to an equal extent). Personally, I would rather just stick to what is absolutely necessary. Not everyone learns in the same ways, and I think providing homework options to allow for different learning types would be helpful. Anyway, here is another issue I have with homework: it is hugely time-consuming to the point where it takes over your life. I pulled more almost all-nighters in high school than I have in university so far simply because of the sheer workload I had. Work can be okay, but I believe that it's incredibly important for people - particularly at a young age - to have time to figure out what they enjoy doing. Kids and teenagers need time to just live and figure out who they are. Personally, I would like to imagine that I was something more than just a student up at four in the morning frantically typing at a desk. People need time to explore their hobbies and their passions. I personally see that as something that is far more valuable than doing extra math questions. I would love to place a limit on homework hours if I couldn't get rid of it entirely! Teachers so often underestimate the amount of time doing something will take.
2. Teachers must accommodate different learning styles. I find it so tragic that people are continually labelled as not-as-intelligent just because the way their brains work in ways that are not compatible with the school evaluation system. I understand that this may be difficult, but it's a dream of mine to find a system that is more acceptant of multiple ways of thinking and learning.
3. Teachers must treat students with respect to expect respect in return. I have been in so many situations in which teachers treat their students with blatant rudeness and disrespect. Personally, I feel like respect is a two-way street. It makes me angry to think that just because teachers are in a position of "power", they believe that they have a right to treat students badly. Of course, it's important for students to respect their teachers as well and demonstrate that through their actions. I think that's much easier, though, when a teacher treats his or her students as equals. This is in no way meant to attack teachers. I have massive respect for teachers and what they do. However, not every teacher is good at his or her job. This rant is directed at the bad teachers I've had, with no disrespect meant to the many fabulous teachers I've been lucky enough to meet.
4. Place more of a value on creativity. How many times have I written something because I know that it's what I'm supposed to write (or something that will please my teacher) rather than something I am truly passionate about? I am extremely grateful - in spite of everything - for IB. My IB classes were the only classes that actually gave me some freedom to explore my actual opinions. However, even so, there are some limits. I just find it so sad that schoolwork has to be so formulaic! I don't want to just follow a certain writing pattern or study pattern because I'm told to do so. I want to do what I think will get my point across most effectively.
5. Teachers must be regularly evaluated, allowing jobs to be based on skill rather than seniority. I am honestly shocked beyond belief that some of my old teachers manage to keep their jobs. As I've said, many have been amazing, but there have been some horrendous ones. I could write stories about them all day, but, for example, I've had teachers who regularly insulted the classes, insulted their colleagues, were totally ineffective at teaching the material, or else who just did things that no teacher with a brain would do (some real examples: hitting children who are late with a rubber chicken, calling students horrible names including swears, making racist comments and/or allowing blatant racism and bullying in class, or drinking cough syrup from a jug behind his/her desk). I could go on, but these are a few that stand out. I am shocked that so many amazing teachers are let go due to "seniority". Why is it that teachers are hired based on age rather than skill? Regardless, I think it's important for teachers to be regularly monitored (perhaps secretly once a year - could we make this legal?!).
This turned out to be a little bit long, but this is a subject that can make my blood boil. I think that our school system is overall very good, and I am so thankful for the education that I received. Nevertheless, there are some inherent issues that I would fix in an ideal world. If only it were that easy!
-Laura
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