Education

Hence the illiterate, largely unemployable people coming out of our high schools. "It's not that bad!", I hear you cry. Yes, in fact, it is. I have hired many of the local people to work for me at my computer company. I have found a few gems, but in the general case, they can't write, they can't spell, they can't do math worth beans, and the certainly have no critical reasoning skills worth mentioning. They are, on the other hand: prejudiced, small minded, generally religious or quasi-religious, and ignorant of science and technology to a large extent. I blame this entirely upon the school system, from which comes this short exposition.

Here's what I'd like to see:

• Teachers paid very highly, based on performance, meaning student performance. No "tenure".
• Short school days, probably 9 to noon, max. Work them very hard, then let them play.
• No "homework".
• The following detailed curricula:
  • Thinking and reasoning; criticism and logic; concentration; mental skills.
  • Reading, writing, spelling, composition, research and library skills
  • History
  • Mathematics - from the basics through algebra and trigonometry at a minimum.
  • Science - how it works, its history, and experimental procedures
  • Government (ours) - how it works, the role of the individual
  • Life skills - computers, bills, banking, insurance, budgets, loans, law, etc.

Here's what I think should be tossed out:

• Sports (you want sports, join a sponsored team)
• Home Economics & Shop
• "Clubs"
• ...and everything else!

If children are behavioral problems, they're out of class. Period.

Students would be thoroughly tested in an "un-cheatable" venue once a year, on everything they have been taught thus far, including past years. If they can't pass, they can't promote. A diploma is not issued until all grades are passed. A passing grade should be 95% or better. They can quit any time.

Having done this, special interests such as music, mechanics, woodworking, biology, chemistry, electronics and so on would then be addressed by specialized schools or as part of a voluntary curriculum choice by the student at college. Not everyone would go on to college, of course, and those people would be far more qualified to be useful members of society by the specific curriculum I have outlined here than they are by the current mix of things they get in the stultifying day-long grind that our public schools thrust upon them today, capped off with the cliquish and stratifying effect school sports.

Do I think this, or something like it, will come to pass? No. Not a chance. Nor will any other approach that will bring our children near their potentials. And we'll remain near the top ranking of nations in school hours per person, and near the bottom ranking of nations in knowledge test results, as we have been for years. But hey... we sure do have great football and basketball teams!