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Let's shake the curriculum up a little!
From the Sept 4 Delta Optimist...
I have a bunch of very cool people at my house as I write this on a beautiful Wednesday evening.
I just finished getting them all set up at the card table after serving one of the last sunny BBQ dinners of the summer holidays.
I’ve gone back and forth on wether I am happy or sad for back to school over the years. Tonight I am sad.
The gang around the table are 14 and 15 year olds and they have legitimate beefs as to why going back to school is becoming boring.
It was easy when kids went back to school as 4, 5 and 6 year olds because things were simple and simply explained. Back then your kids would drink it in without wanting or needing more. I miss those days to be honest with you.
Now, when those same kids have been social networking and meandering through the artist paradise of the Internet for several years, coming back to a curriculum that is usually same old... as in same old for years...things are not that exciting anymore. For the most part I am not hearing anything suggesting that going back to school is going to great and lot’s of fun this year.
I’m not sure that the actual curriculum is to blame. It could be that the way in which is conveyed might need an upgrade.
Perhaps it is time to integrate the strengths and knowledge of those that may have a better understanding of how to learn in to the system.
Would it be so wrong to ask our kids to develop their own curriculum and methods for teaching it for a certain part of the school year?
I don’t mean to offend the Delta School district or the Provincial Ministry of education, but seriously...... I do not see any major shift or attempt to play catch up. For the most part I see the curriculum as modestly evolved over thirty years as opposed to the major change that it probably needs.
Let’s give our kids some credit and get them involved in the process because they are learning faster than anybody else right now.
Let’s shake it up and dump this thing on its ear because if you are like me you will know that these guys deserve to have some input.
Let’s take a really simple example - food. Would it not make sense to talk about where it comes from, and how it relates to several pressing issues of the day? Maybe an add on to home economics or sciences?
Instead of just making the recipe why not grow the stuff that goes in to it?
Technology and the Internet is clearly in need of attention in our curriculum. The kids are already avid users of the technology so why not teach them, from an early age, to develop ideas that would thrive in the online world.
Instead of “social networking” in between classes and at lunch why don’t we teach the kids how to use it in real world business and arts applications in class time?
The problem is that we don’t have enough teachers who could possibly teach our kids these types of courses and that is why the current trend will likely continue for quite some time and that is a shame.
- Mike's blog
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I am in complete agreement that our kids need a firm background in the basics. That need has always been there and needs to be at the forefront today as kids battle a myriad of distractions.
What I am saying is that the delivery needs some innovation to pique the interest of the kids. If the kids see that teacher Mrs. Smith can publish a socials project on you tube they will perhaps become more engaged.
My last comment was meant to suggest that delivery of curriculum that reflects the reality of today does not appear to have much of a presence in our current system.
The work place of tomorrow will not just be for doctors lawyers and tradespeople. Information technology and e-commerce will account for a greater % of our economy and to keep competitive, we will be required to educate, at least to some degree, differently than we are now and make best efforts to prepare our kids at an earlier age for opportunities that we may not see as legitimate now.
I have the utmost of respect for teachers and hope that they, our school districts and our provincial government are up to the challenge of the present and the future.
Perhaps a new generation of teachers in our Universities are conveying new methods of teaching to prospective teachers in their classrooms today?
I think you're missed it on this one. It's only old folks like you and me that need classes in technology. The kids already know that stuff, and what they don't know, they'll figure out on their own. Most of today's professions still require a solid and diversified grounding in the core subjects, sciences, math, and English. Our favourite projects (SFPR, Terminal 2, and even Southlands) couldn't proceed without knowledgeable people trained in these areas. I'm glad my doctors have a solid training in biology and chemistry so they can figure out how my body works - I can't. And yes, they even know how to use technology to stay current in matters.
Once students have their solid grounding, they will have ample opportunity to pursue further training and education in whatever fields they choose. Some of those options already exist within our high schools.
Your last comment paints all of our teachers with a broad brush and blames them for your perceived problem. That's an unfortunate accusation as we have many teachers who act as instructors, mentors, and examples for our students.
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