If I Could Change the Educational System

Article Written By: Francis David

While public school policies have achieved much good by making education available to millions of people, it is no longer advancing fast enough to keep up with the needs of today s world. Ensnared by its own dogma, it has become archaic.

Too often in education, a teacher or even an entire school is forced to follow a lesson plan that is illogically geared to age groups, completely disregarding the fact that children learn at different rates. For example, while one child may be ready to learn how to read at age five, another may not be ready until the age of eight. To brand a child stupid” or a failure” simply because he or she isn t ready to learn a subject when the lesson plan commands, is pure foolishness.

A teacher s job, first and primary, is to educate – not fail – the child. But in our current educational system, each teacher s power is derived from the student s fear of failure. If a child fails, it s the system that fails, not just the child. Teachers should be coaches and leaders of young people, opening new doors to them, doors that will eventually lead them down the road to a successful life. They should not be the ones who shut doors in students faces.

A generalized principle is one that is true in all cases. Knowing some of the comprehensive principles would give the child an educational foundation that would continue to serve him or her regardless of what specific area she or he might choose to study in the future.

Only a few children are gifted scholastically. Not everyone is smart enough to become a brain surgeon or a scientist at NASA. But everyone is smart enough to be economically secure and comfortable. If children knew that they had the native intellect to be rich and happy, they could feel optimistic about their futures.

Allow students to leave school at the age of 15 if they so desire, without the shame of failure. They would then be free to explore the world with the understanding that they could come back when they were ready and willing.

Use games, rather than lectures to teach. All teachers should learn to teach via physical activities. Games are not only a fun way to educate they are also healthier. Most kids need some mass” to learn with. Our current system is 85% mental. It s like teaching basketball without the ball.

During a child s education, allow them to choose the subject that interests them the most – subjects that are of sincere interest to them. If a child is interested in animals, his whole curriculum could involve history, chemistry, math, business, art, etc., with animals as the study base. They would then read and study harder because they would be learning about something they first found interesting.

Why force kids to go to school? Wouldn t it be better to change the system so they would want to go?

These are some of the points of change that I would put in the school system if I had the authority to do so. These changes would definitely be a shock to the system that needs to be shocked. But once the upset was accepted, and then the long-term therapy of the system could begin.

Academic instruction isn t the only responsibility teachers have in today s classrooms. More and more, teachers are being called on to teach students about values ... things like making good decisions, the showing of respect, taking responsibility, choosing friends, and having a positive attitude. It s a responsibility that could be overwhelming, considering the limited hours available in a school day, the number of kids in the classroom, and the diversity of backgrounds and personalities each child represents.

About the Author

Francis helps parents, administrators and teachers learn about Character Education and how the Just Do The Right Thing Program can help kids of all levels find success both in and outside the Classroom.

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