“But,,,,shouldn’t we look at the system and recognize that it is abnormal to institutionalize children the way we do in prison-like settings?
Yes, but I can’t at the moment think of how else we’d do it. Do you have any practical suggestions about changing the public school system?”
When I was visiting Denmark in 1973, a Danish man told me that at the age of 12, the kids were tested and then put into either an academic track or a vocational track. Some people in the US would strongly dislike such a system because it doesn’t seem to promote equality, but I have taught kids who have absolutely no interest in academics. School really does become like a prison for them. Schools in the US ignore the 50% or so of kids who will either not go to college or else drop out of college. Secondary education focuses on college prep. courses and ignores the huge number of kids who will later take very necessary jobs like garbage collector or cashier.
I think that vocational training (in auto mechanics, construction work, being a beautitian, etc.) could reduce the drop out rate and maybe even discourage young people from joining gangs because they get to do something productive with themselves. It’s also a lot better than our current system of having many young people flounder for a direction when they are young.
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1) What about apprenticeship programs similar to those in the Amish community? Having mature adults as role models would help in discouraging young people from joining gangs.
2) I also think young people should be given the opportunity to have vocational training.
3) One of the problems in our state, is their right to a government education expires at age 20. A third option would be to let the kid drop out! Let him work in Mc Donalds. When he gets sick of this. Allow him to use his remaining school years in an adult education or training program, if he has 3 years remaining at age 35, let him use those unused years.
I agree with your post, but it is unlikely to change.
susie
Rush's description of his school years. Almost verbatium
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On the surface it sounds good..but I’m suspicious of the Euro system which is so class oriented.
I dislike tracking people especially at such a young age...after all Einstein and Tesla were “poor” students -— their brilliance not shining until they were older.
no—I do think however that all students should be involved in technical/occupations pursuits as well academics.
Get rid of the basket weaving and multicultural claptrap and get those woodworking/horticulture courses in there.