What should American public education teach?

1. 61

   annebcampbellposted 11 years ago

   What should American public education teach?

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2. 67

   carolina muscleposted 11 years ago

   In addition to the arts and sciences, one thing I believe that is sorely missing is the study of Ethics.

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      tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ain't that the truth! And how about some studies in critical reasoning and discernment. Teach the kids to question what they are told and think for themselves instead of absorbng propaganda like a sponge. And what's with taking phys ed out of school?

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3. 65

   collegedadposted 11 years ago

   Personal finances! We need to teach our children how to handle money so that they can avoid the financial traps that most Americans have fallen into.

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      AlexK2009posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This would be useful, and comes under the heading I put down as "politically subversive" in my answer.

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      DreamerMegposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree. They need to understand how to avoid high pressure salesmanship trying to get them to buy stuff they don't need at prices they can't afford

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4. 59

   starchetposted 11 years ago

   Instead of calling parents meeting or private discussions, the schools should make the parents study together with their kids in a classroom for a day every month. This can bring the family together and understand the importance of academics

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   1. 83

      AlexK2009posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      And the parents can afford to lose that much income?? I am sure employers would not be happy if they were forced to pay for it. I can hear the yells of "Communism" already.

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      LauraGTposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Nice idea!  @AlexK2009: It's sad that American companies are so unwilling to support policies/programs that strengthen families and education.  Our social policies lag so far behind other nations, and we are suffering for it!

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5. 83

   AlexK2009posted 11 years ago

   Same as everywhere.
   
   Basics: Read, write, count.
   Intermediate: Understanding, critical thinking, literacy
   Politically subversive: Critical thinking (The religious right hate this), communication
   Advanced ( i.e they can survive without it): A Science, History, Art, Music
   
   The aim should be to  turn out well rounded people who can intelligently criticise the system and make informed decisions.

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   1. 85

      LauraGTposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So sad that "critical thinking" is considered subversive!  I disagree about your "advanced" section - I think those should absolutely be required, in addition to citizenship.  For the younger kids, teaching social and emotional health as well.

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   2. 83

      AlexK2009posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Laura, I forgot to add sex education. It has been normal in the UK for decades and seems to have benefited individuals and society.  At the very least it means fewer teenagers can make the excuse of ignorance.

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   Sophia Angeliqueposted 11 years ago

   No reason kids can't be self sustaining by the time they're 18.
   
   Two or three languages taught through language labs from day one at school.
   Excellent Writing and Reading skills and how to source accurate information.
   Critical thinking, or how to deduce conclusions from facts, and how to determine what facts are.
   Arithmetic and math
   How to cook a healthy meal and how many calories it should be for one's weight and height.
   Basic first aid and medical skills
   How to grow basic food and how to make water clean
   Elementary science for the first five years and then more sophisticated science.
   Citizenship.
   World geography, including climate, and redimentary geology (which is part of the science curriculum).
   Two or three trades each.
   
   And it's all possible if the bs were removed from the system.

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7. 86

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 11 years ago

   What a question!  As a retired educator, I could write pages on this one, but here's my short list"
   
   Language and Math literacy
   Basic survival skills
   Art and Music appreciation
   Self discipline
   Self respect
   Love for your fellow man
   Responsibility

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8. 63

   CrescentSkiesposted 11 years ago

   What should it teach? Anything but what it's teaching now! I swear to god if you listen to an American History class you'd think the founding fathers were gods. America's Founding Fathers were FAR from gods.
   
   They need to give these kids a dose of reality in both History and the rest of the subjects. They should be preparing them for college not for some pointless state-wide assessment that nobody cares about past high school.
   
   Oh and condom education should be mandatory seeing as every state with Abstinence-Only education somehow magically has a much higher teen pregnancy rate and teen std rate.

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   pflorence2013posted 11 years ago

   American public education should teach language arts, math, science, and social skills.  A child can have the skills to communicate to his or her parents about what they need to concentrate on when attending school.  This, of course, is the basics along with all the other things teachers prepare to teach their students.

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