How would you feel if your child went to a school like this?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I've been thinking about how much better my district could be, reading up on how other countries educate their children, and picturing what the system would look like if I had chosen America's education system (there really should be a standardized system, IMO). This is what I came up with:</p>

<p>By completion of secondary school education, students would have:
* a basic ("literate") knowledge of a broad range of essential subjects (English, writing, speaking, literature, mathematics, history, social studies, science, and technology)
* a greater depth of knowledge in a particular field
* fluency in at least one foreign language
* a future career plan</p>

<p>Lessons will be structured so that students are always aware of the practical applications of the topic, and receive hands-on experience wherever possible. For many classes, the homework/schoolwork would be reversed from how it currently goes - most of the initial learning would take place at home as homework, with the practice and application or discussion taking place in the classroom. In theory, this will make lessons shorter and more effective.</p>

<p>"Explorations" are courses or series of courses providing an introduction to an area of study and teaching the very basics of the topic.
"Interests" are more in-depth courses or series of courses that are chosen by the student. These series build on Explorations, increasing breadth of knowledge within a particular subject area.
"Focuses" are series of courses within a particular field of study, chosen by the student. These series build on Interests, increasing breadth and depth of knowledge within a particular field.</p>

<p>During Primary School, students will complete a standardized series of explorations covering various areas of all the basic literacies. During the first half of students' primary education, they will take a trimester-long introductory course in each of the nine offered foreign language classes, as well as an introduction to two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, and music. At the beginning of the second half of their primary education, students will choose a foreign language to study, as well as an art form. Students can change their selections anytime through their final year of Intermediate School. Beginning in Year 4 (age ~8), students will be split into different levels by placement tests and teacher recommendations.</p>

<p>During Intermediate School, students continue with their literacy curriculum, their foreign language, and their art form. Students will also begin to choose interests. Interests offered include topics in mathematics, history, literature, science, technology, and the social sciences. Students can also take up an additional foreign language (including additional options outside the nine from primary school) or art form in lieu of an interest. At the start of Intermediate School, English is dropped from the core and replaced with literature. </p>

<p>At the beginning of Secondary School, students choose a field (chemistry, biology, math, physics, technology, art, history and social studies, social sciences)to focus on. During the second year of Secondary School, students may change their focus or add a second. They also continue with their literacy curriculum (except the courses in their chosen focus). Students continue to take interest courses, and their foreign language studies. Secondary School students may drop their art, or take up an addititional form. They may also begin a second or third foreign language. The last two years of secondary school are optional, and feature a reduced core. Tech schools are offered for the last two years.</p>

<p>To accommodate a large depth and breadth of courses, and reduce scheduleing conflicts, many courses will be offered online. To keep with the application-based philosophy, online courses will mostly be literature or history, which are taught primarily through discussion. Courses taught in foreign languages will also be available over the computer for intermediate and secondary school students. Secondary school students are required to take a certain number of immersion classes in place of their usual foreign language classes.</p>

<p>How would you feel if your son or daughter went to a school like this?</p>

2

<p>When I was in middle/secondary school, no way was I ready to choose an emphasis or focus. I think the school offers some interesting possibilities but would be concerned about getting to focused too soon and would want to have more breadth and depth in all subjects. I would also want my kiddo to attend WITH other students rather than having a lot of on-line coursework. Many kids REALLY benefit from the socialization from classes & would have a tough time if on-line was the primary or only option. That is why we & D declined a school that had nearly all its courses on-line. She really much prefers the in-person face-to-face interaction. My niece has also found her on-line courses at her U to not meet her social needs.</p>

3

<p>I’m sure most won’t agree with me on this but I don’t think a foreign language (assuming English isn’t the foreign language) should be required at all and that time could be better spent learning more practical subjects including in the areas of economics, business, technology, investments, etc. Most people won’t use their foreign language at all afterwards and those that do use it a couple of times will lose most of it shortly thereafter. It’s a good elective but should be just that - an elective.</p>

4

<p>I agree with ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad about foreign languages, with one caveat. If we could somehow teach foreign languages in this country so that the student would actually become fluent in the language, then we should do it.</p>

<p>But as it is now, very few students achieve that level of proficiency – not even those who get 5s on the AP exam. One of my kids got a 5 on an AP foreign language exam and cannot speak or understand the spoken language well enough to engage in conversation with a native speaker. So what was the point of studying the language for 5 years?</p>

<p>As for choosing an area of specialization at the beginning of secondary school, I think that’s a bad idea for most kids. One of the strengths of the U.S. educational system, in my opinion, is that it does not require early specialization. I would like to keep it that way.</p>

<p>I also don’t think that more schoolwork should take place at home. In fact, I think that LESS should take place at home. If schoolwork is done at home, a burden is placed on the family – to make sure it gets done; to supervise students, especially the youngest ones; to help kids when they get stuck or don’t understand the assignment; and to provide school supplies, an Internet connection, and a quiet place to work. For a variety of reasons, some families are less able to bear this burden than others. Thus, placing more emphasis on home study perpetuates inequities that already pose serious problems for the U.S. educational system.</p>

5

<p>fluency in a second language is an all-around positive.</p>

6

<p>Fluency in a foreign language was the only thing I liked about your school!</p>

<p>Not a fan of online learning or specializing too young.</p>

7

<p>Early specialization has been tried in the past (Russia, China) as has high-stakes testing at about age 10 in many countries. Results have been mixed. </p>

<p>In my own family, S discovered his passion at age 16 (and it’s not typically offered in elementary or secondary schools in any case), D2 still double majoring in college but leaning towards one field, D3 did a complete switch at 17 (although we all suspected that was her field all along) … in this proposed system, none of them would thrive.</p>

8

<p>Not a fan of specializing too young, but am a convert to online learning, which really appeals to some students (we found funding for 25 spots on an online high school program for our school, greatly expanding offerings and also providing for kids with different learning styles).</p>

9

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<p>Sounds like what a bachelor’s degree is currently supposed to indicate (whether it actually does in all or most cases is another matter entirely).</p>

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<p>Maybe it’s because we wait until secondary school to start? I mean, how well do you think you would speak English if you started it in your late teens, stopped after five years, and never ever spoke it again? If your goal is foreign language fluency, I’ve always heard that it’s best to start much younger than we usually do, probably in preschool/elementary school where it’s supposed to be much easier to master another language. I’m not talking about AP exams or anything like that, but conversational fluency.</p>

<p>Immersion is also a good idea, but I’m not sure how practical it is, especially if you’re still doing the, “most of the work is done at home, to streamline the classroom time”. Again, I question how anyone can become “immersed” language if they only use it for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.</p>

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<p>The best education starts with an engaged, involved, enthusiastic parent who is willing to oversee, interact and guide the educational process. Even better if the parent is able to shift educational gears to match the needs, interests and learning styles of the child.</p>

<p>We have done a mix of homeschooling, public schools and private schools for our children - mixing and matching experiences as we went along. Our son did his middle school years as a homeschooler and spent it doing a classical curriculum with most of his spare time spent learning computer programming at his own pace. Best decision ever–and only made possible because of flexible parents with the ability (financial, time, willingness) to make homeschooling available during those particular years. All kids off at college now, doing great.</p>

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<p>I don’t think the OP was proposing that for all students, but it certainly looks appealing as an option for some students.</p>

<p>To me, it makes sense that most young Americans should be trying for high level fluency in Spanish, with lessons starting early in primary school. A third language could be introduced at a later point (Chinese or whatever).</p>

13

<p>My friend had her S enrolled in a Hawaiian language immersion pre-school. She & her S learned Hawaiian, so she could speak it with him. He was pretty good at it and would easily switch from English to Hawaiian, depending on whom he was talking to. The parents were very good at languages and also spoke French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and perhaps a few others. He dropped the language when he switched schools to mainstream public school, where he was behind in all subjects. He’s now in college & doing OK but I don’t know if he retained any language other than English.</p>

<p>My S has always been pretty good at independent learning & OK with learning on computers. D on the other hand just doesn’t enjoy formal learning on the computer and never has, tho she DID teach herself German on the internet because she wanted to be able to read the blogs about her favorite European singer. She was able to take 2 6-week summer courses of German & then 3rd semester German at her U to get out of the 3 semester language requirement.</p>

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<p>Few would disagree with this, I think.</p>

<p>But just because the best education starts this way, it doesn’t mean that the best school or school system starts this way. Schools also should provide a good education for students whose parents do not have the time, skills, or temperament to become involved in their children’s education to this extent.</p>

15

<p>I would like to see more:
US History focusing on patriotism<br>
Etiquette
Foreign language from primary</p>

<p>I think online learning would encourage cheating & kids taking shortcuts.</p>

<p>Love “Engaged Learning” philosophy mentioned above. Smart boards that are well used do that. Teacher gave a demonstration to parents & I think he said at 24 mins into class time kids start to fade- that’s when he does 4-6 mins w/ related video clips on smartboard. Very expensive for schools.</p>

16

<p>I’d feel terrible. I homeschooled mine, and wouldn’t do differently. (One of my kids speaks/reads three languages, the other two - besides English.)</p>

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<p>student here,
Learning by yourself sounds liek a bad idea. Maybe a quick read-through to get the gist, but nothing in depth. And ewww who wants to do homework?
9 foreign languages? how bout no. Offer Chinese or spanish.
Selecting and art form as a 7 year old? Wow. That’s way too early. They cannot even grasp the concept of feelings behind pieces etc until theyre in high school. And I know my preference of media used in art changed like 2 times so far in high school.
I dont get the difference between english and literature. Most schools, even the AP exams, preface courses with “English” then “literature” or “Language and composition”
Online courses sound horrible. I firmly believe that a classroom is basically necessary for a “good” education in the subject.</p>

<p>Overall, decent idea. It’s not that different from a lot of schools except that you start takign languages in elementary school and then later on focus on one field. Its basically forcing kids to focues towards their career in high school like the overachieving kids do(meticulously planning each and every course because heaven forbid they take anatomy instead of biology 1 year).
Big problem would be if the kids interest changes. Then what? Theyre forced to gai nan education for a field they will hate/not enter? Or be behind?</p>

<p>also, I like livesinnewjersey’s wish that history focuses more on patriotism. Too many history books are written that pose the US as a state of horrible monsters that rape and pillage every country on earth. I don’t think I have ever had a book that wasn’t at least slightly unnationalistic.</p>

<p>also, also, I agree with ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad or at least Marian. Honestly, (at least here)barely any students retain the language. Some might be able to use it to scrape by on vacation in Paris or whatever, 2% of the kids might use Spanish in their business, althought 1.99% of them already knew how to speak spanish. Teaching them other stuff would be more practical, because even if they are semi-fluent, then how will it help for many of them? Not much better to be only fluent enough for an informal conversation. Then you can’t conduct a business meeting or anything anyways meanwhile the person that took economics or something those 6 years would know something.</p>

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<p>Theoretically, it should be possible to teach English reading and writing skills around any subject matter. In practice, most English reading and writing skills instruction is combined with literature, although some universities offer courses that do so around other subject matter (e.g. history, technical subjects).</p>

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<p>But whose idea of patriotism? Remember that the original patriots were those who questioned authority and started a rebellion…</p>

20

<p>Love the foreign language requirement. Would love to see kids start foreign language before highschool or middle school for the luckier few.</p>

<p>Etiquette? What does that mean? </p>

<p>US History that is patriotic? What does that mean? Ignore slavery and sloppy unnecessary wars while extolling the virtues of the white Christian male and promoting xenophobia? Maybe we can teach girls to lower their collective voice and focus on proper table settings.</p>