Want lessons do you think SHOULD be taught in schools ?

[lawstudentmum]

I was talking with my daughter and we were discussing if she felt that lessons are relevant for todays children...have they moved enough with the times?

For example French, German etc have always been taught - but are they still the languages that children should be learning?

RE ?

So I put the question out there - what lessons would you like to see your children learn ?

[scaryteacher]

Definitely RE, not as preaching but teaching. We live in a world in which our kids will have to engage with those who hold different beliefs; it makes sense to give them some degree of religious literacy to enable them to do that.

Languages: French yes, Spanish yes, not so sure about German.

Get rid of Citizenship and teach them something useful like finance.

[EdithWeston]

First aid, car maintenance, and proper cookery and nutrition (not food technology!)

[LemonDifficult]

Latin/Greek/Classical Civilisation

Economics and Finance (Macro/Micro/Personal)

[Freddiecat]

I think Citizenship is important - understanding about the politics and voting.

Finance definitely.

Languages - Arabic and Cantonese or Mandarin.

[LemonDifficult]

Agree re First Aid and Car Maintenance. Also include with CM, other domestic necessity like plug changing, bill paying, hygiene, basic gardening.

[tethersend]

Philosophy- children should come up with questions, not answers.

[moondog]

It would be a start if they could get the basics right first.
You know, the dull stuff like reading and writing and maths.

[Freddiecat]

absolutely moondog

IMO if a child gets to comp and cannot read they should be taken out of ALL lessons until they can.

[tethersend]

Oooh, thanks for that celadon

[Notsurehow]

I agree with many if the suggestions but in answer to LSM and the language "point" I am furious that DDs school still teaches French as compulsory.No sign of Mandarin as promised 4yrs ago when we first looked at the school.Well Mandarin is difficult and may sound poncey but Spanish would surely be a better investment for the future?
When I raised the issue,I was told it was "because the 11+ and common entrance exams require it".
Well they always will if nobody forces some change.
Thankfully,DD won't be going to a private secondary so stuff the 11+ and CE for me.I am not that much of a boffin to quote figures but I wonder what the percentage split worldwide is of French speakers vs Spanish speakers?

[scaryteacher]

Spanish useful in Latin America, the US and obviously some of Europe.

French useful in Africa, and most of Europe. If people can't speak English, they will normally have some French.

[lawstudentmum]

I agree with many of the suggestions - I just feel that the subjects have been the same for so long...is it time to change.

What subjects are really important in the world of business say ? Are careers the same, are children coming out of school with the right tools to make it in todays world - I am not so sure that they are?

My dd seems to learn alot about HER RIGHTS but seems to lack lessons in Responsibility.

[cory]

I think French and German should still be taught. Yes, in terms of global numbers there are more Mandarin speakers in the world but:

a) it is a harder language to learn so far less likely your average student will actually get to a point where they can use it

b) more British firms still do business with Europe, so you are more likely to get a job that requires French

c) at university and particularly at research level, being able to read French or German books is still a massive advantage in many subjects; unless your area is specifically Chinese, you are unlikely to need Mandarin here

Points b and c also apply to Spanish. I did French, German and Spanish at school. I have used French and German professionally in many different contexts: the only time I have ever used Spanish has been on holiday.

[Malcontentinthemiddle]

Finance and budgetting ARE taught in PSHCE.

I'd probably scale back things like Product Design and variants thereof. Other than that, I'm fairly happy with what's on the timetable.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Reading - for pleasure and for information.
Writing - coherently, grammatically and in an interesting manner.
Arithmetic - so you can shop, handle money, manage a budget, run a business without going bust.

The value of hard work, commitment and not giving up.

Personal confidence and a belief that you can tackle anything.

Honestly, if that lot's in place most of the rest will probably follow. And no, I don't think the traditional subjects are remotely out of date.

As for cooking, first aid, car maintenance etc ... I firmly believe those are things that should be taught in the family. And if we're all too busy shopping/watching TV/Facebooking to bother, then we shouldn't try and dump the resposibility on teachers!

[GrimmaTheNome]

Yes to philosophy. RE should be renamed and include education about non-religious world views.

German and French still probably make the most sense as entry-level languages, for the reasons Cory has explained.

No to Latin/Greek in general. Totally useless except for the tiny number who want to become academics in those fields (classic civilization, some archaologists, some language specialists)

Finance. Also practical statistics/ability to analyse risk.

And I'd make them all do cross-country running (or activity with similar sustained aerobic intensity) to get them all reasonably fit.

[wordfactory]

I dn't think that all lessons should necessarily have a practical application or be useful in and of themselves iyswim. Too utiltarian for my liking.

So Latin is very good at getting your brain to work in a certain way. It's a logical puzzle...very different to the romantic languages.
RE should make one think about ethical and philosphical issues if you aren't a believer.

[lapislazuli]

Personally I think it doesn't matter which languages are taught as long as something is taught, it could be any from Turkish to Mandarin to Portuguese - the point is to expose children to language learning - once you have a foundation in any language, it's easier to acquire others. For example I learnt French and German at school, but am now fluent in another language (not French or German so much!) and am sure learning basic grammar rules facilitated that.
Also I agree with you moondog - get English right first and then the rest is easier!

[MuggleMum]

I think it would be great if we as a nation stopped imposing a curriculum on the poor things - any choices we make are arbitary and subjective. Any imposed model will work for some kids and not for others. Kids will learn tonnes of stuff if they are encouraged to follow their own interests. They will learn to read and write when they need to. The school model we have now is so Victorian. It's such a sausage factory. Most parents don't even realise how arbitary curriculum choices are so it's great to see some discussion here. Hurrah!

Having said all that, I'm a linguist and would LOVE my kids to be doing Mandarin - tonal languages are so much easier to learn when young ..... But of course, must not impose my ideas .....:)

[GrimmaTheNome]

If the value of Latin is as a means of teaching logical thinking, why not devise 'logical thinking' course instead? Some overlap with philosophy/critical thinking , some maths etc ..... no, that would be too logical for the educational establishment, wouldn't it?

[GrimmaTheNome]

Muggle - but how would that possibly work in a normal school context? If you can HE, maybe - and then, the choices will probably be even more subjective.

[MuggleMum]

Grimma, unfortunately it wouldn't work in a "normal" school context - we need a bit of a radical rethink as a nation about how effective our education system is. (Not very in my opinion, if you are trying to turn out happy and economically self-sufficient adults.) If you are interested, have a look at some books by A.S.Neill - he was the founder of Summerhill and a radical educationalist. I don't agree with everything he writes, but he pinpoints pretty well why the education system fails so many. And I am absolutely sure that we could achieve more for less if we adopted a new approach.

BTW - I am a teacher, and DDs are in the system so most of the time I just get on with it, like everyone else .....

[LittleDeerandMe]

I agree with Muggle, but don't think it would be possible in a school situation unfortunately.

I think aside from the basics of reading, writing and maths (which should be taught in an integrated and fun way so the kids don' even realise they are being taught) the main things a school should teach are an interest in the world and how to think, rather than how to learn info off by heart.

So I think they should teach philosophy and then otherwise cut down on the number of subject taught and instead take the time to make these subjects fun, so that kids love to learn and are interested in learning about the world.

I also think a language could be taught, but it doesn't matter which one though, as the aim would be just to stimulate language learning.