Wow that’s a lot to unpack there! As an educator, I agree- the system is most definitely broken. The way our government is heading, I’m afraid it won’t be heading in the right direction anytime soon. You’re right, a one size fits all curriculum will serve no one but unfortunately it isn’t about the kids. It’s about the bottom line. Destreaming and Universal Design for learning will have kids falling through the cracks at both ends of the performance spectrum. Cutting funding for special education and passion subjects like music and art will lose more students. Some schools are getting rid of tech subjects like shop and culinary in order to appear more academically advanced. They are creating boring sheep and if the kids don’t fit the mould than too bad for them . Don’t even get me started on standardized testing! Rant finished.
Hey Linda, a new system doesn’t need nore money it needs to be remained. Why does every kid need a grade 12 English credit? Why can't a smart kid skip a couple grades if they are capable. Give credit for where tgey are at and what they know not how long they sat in a classroom. The system I imagine would make ut easier for teachers too. We would end up with the best of the best. Imstead of pushing students through lole cattle, some could graduate at 15 or 16 with a lower level diplomas thar would ope trade school up to those groups. Upper level teachers only need to focus on academically minded kids who want to go on to higher education. Schools become safer even .i'll be expanding these ideas but would love feedback.
Unfortunately our education system is one size fits all. Not what best supports each child and how they learn or what interests/motivates them. We have people who have never been in a classroom making decisions for children they don’t even know or understand.
Wow that’s a lot to unpack there! As an educator, I agree- the system is most definitely broken. The way our government is heading, I’m afraid it won’t be heading in the right direction anytime soon. You’re right, a one size fits all curriculum will serve no one but unfortunately it isn’t about the kids. It’s about the bottom line. Destreaming and Universal Design for learning will have kids falling through the cracks at both ends of the performance spectrum. Cutting funding for special education and passion subjects like music and art will lose more students. Some schools are getting rid of tech subjects like shop and culinary in order to appear more academically advanced. They are creating boring sheep and if the kids don’t fit the mould than too bad for them . Don’t even get me started on standardized testing! Rant finished.
Hey Linda, a new system doesn’t need nore money it needs to be remained. Why does every kid need a grade 12 English credit? Why can't a smart kid skip a couple grades if they are capable. Give credit for where tgey are at and what they know not how long they sat in a classroom. The system I imagine would make ut easier for teachers too. We would end up with the best of the best. Imstead of pushing students through lole cattle, some could graduate at 15 or 16 with a lower level diplomas thar would ope trade school up to those groups. Upper level teachers only need to focus on academically minded kids who want to go on to higher education. Schools become safer even .i'll be expanding these ideas but would love feedback.
Trades should be encouraged. My friend has a 28 year old son who chose to become a millwright. He probably makes more money most young professionals.
Yeah, why make them do biology?
Unfortunately our education system is one size fits all. Not what best supports each child and how they learn or what interests/motivates them. We have people who have never been in a classroom making decisions for children they don’t even know or understand.
Linda, for us it's worse..We have Doug Ford.
That’s exactly it — the system optimizes for manageability, not learning.
What I’m trying to work through is how to redesign it so fewer kids fall through the cracks on either end.
More choice earlier actually reduces damage later.
I’ll be expanding these ideas, and I really appreciate you engaging with it from the classroom side.