http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-future-project_us_56f008cae4b03a640a6b0909?ir=Education§ion=us_education&utm_hp_ref=education
This is a video of a group of high school students in New York City talking about what their ideal high school experience would look like. They first talk about the issues they are currently experiencing in high school and what they dislike about it. One girl says, "All we are doing is learning for tests and not learning for life." She also states, "My experience is school is setting me up for failure." They mention issues such as not feeling safe, unable to express their opinions, unable to share their dreams, stress, and losing interest each day. One boy says, "They bring up all these people to create the curriculum, but not ask us what we want to learn."
I really enjoyed this video and thought the youth have creative and inspiring ideas. They think outside of the box. They want their education to be more than just reading a textbook and sitting in a classroom each day. They want options, collaboration with peers, and an environment that gets them excited to learn. Their opinions need to be heard not only because they have amazing ideas, but these youth are the ones actually experiencing the education system each day. Who better to help implement ideas than the people who are attending our schools? We want our youth to be excited to attend school and expand their knowledge rather than dreading school and feeling they are not given the tools to succeed in life. As social workers we are aware of the issues occurring within the education system, but to hear the perspectives from youth on these issues is very powerful.
I also really enjoyed the video and was inspired by the youth speaking on this topic. Sadly, this is how too many structures in our society function: the people making the rules/curriculum are not the ones having to follow their own guidelines, and are not opening themselves up to collaboration with those that are.
ReplyDeleteThink about how many college students switch their major multiple times. That is a waste of time, money, and potential of young minds. If open exploration was encouraged in high school, who knows what could be accomplished once they graduate?
I was literally having a conversation with a teacher in my placement yesterday about all of the tests students have to take. The students have quarterly assessments and all of these other assessments from not just the school, but the state as well. A lot of these tests are back to back. We're not teaching students anymore, we're teaching them to take tests and to whatever is going to be on that tests. Are these students even learning? There's so much pressure to pass from the teachers, which stresses the students out. And this is something that starts as early as elementary school. How can we expect students to be successful adults if all they're doing
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