Standardized Education

[ghostorchid]

yeah see even when you THINK you're making the right choice you still might just be choosing a bridging technology
For instance Ford just designed a car that can essentially be dissolved after 5 years of use (at which point you have to give it back to the company) and the leftover parts can be reused or recycled...which sounds great but you have to go further and ask yourself, should a new car even be bought/designed at all?
Even if it's better for the environment you still have issues such as urban sprawl do deal with...

[Raos]

I think the current base curriculum for social studies, atleast in Alberta, which is the only curriculum I've seen, is fairly wide ranging and covers most of the critical points. The only real problem I had was that it wasn't immediately relevant to students. Most of the focus on current issues, the modern democratic process, and analytical thinking were taught in the present for use in the future when you go out in the world. I effectively didn't give a crap about social studies until after I graduated high school. When I started becoming more politically aware was after I turned 18 and was able to vote in the federal election. High school was very demoralizing in that aspect. I remember in grade 11, we had a forum for mayoral candidates and some ward candidates during class time int he school. A few of the mayorial candidates that had confirmed their availability and attendance, and then simply failed to show up. At all. Without the focus of the curriculum being relevent to the life of the student at that time, even many of the well meaning students will be overcome by procastination in the face of everything else going on in their lives that actually does have immediate ramifications in their lives.

[Cleisthenis]

Raos, that's an excellent example of why this new subject needs to be designed to cultivate that political imagination. If our education system isn't getting our youth excited about politics and activism and everything else then obviously the curriculum is failing society.

[Raos]

I think you may be setting your sights a little high on that count. I think getting youth excited about anything is difficult enough. Trying to keep them excited while learning about history, which I think is necessary in understanding modern politics and activism, would be a near impossible task in my mind. Some teachers can be very motivational, but they can only do so much. It's going to take relevance to the student's lives for them to choose to motivate themselves.

[Cleisthenis]

You're right, I think that's what's important here. Separating out the history lessons from current socio-political events that do affect students. Activism and media literacy are in fact topics that I think would get kids excited.

[DRGK]

Hi guys,

Just want to fire off a quick post while I have time. I apologize for my lack of activity; I've been in Thailand for the last semester and find it difficult to get a good enough connection to do everything I want all the time.

I agree with both of the last two posts; getting kids motivated, especially about politics, is near impossible, but could be facilitated by creating a new relevance to their lives. My concern would be how we address the issues without being too 'preachy'. I think we have to remember that not everyone shares our views. Many believe that the land is to be conquered, that the oil won't run out, and even if it does, we'll be ok. The fact is, even though we have the facts, there is a socio-political value set embedded in each issue which we could not ignore.

This can be used to our advantage. As stated, by making it more relevant to their current lives, with a mind to the future, we could kill two birds with one stone. Positively influence the way kids see the world through relevant facts, then analyze the issues and why people believe they way they do. I think that an understanding and tolerance of others points of view would be important to impart as well.

Again, I agree with everything here and think that with the right people and a little bit of work, we could get this thing going. I'll try and post more consistently!

DRGK

[Cleisthenis]

Thanks for the post D! I was kinda wondering where you flew off to.

I love the perspective you outlined there. Let's continue to develop this because I think it's the right direction to head. Once we develop this a bit more and start to network into various academic and teacher/school boards perhaps we can start an international foundation for this mandate specifically.