Comments on: What's missing in our schools?

By: lulu

lulu — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:03:49 +0000

I agree with the suggestions regarding the need for more of a focus on the humanities in our curricula. I believe as a part of this process, the focus should also work on teaching children the contributions made to society and the advancement of our understanding of the human race by people who have studied and specialized in the humanities. In our schools we talk and focus our attentions only about the contributions of scientists, doctors, etc. Even if we do mention great writers or philosophists, it is in an offhand manner and as an afterthought.

And even though you are only listing 5, I believe that there is a lack in the teaching of common sense in our school environments. Of course this wouldn’t be a class or a book they would learn from, but it comes from the teachers and from the structure of the school system itself. Many things about the structure of the school system do not make sense, so how are children expected to learn to make sense of the world?

We do not encourage the questioning of authority, which breeds generations of people who take a certain medication because the doctor who studied for X amount of years told them to, and stop eating a certain food because researchers found out it is linked to certain maladies, or start eating certain foods because researchers found out it could be the next cure for cancer. People who don’t go out in search of the truth for themselves, but rely on others to tell them everything.

And thereby ends my session of falsafeh, I will relieve you now.

By: Sari Al-Hiari

Sari Al-Hiari — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 20:18:56 +0000

Peter S,

I don’t mind being wrong. In fact, that’s how I become right the next time .

However, to avoid comment-hijacking-arguments, please avoid refuting assertions made by other people until you have facts to back it up.

By: anonymous coward

anonymous coward — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:04:35 +0000

netiquette

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:58:57 +0000

Honestly, taking Arab schools in general, what they lack is not only the debating and sex ed skills, but dealing with those outside their culture. Since there are foreigners in every country, students should be assigned projects that involve them with other nationals such as going out and taking surveys in certain areas or anything of that sort…so they grow up knowing that the whole world doesn’t revolve around their culture…

More social skills in addition to great debating skills will produce great results in kids…

By: Fedaykin

Fedaykin — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:59:10 +0000

Sex Ed. Definitely. People here have a serious problem when it comes to admitting that things like AIDS, STDs and accidental pregnancies occur. People have sex. People have always had sex, and people will always pay taxes. AND HAVE SEX! So get your thumbs out of your arse, and start teaching them about the risks involved in the matter, rather than telling them they shouldn’t do it and then shooting them when they do. Little knowledge is a dangerous thing, that’s why AIDS is so rife in Africa, where education is very limited. (I was even told by someone that a "traditional" remedy for AIDS in some parts was to have sex with a virgin. That’ll help the problem!).

So, in conclusion: Sex Ed all the way!

By: Tololy

Tololy — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:18:28 +0000

Villager, I thought you’d never ask. To tell you the truth I am quite impressed with the comments this post generated, everyone has something of value to add to the argument and I appreciate all contributions. I also tend to get greedy so I am hoping for some more.

That’s not what you were asking about, however, so I will get to the point. Aside from the four elements I originally came up with, I think after I examined the comments that humanities in general are put on the shelf so to speak, in our schools. Everyone wants their kid to be a mathematical prodigy or a scientist of some sort and very few people would appreciate their child being a writer, for instance. Our education seems to either cater for this taste, or to have created it.

As for your own answer to my question, I honestly believe the word "society" fits in better in your original remark than does "culture". What I got from your comment was that, basically, if our "culture/society" is rotten, we should not attempt to change that in schools but rather bring up the kids crooked just like their environment. Perhaps I am taking this too drastically, but I would refuse a defeatist approach of the type. I see it fixes nothing.

I don’t quite get your idea on the within/without method. I am inclined to believe that if our fathers’ generation had a certain set of errors embedded in it, and we can detect it, then we should work on making ourselves and our children better by avoiding making the same mistakes. How do we do that? Proper families and education (more elements can be discussed and if convincing, added). This is both within and without, as you put it.

By: Villager

Villager — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:36:27 +0000

Tololy:

"please keep the ideas flowing"

inclusive of yours…I’d be interested to hear what your opinion is since you floated the topic.

By: Tololy

Tololy — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 06:48:50 +0000

Great input, please keep the ideas flowing…

By: Lina

Lina — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 04:09:40 +0000

Music, drama, theatre arts, and a serious appreciation of the arts and creativity in general.

A better education of the humanities and social science topics, and a realization that these do not fall under the "memorization and recital" subjects…

By: Peter S

Peter S — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:44:01 +0000

"I remember Mrs. Reagan in the 80s started an anti drug campaign
and took it to the schools, as a result of that, drug use in schools
nearly doubled."

Sari, what is the source of this assertion? And, if true, what makes you believe that Reagan’s (feeble) anti-drug campaign in the United States was the cause of increased drug use? That is an extraordinary (and rather odd) assertion.