Learning from yesteryear.
Learn from yesteryear.
Now and then my mind slips back to yesteryear, it happens when you get old, I am convinced that, some things were really better. "You want a for instance?". Education.
Moving from junior school to senior school is a good example.
In my day the options were, the high school, or, the secondary school, the eleven plus examination made that distinction, and, what was wrong with that?, nothing.
The high school taught its pupils, latin, other languages, algebra, higher mathematics, and other skills that were required for the future in law, medicine, teaching, etc. The secondary school concentrated on the basic education skills in english and maths taking the pupils as far as they were able too. I imagine, that geography, and history were about the same levels, but, the secondary school taught metalwork and woodwork.
There has always been a "cleverer" child, a child with the natural ability to learn, and, there always will be, but, just as importantly, we require the tradesmen and his/her skills.
To-day, school absenteeism is a major problem and it is easy to understand the reason for it, you are not the naturally gifted learner, your future is not in law or medicine, a double period of latin is not a major attraction, but, you are not going to miss your metalwork lesson.
From the age of, say, twelve, pupils should attend schools that will provide training for the specific skills that they will require as they enter the working world, yes, we need the brains, but, we also need the builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc, etc.
Moving from junior school to senior school is a good example.
In my day the options were, the high school, or, the secondary school, the eleven plus examination made that distinction, and, what was wrong with that?, nothing.
The high school taught its pupils, latin, other languages, algebra, higher mathematics, and other skills that were required for the future in law, medicine, teaching, etc. The secondary school concentrated on the basic education skills in english and maths taking the pupils as far as they were able too. I imagine, that geography, and history were about the same levels, but, the secondary school taught metalwork and woodwork.
There has always been a "cleverer" child, a child with the natural ability to learn, and, there always will be, but, just as importantly, we require the tradesmen and his/her skills.
To-day, school absenteeism is a major problem and it is easy to understand the reason for it, you are not the naturally gifted learner, your future is not in law or medicine, a double period of latin is not a major attraction, but, you are not going to miss your metalwork lesson.
From the age of, say, twelve, pupils should attend schools that will provide training for the specific skills that they will require as they enter the working world, yes, we need the brains, but, we also need the builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc, etc.
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Comment by Will— 2007/02/28 @ 08:49 AM — (Reply)