Mandatory School Classes

[bsfins]

On the Sex Ed.
My 7th and 8th grade P.E. classes in Webb City,we had a week (maybe 2) where we had a sex education class.The girls went with the Girls P.E. teacher,and the Boys went with the Boy's P.E. Teacher.We didn't do our normal change into gym clothes,it was like going to math class.We had a booklet thing we went through,during that time,then our teacher* had daily Q&A's,and like myth debunking.We asked what was oral sex,can you get pregnant doing anal,all those questions the guys talked about.They did send home a note like a month before the classless started to notify parents.It was like a civics class that we were required to take. (which I also got screwed over double dosed too)

I also had it in my 9th grade health class.(I went to 2 different schools,and got a double dosed)

*It was extremely strange for me because the teacher was my girlfriend's best friend's father,and my girlfriends neighbor...

[Buddhagirl]

We had most everything that is mentioned, but none of it was mandatory. Sex Ed was part of Health, but I think kids could opt out (I don't remember anyone doing that). Diver's Ed was mandatory by the state (it has since dropped I believe) but you could take it privately over the summer if your birthday fell that way. I believe we had a "living skills" class as well. There were several trade classes as well. All of it available, but elective.

I remember having a health class, but I don't remember there being any sex ed. Likely there wasn't due to the fact that this was in a smallish town in Texas.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

The correlating question of adding anything is what are you proposing subtracting?

Unless you are also proposing lengthening the school day or increasing the number of days students go to school along with the corresponding expenses that would entail for every hour you add to X you need to subtract one from Y.

So if you want to add in an hour a week of drivers ed or resume writing, what are we subtracting?  History class?  Math?  Granted we might be able to work resume writing into the English class.  But once again what are we subtracting?  Shakespeare?  A legitimate argument can be made that being able to write a resume is more important than reading King Lear, but keep in mind every addition requires a subtraction.  Plus one common complaint by teachers is that the existing time with all the interuptions for programs like an assembly for SADD etc, makes it impossible to get thru the core material.  Adding more extras will only make that worse.  My opinion is school should spend more time on the basics, (math, science, history, english) and less on the extras (cooking class, drug use preventions etc)

As for the specific with drivers ed.  Absolutely unnessessary for it to be taugh in the schools during the school day.  Florida should simply do what Mass does and require drivers ed to  get a drivers lic for young drivers.   Kids take the class after school or if they don't want to, they can continue to travel via, bus, bike, parents etc.   

[Buddhagirl]

The correlating question of adding anything is what are you proposing subtracting?

Unless you are also proposing lengthening the school day or increasing the number of days students go to school along with the corresponding expenses that would entail for every hour you add to X you need to subtract one from Y.

So if you want to add in an hour a week of drivers ed or resume writing, what are we subtracting?  History class?  Math?  Granted we might be able to work resume writing into the English class.  But once again what are we subtracting?  Shakespeare?  A legitimate argument can be made that being able to write a resume is more important than reading King Lear, but keep in mind every addition requires a subtraction.  Plus one common complaint by teachers is that the existing time with all the interuptions for programs like an assembly for SADD etc, makes it impossible to get thru the core material.  Adding more extras will only make that worse.  My opinion is school should spend more time on the basics, (math, science, history, english) and less on the extras (cooking class, drug use preventions etc)

As for the specific with drivers ed.  Absolutely unnessessary for it to be taugh in the schools during the school day.  Florida should simply do what Mass does and require drivers ed to  get a drivers lic for young drivers.   Kids take the class after school or if they don't want to, they can continue to travel via, bus, bike, parents etc.   

My driver's ed was done through the school, but it was afterwards.

I would be ok with taking away a few basics if it prevents teen pregnancy, drug addiction, or prepares a child for actual living. Do away with Geometry or Calculus. I haven't used that shit once since I got out of school.

[Phishfan]

Do away with Geometry or Calculus. I haven't used that shit once since I got out of school.

I use geometry several times a week as a pool player. That is actually one of the more useful math classes in everyday life.

[Buddhagirl]

I use geometry several times a week as a pool player. That is actually one of the more useful math classes in everyday life.

I hate math and honestly don't use anything in my day to day life beyond basic math. Yet, I went through Calculus to get into college. I STRUGGLED through those classes and would have been better off with more English/foreign language/computers, etc since that's what I excelled in and now use on a daily basis. (Note: This might be math or History, etc. depending on the student.)

[Dave Gray]

I think that geometry is important.  So is algebra.  And to an extent, basic Trig probably is, as well.

I am not anti math.  I think it's very important and I think that everyone should continue to take math all the way through high school and beyond.  I just think that there should be a point (maybe after 2 years), where you split off and one group takes advanced, more "theoretical" maths while the other group takes more applied math towards basic things (like measuring to lay tile, balance books, cut recipes, etc.)

And one thing that I forgot:

We're getting away from problem solving.  "No Child Left Behind" type programs teach towards a test and that might improve grades.  However, while is teaches information, it doesn't teach kids how to think.  I think that we should teach basic skepticism, problem solving, and logical fallacies.  Teach kids how to deduce, reason, and challenge themselves in their mode thinking.  This can be done through debate classes, theory of knowledge, puzzles, etc.  I had the fortune of taking these types of classes because of my unique schooling situation, but I fear that much of that is lost.

[Buddhagirl]

I think that geometry is important.  So is algebra.  And to an extent, basic Trig probably is, as well.

I am not anti math.  I think it's very important and I think that everyone should continue to take math all the way through high school and beyond.  I just think that there should be a point (maybe after 2 years), where you split off and one group takes advanced, more "theoretical" maths while the other group takes more applied math towards basic things (like measuring to lay tile, balance books, cut recipes, etc.)

And one thing that I forgot:

We're getting away from problem solving.  "No Child Left Behind" type programs teach towards a test and that might improve grades.  However, while is teaches information, it doesn't teach kids how to think.  I think that we should teach basic skepticism, problem solving, and logical fallacies.  Teach kids how to deduce, reason, and challenge themselves in their mode thinking.  This can be done through debate classes, theory of knowledge, puzzles, etc.  I had the fortune of taking these types of classes because of my unique schooling situation, but I fear that much of that is lost.

I'm not anti-math. I'm anti-ridiculous math that not everyone needs. I would have been far better off learning to balance books, cut recipes, etc.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

We're getting away from problem solving.  "No Child Left Behind" type programs teach towards a test and that might improve grades.  However, while is teaches information, it doesn't teach kids how to think.  I think that we should teach basic skepticism, problem solving, and logical fallacies.  Teach kids how to deduce, reason, and challenge themselves in their mode thinking.  This can be done through debate classes, theory of knowledge, puzzles, etc.  I had the fortune of taking these types of classes because of my unique schooling situation, but I fear that much of that is lost.

Then the test are bad.  Very bad.

You can test problem solving, analytical thinking, spotting logical fallacies, deduction, etc. 

If the tests don't have questions that require those skills shame on the test writers, not the teachers.  If the skills are required on the tests, the teachers will teach those skills.   

[badger6]

I think that geometry is important.  So is algebra.  And to an extent, basic Trig probably is, as well.

I am not anti math.  I think it's very important and I think that everyone should continue to take math all the way through high school and beyond.  I just think that there should be a point (maybe after 2 years), where you split off and one group takes advanced, more "theoretical" maths while the other group takes more applied math towards basic things (like measuring to lay tile, balance books, cut recipes, etc.)

And one thing that I forgot:

We're getting away from problem solving.  "No Child Left Behind" type programs teach towards a test and that might improve grades.  However, while is teaches information, it doesn't teach kids how to think.  I think that we should teach basic skepticism, problem solving, and logical fallacies.  Teach kids how to deduce, reason, and challenge themselves in their mode thinking.  This can be done through debate classes, theory of knowledge, puzzles, etc.  I had the fortune of taking these types of classes because of my unique schooling situation, but I fear that much of that is lost.

I think that is the problem that I have with college. Hell, the first 2 years are your basic core classes which aren't needed IMO. Hell you take English and algebra in high school. Why should a person that wants a degree in something totally unrelated have to take those classes It's a straight up money grab. 4 years to accomplish something that could be taken care of in a year or two. The education establishment is not the only one to blame. Large corporations are to blame for this also with their hiring practices which perpetuate this whole scam. For instance, the company that I work for requires a 4 year degree to get a department manager or supervisor position. Really, are you f'n shitting me ? Now what part of supervising 8-12 people in a department is that difficult that it requires years of unrelated classes and tens of thousands of dollars of debt ? And the irony of the whole thing is that the "educated people" that they hire to run the place, can't figure out common sense things for themselves and sit on their asses all day.

[Dave Gray]

I prefer to hire people with college degrees for high level positions.  I think it shows an ability to stick to something long-term, it assumes that you have a basic set of across-the-board skills, and shows that you have initiative.  Of course, that won't be the case in every scenario, but I would say that it's true more often than not.

For college lower level stuff, I kinda disagree.  I think that those things need to be offered.  As someone who went to college, it would've been too much to skip some of those things.  However, others I think that you should be able to test out of (and if I'm not mistaken, you can on some of it.)