Korimyr's Educational Ideals

[Korimyr the Rat]

Cross-posted to a number of forums.

Most of you probably know me for my callous and occasionally bloodthirsty views on morality and politics. The issue that is nearest and dearest to my heart, however, is the education of children. If I'm capable, I would like to be able to homeschool my children. I am studying to be a teacher, and my highest aspiration is to open a private school.

What I envision is a full service K-12 school, based on the classical liberal education with an expanded physical education program and more upper level courses than the standard American high school.

These are the ideas I am working from:

Curriculum:


The school day and the school year should be longer. In particular, I think that the school year ought to be year round with around 230 or 240 days per calendar year. School days ought to include a full eight or nine hours in instruction time, but with more substantial breaks between sessions and much less reliance on homework.
There should be multiple periods of physical activity throughout the day. My thought is to have frequent calisthenics breaks throughout the day, a physical education class as first period and martial arts instruction for the last class of the day. Extracurricular sports should be offered, and students should have the option of replacing the morning gym class with sports training.
In addition to formal logic, other direct cognitive skills should be taught, both as integrated within the standard curriculum and as standalone courses. In particular, I am thinking about mnemonic enhancement and meditation for mindfulness and relaxation.
Both Mathematics theory and problem-solving skills should be included at every level of math instruction alongside old-fashioned memorization and drill. Math problem solving should be incorporated into other subjects where possible.
At least one quarter or semester of Forensic Debate should be mandatory, taught with critical thinking and analysis. These skills should be incorporated into all humanities, social science, and history courses even before they are formally taught.
A variety of foreign languages should be offered, and studying at least one should be mandatory beginning in Kindergarten. These classes should be combined with the literature, culture, history, and politics of countries that speak the given language. Special attention should be given to the languages of political and economic powers and the State Department's list of critical languages.
A wide variety of life skills and vocational classes should be offered as one-shots, and these classes should be associated with local business leaders.
Sections on art and music should be taught periodically at the grade school level and dedicated courses should be offered at 5th Grade and higher. Possibly, a certain number of basic courses can be made mandatory.

Methodology and Criteria:


Students should be grouped according to ability instead of age group; promotion should be on the grounds of successful demonstration of proficiency, and students should be placed in classes according to skills placement tests. Starting around Fifth Grade or the equivalent, students should have different teachers and classes for each subject to accomodate different levels of performance in different subject areas.
Part of a performance-oriented grading system should be higher standards of performance. The standard for passing a course should be 80% or 90% on the relevant skills assessments, not 60% of the overall class. Traditional letter grades can be maintained for transcripts and for judging criteria other than appropriate class placement.
While some degree of memorization is required, especially in math and the sciences, the standard of performance should be based on application of knowledge. At least half of each performance test beyond the grade school level should be written essays, problem solving, or practical demonstration.

I'll probably add more to these lists when I can think of it. I used to have a notebook dedicated to this topic, but I seem to have lost it during one of my recent housemoves.

[Korimyr the Rat]

Please ignore my sloppy attempt at categorization. I was trying to organize this post from its original format-- which is, to say, a disorganized cluster of notes.

[Michael]

I don't see anything radical here at all. If anything, this looks like a return to educational principles from the 1950's (with a few modern adaptations like meditation) - or rather, it looks like Swedish education system from the 1960's.

That being said, overall, this is a recipe for an elite education for upper middle class kids (that's all well and fine if that's what you want to produce). And in that product category, the USA already leads the world with more (and better) elite schools for upper middle class kids than any place on the planet. Indeed, your plan looks like a solution in search of a problem. There is no shortage of elite schools.

The problem is the low-end (the other 50% of the population that tends to do very poorly with this type of educational structure). Indeed, that's precisely why the public education system has been moving away from your 'format' - the dropout/failure rate at the low end is horrific with this type of elite education system.

[Korimyr the Rat]

That being said, overall, this is a recipe for an elite education for upper middle class kids [...] There is no shortage of elite schools.

My intention is, through a combination of non-profit status and scholarships, to make this kind of education available to more than the upper middle class.

The problem is the low-end [...] the dropout/failure rate at the low end is horrific with this type of elite education system.

I am operating under the assumption that periodic failures will be inevitable for all students, and part of the reason I am using much shorter terms is to make this rate of failure an acceptable loss. A student who consistently passes each and every assessment would be drastically accelerated when compared to a student who passes every class in a normal school.

And with sufficient tutorial support, I do not think there is anything intrinsic to this structure that would cause the dropout rate to be worse than in standard schools.

[Michael]

My intention is, through a combination of non-profit status and scholarships, to make this kind of education available to more than the upper middle class.
A noble sentiment. :)

I am operating under the assumption that periodic failures will be inevitable for all students, and part of the reason I am using much shorter terms is to make this rate of failure an acceptable loss. A student who consistently passes each and every assessment would be drastically accelerated when compared to a student who passes every class in a normal school.

And with sufficient tutorial support, I do not think there is anything intrinsic to this structure that would cause the dropout rate to be worse than in standard schools.
Probably true of any school that isn't part of the general public system. The public system gets all the dregs, while good private schools, or charter schools or whatever, will always attract the best students (which is defined by those with active parents who will seek out a better school for their kid).

Any kid whose parents are actively involved in their educational process are going to do much better than other kids whose parents are not.

Thus, if this is your model for some charter or private school, then I think it is a generally good plan. :)

If it is a proposed solution to the problems of the US public education system, then not so much. That's probably a whole other topic... ;)

[partofme]

A noble sentiment. :)


Probably true of any school that isn't part of the general public system. The public system gets all the dregs, while good private schools, or charter schools or whatever, will always attract the best students (which is defined by those with active parents who will seek out a better school for their kid).

Any kid whose parents are actively involved in their educational process are going to do much better than other kids whose parents are not.

Thus, if this is your model for some charter or private school, then I think it is a generally good plan. :)

If it is a proposed solution to the problems of the US public education system, then not so much. That's probably a whole other topic... ;)

Do you think the biggest problem with the education of American students has more to do with parents in the U.S. being less involved?

[The Drunk Guy]

Do you think the biggest problem with the education of American students has more to do with parents in the U.S. being less involved?
I think it has to do with the parents pacifying their children rather than raising them into adulthood. They fight teachers and coaches tooth and nail so that their sweet, poor babies can get their way. They seek only to placate their child, freeing them for their own selfishness. In turn, schools have adapted. No child is told they aren't smart enough for college anymore because that would anger a parent. Rather, all coursework has been weakened to allow any student a passing grade.

Education is my most important topic, as well. I come from a family of educators and plan on becoming one myself if the economy levels back out.

I feel that the best way to reignite American education is take a practical approach. Too many children are taught that they deserve college. A college education is only worthwhile when there is a mind to comprehend it and a vocation through which to use it. There is a vast shortage of both.

My idea is to shorten high school (or maybe lengthen middle school). After a student's tenth year, they should be allowed to choose if they wish to seek academic or industrial vocations. Those who seek an academic career need only pass an entrance exam to begin two years of humanities studies, thereby negating the need for "university requirements" when they reach college. Those who seek industrial work or fail to meet the academic requirements will study mathematics, physics or engineering for two years, depending on their area of focus. This will be supported with practical experience and field work.

[Michael]

Do you think the biggest problem with the education of American students has more to do with parents in the U.S. being less involved?
Not the only factor, but I think it is certainly a very large factor.

There is a trend of less parental involvement over time (supported by the rise of the dual-income families and/or the rise of single-parent families - both contribute to the trend of 'less involvement' in public education). Likewise the "me generation" of the Baby Boom who are the parents of the kids in school today.

As always, I just want to point out that there is NOTHING in the failure of US public education system that is not duplicated in every other western nation. US is only leading the curve here.

[partofme]

Not the only factor, but I think it is certainly a very large factor.

There is a trend of less parental involvement over time (supported by the rise of the dual-income families and/or the rise of single-parent families - both contribute to the trend of 'less involvement' in public education). Likewise the "me generation" of the Baby Boom who are the parents of the kids in school today.

As always, I just want to point out that there is NOTHING in the failure of US public education system that is not duplicated in every other western nation. US is only leading the curve here.

I was just wondering if the problem may be cultural. I'm especially interested having two young children.

[Michael]

I was just wondering if the problem may be cultural. I'm especially interested having two young children.
Cultural as in comparisons between US culture and European culture?

Or cultural as in comparisons between various different US class-cultures?

The US has a particularly large under-class (totally uneducated) and this may skew perceptions as it is the working class (and lower classes generally) that do not participate in their child's education. These same lower classes also have the highest rate of marriage breakdown, and single-parent families are by definition more likely to have less parental involvement in the child's education.

Certainly US education for middle-class kids is no worse than any other western nation. It is the US public education system serving the lower classes that has all the problems - given the comparative size of the US lower classes (larger than most other western nations).

The widespread American 'cultural' devaluation of education and intellectualism generally is also probably a factor - again, particularly acute at the lower end of the economic strata.

[partofme]

Cultural as in comparisons between US culture and European culture?

Or cultural as in comparisons between various different US class-cultures?

The US has a particularly large under-class (totally uneducated) and this may skew perceptions as it is the working class (and lower classes generally) that do not participate in their child's education. These same lower classes also have the highest rate of marriage breakdown, and single-parent families are by definition more likely to have less parental involvement in the child's education.

Certainly US education for middle-class kids is no worse than any other western nation. It is the US public education system serving the lower classes that has all the problems - given the comparative size of the US lower classes (larger than most other western nations).

The widespread American 'cultural' devaluation of education and intellectualism generally is also probably a factor - again, particularly acute at the lower end of the economic strata.

I agree very much as far as devaluation of education and intellectualism in the U.S.

What do you think is the cause of having the large size of the lower class? Is it the lack of programs to help them move up, lack of focus on their education, or something else?