It seems that with every election year, a constantly recurring campaign promise is to improve the educational system. Yet after each year passes, it seems like the idea of improving the system also passes and little actually changes. This idea of revamping the school system actually started almost as soon as public schools became a custom. No matter what culture you’re in, nationality, or expertise in the field of education, it is apparent that as the world around it changes, the educational system must be flexible enough to change with it.
Good education is a worthwhile investment. It keeps the minds of the students abreast of everything new in the world and how to adapt to it, or does it? In order for an educational system to stay effective, it needs to be continuously changing. Here are a few ideas on how education can be adapted in our modern world.
Teach the Whole Child
The purpose for our educational system is to prepare the child to step in and take hold of the real world, yet most of the schools tend to have tunnel vision. They focus entirely on the core subjects (math, history, language, and science). While these subjects are clearly important and essential for every child, they are not all encompassing. Schools that also include learning opportunities that teach social, emotional, physical, and psychological development will have a more balanced educational program that will focus on the whole child rather than just a small part of what they will need in the future.
Allow for the Natural Learning Process
Interestingly enough, children are born to be learners but the educational system more often than not confuses learning with compliance. Every one of us has the innate ability to be creative and curious about the world but the system today often quells that natural desire and forces children into a mold. Classes are held in isolation from the world they are supposed to be learning and any curiosity or creativity that goes beyond the required curriculum is often met with harsh discipline. When children are allowed to feed their natural instincts to learn and apply them in the world around them, they are better able to remember what they’ve learned and see ways to apply them in their lives in the future.
No One Size Fits All
Just as children come in all shapes and sizes, education should not be one size fits all. Government sponsored programs often focus on equalizing a system that is not naturally equal. Some students will require more time and help in some subjects than others. Schools that expect every child to reach the same conclusions within the same amount of time will inevitably see children falling through the cracks. The idea that everyone at a certain age level must master all the same things within a single year of learning will inevitably see a certain level of failure. However, schools that adapt to different learning styles, different learning speeds, and different talents among their students will be able to find success with many more students than the traditional educational program we have now.
There are many ways that schools can adapt to improve their educational program. Still, even with all these adaptations, a successful program will be short lived if the educators and administrators are not prepared to keep on adapting to the constantly changing world around them.