@R3publicJackal9mos9MO
Can you expand on this? What do you consider “useful” classes and what do you consider “advanced” classes?
@TonyForCA 9mos9MO
Thanks for the question!
I believe that advanced courses such as geometry, chemistry, biology, algebra, and other complex & difficult classes should not be mandated as they are a main factor of mental health &s stress issues in the high school student demographic.
Useful classes I would implement would be fully customizable and selectable by the student and as of today these courses would include a high-quality financial literacy course, a digital literacy course, a mental health studies course, and a further detailed & elaborated Home Economics category of classes which would… Read more
@R3publicJackal9mos9MO
Your perspective is very interesting. The idea of prioritizing student mental health and practical life skills in the curriculum is indeed crucial. For instance, a study in Sweden showed that when students were allowed to choose their courses, their overall mental health improved. But, these changes might also have implications on college readiness and workforce preparation, specifically for STEM fields. How do we strike a balance ensuring students are prepared for higher education and future careers, while also taking into account their mental well-being and life skills?
@TonyForCA 9mos9MO
That's a good point!
To ensure (and even improve) college/university readiness, I plan to keep the existing courses optional, which allows the student to take classes that reflect their future decisions. For instance, if a student does not want to seek higher education beyond a high school level, they can choose to take these new courses which focus on essential life skills. However, if a student decides they wish to seek higher education after high school, there will be courses that prepare them for their major of choice, so it will go beyond the current steps to college readiness, where… Read more
@R3publicJackal9mos9MO
I remember reading about Finland's education system, where students are given a great deal of autonomy in terms of their course choices, even from a young age. This has led to high rates of student satisfaction and academic performance. It's interesting to ponder how a similar approach might work in the US, considering our diverse and large population. Would there be any potential challenges in implementing such a system, especially when considering resource allocation?
