American schools to force kids to pick a major - in 9th class

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Shrapnel12
I don't like that they are forced to stay in their specialty of choice. College students change majors all the time and sometimes frequently. How can you expect children to be anymore sure of themselves?

They don't need to be sure. They can switch when they get out of high school. No problem.

Also I want to know if this specialization is hindering these kids from learning core knowlegde that all high school students should know. If it is, then I'm definitely against it.

No, it doesn't. These kind of schools have already been available to many students and students generally do better all around.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Kidicious
This is all good. Requiring them to make decisions for themselves early is good. They don't have to stick with their decision until later, when they are a Junior in college maybe.

It'll tent to exacerbate racial and economic segregation and inequality.

[Shrapnel12]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


This means the principle has a better idea well in advance of whos taking what electives. He can hire teachers on that basis with less risk of some teaching empty classrooms, while others require last minute backup to prevent excessively large classrooms. Ergo, it saves money.

I'm not about convienence for the schools. When it comes to my child's education, I don't care about the school saving money.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Shrapnel12


I'm not about convienence for the schools. When it comes to my child's education, I don't care about the school saving money.

you have 40k a year for a posh private school?

Otherwise, if youre kid is going to public school, or even a non-posh private school, better get used to it.

[Kuciwalker]

Re: Re: Re: American schools to force kids to pick a major - in 9th class

Originally posted by aneeshm
But if I had made it more realistic, it wouldn't have attracted your attention (and the attention of many others), and I wouldn't have got to hear this wonderful reply of yours.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Shrapnel12
I'm not about convienence for the schools. When it comes to my child's education, I don't care about the school saving money.

[Shrapnel12]

Originally posted by Kidicious

They don't need to be sure. They can switch when they get out of high school. No problem.

But then they're not getting the most out of high school and we're right back to the previous arguements for this kind of specialization such as students not being interested and not learning anything they'll actually use.

No, it doesn't. These kind of schools have already been available to many students and students generally do better all around.

Then I won't have a problem as long as they give a little more flexibility. Why not give them a chance to change majors every year?

[Elok]

Originally posted by MRT144
thank god this isnt about muslims.

...yet. Give Aneeshm some credit, he'll tie them in somehow.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


This means the principle has a better idea well in advance of whos taking what electives.

The princiPAL is your pal.

[snoopy369]

I have to agree with aneeshm here (:shock: ), I don't particularly care for majors in HS unless it's a voluntary/meaningless thing. If it impacts my kid's ability to take courses that he/she later finds interesting, it's a bad thing.

I think a better idea is "paths", ie "general college prep path" (good set of general college prep courses) or "business path" (lots of math, writing, statistics, etc.) or "arts path" (art, photography, etc.), a suggested curriculum for students who think they are interested in a certain area. Either way it would be a non-mandatory thing that just makes course choice a bit easier for undecided students.

Having so many, as some of the southern states do, is a BAD thing because it not only negates the benefits that lotm refers to, but it means they are rather too specialized ...

[DaShi]

Re: Re: American schools to force kids to pick a major - in 9th class

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
At best, this thread title is blatantly misleading, at worst it shows a completely cluelessness about the American education system.

edit: to explain (to aneeshm): there is basically no centralization in primary and secondary education in the United States. Anything can vary from state to state or even county to county.

Great reply. Glad I opened this thread.

[-Jrabbit]

Still, it's true that many U.S. kids are pressured to make decisions about their future, including majors, colleges, etc. as early as middle school. Most of these kids are ill-equipped to make these decisions, and develop negative feelings about themselves, and about the education system. IMHO it does not respect the fact that these are kids, and they should not be made to feel guilty just because they don't yet know whether they want to be an accountant or an artist.

I blame the MBA-ification of the schools, with an increasing focus on "measurables" and "outcomes" instead of actual education. It ticks me off.

[Shrapnel12]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


you have 40k a year for a posh private school?

Otherwise, if youre kid is going to public school, or even a non-posh private school, better get used to it.

My school district has been doing just fine since before even I started going to school there. I'm happy with our school for now and I see no reason to change anything.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Shrapnel12


My school district has been doing just fine since before even I started going to school there. I'm happy with our school for now and I see no reason to change anything.

mazel tov, but if you think theyre not making decisions based on saving money, youre a fool.