Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterRice
There has to be a way to speed up the K12 process. Not counting anything before or after first grade or senior year, that’s 12 years of waste.
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Many options exist for 'short cuts'. especially in the USA. (professional educators willing to rethink EDU could FILL this opportunity with vast helpful hints)
Our kids were 'unschooled'. As were hundreds of their peers (300+ registered Home schoolers in our dinky town, (outside a metro area) and probably at least that many NOT registered)
First day 'in class' was College (age 16)
College was completed by age 20 (at Magna xx Laude level = gold ropes) First 2 yrs college is FREE in our state (college instead of HS)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Start
Early EDU yrs is a great time for parents to hang up the worker bee card and invest some TIME in their kids. Employment can wait until kids leave home. Start a family business and neither you or your kids will have to become wage slaves again. Many families do co-op learning, grandparents, retirees, workers on leave, and older students are all willing, capable, incentivized, and able to assist with education of the future replacement workforce and civic leaders.
There are wonderful resources to tap. We often hired retired professors to teach Science and History programs and intensive weeklong seminars (Beach, Geology, Marine Science, Animal science, US history (with field trips all over USA), older kids got seminars in math, engineering, occupational career and research options, Music history and composition, Drama (from active professionals), Literature (from immigrant teachers desiring to learn more English).. vast resources available.
Elementary education in the basics is essential, and quite varied depending on each student. Some read at age 3 some at age 8, but when they take off loving to read... don't stop them, same with science and math. Let them learn.
- 1) Create lifelong learners (Desire, useful, and fun to learn)
- 2) Avail vast learning opportunities (Like volunteering in homeless shelters, mentoring in public schools and serving elderly) We did each 2x every week.
- 3) International and various cultural and age exposures (live and volunteer overseas if possible, definitely host international travelers, youth, and teachers in your home )
- 4) Stretch their academics (having them mentor and teach others is a big stretch)
- 5) Expand their interests (give them exposure to careers and informational interviews and potential internships)
- 6) Do unique things to keep a student's interest
As a nation we must determine to cease the idea that we can effectively run our youth through a 'canned edu system', similar to raising pigs and other livestock for slaughter.
There are many other options, and the number of days with
"Butt-in-seat", or $$$/ pupil does not equal a quality, useful, and leverageable education.
Other countries are not perfect, but they certainly are trouncing the USA in EDU preparation. The world offers a lot of variety and effective ideas for meaningful EDU.
You glean the best, refine for our culture, set meaningful objectives, move the NEW system forward with agility and purpose.