This is another oldie from 8th grade. It is on the topic of education and how our nations education system works. I have written numerous papers about this topic but this is the first of my files. Without further adieu:
"Do not train a child to learn by force
or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may
be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of
each." (Plato --BC 427-BC 347-- Greek philosopher.) Plato clearly knew how
schools should be organized in order for the greatest success rate. Our schools
and teachers are now paying no mind to the joy and uniqueness of the students
they have in of their classes. Everything is assessed and/ or graded to the
teachers, state government, and federal government's expectations. Today's
classrooms are no longer grading and assessing students across the country, in
the way suggested by Plato. Today schools seem to be assessing students to
defined standards, caring only about grades, and dismissing the idea of fun.
Schools are blind to the fun of learning and are focusing on grades more than
ever. Every assessment a child is given demonstrates nothing of how bright they
are. Students now more than ever need to be seen as more than a grade. In order
for schools and students to be victorious schools need to make a change in the
way they teach students.
You have
just handed in a test and a week later you get it back, at the top you see C+.
The teacher does not know how much effort you put or all the time you spent
studying. This is the way that students are being graded, by state and national
standards. This is the same with every test, essay, and especially group
project. Schools
should pay more attention to participation, effort, and involvement in the
classroom, and less to any assignment. Many students try very hard but just
aren't good test takers. That alone lowers their grade, even though they try so
hard. Teachers should look for understanding more than any grade because that
will show how productive students are.
Everyone wants to get a good grade,
but is it really that easy? Grades are things that define students and are used
to judge them for the rest of their lives. How could such stereotypical and
unfair things be so important? Students are overwhelmed by all the grades they
need to earn, between homework, tests, and projects. How can they make the
grade? As students get more stressed grades go down. Districts need to tell
teachers to give fewer assignments. The teachers should talk to each other
about their tests, quizzes, projects, and other assignments. By simply planning
out these things students would be able to do more and keep up the good grades.
In school you sit in a desk for six
hours every day, week by week, month by month, until a day off. Wondering how
they make it, students no longer have a recess or cardio, let alone enough time
for gym. It has been proven that if you amuse students it will make it easier
for them to learn. To help teachers could make up game shows, have contests,
and relate topics to everyday life. To just do activities, go outside, or even
have funny limericks to help memorize information would make students a bit
more enthusiastic about school. Students are given facts to memorize, then to
be quizzed on but, small steps towards a change in education will make all the
difference.
When put
into perspective, it is understandable that education needs to make a change.
Having schools assessing students to what is known and nothing else, making
grades incredibly important, and not recognizing how much fun school could be.
These things are easy to do. Once in my science class we used to sing to help
memorize information. It went to the tune of other popular songs, and was a lot
of fun. If education wants to move along with technology it better catch up. We
need to make a change in grades and assessments so we stay in touch with the
rest of the world. We'd make these changes so everyone is educated properly and
is ready for the real world. Without the precise way of teaching that we need,
schools and students will not prosper to be the "genius of each,"
(Plato).
Now that I'm finishing highschool and have 4 more years of experience with the education system some of my opinions have changed. But those won't be revealed until the future...
