How should children be taught?
Do you feel you were educated well?
What do you think would repair the education system(s)?
Most people believe that our school systems in most 'western' countries at least, are fundamentally flawed.
Little is done to revolutionize these systems. Small 'band-aid' type changes are made to alter schooling slightly but little is done to change the foundation on which our school systems are designed.
Well, today I read an article on Finland which is doing just that:
article from: http://www.independe...m-10123911.html
Subject-specific lessons – an hour of history in the morning, an hour of geography in the afternoon – are already being phased out for 16-year-olds in the city’s upper schools. They are being replaced by what the Finns call “phenomenon” teaching – or teaching by topic. For instance, a teenager studying a vocational course might take “cafeteria services” lessons, which would include elements of maths, languages (to help serve foreign customers), writing skills and communication skills.
More academic pupils would be taught cross-subject topics such as the European Union - which would merge elements of economics, history (of the countries involved), languages and geography.
Thoughts? Feelings? Do you think this is a step in the right direction? Finland already had a top rated school system so to change it without need is a far cry from the typical reactive initiatives we see from governments.