School Reform: Thoughts?

I think that’s an incredible way to look at things, and honestly, it’s a brilliant suggestion that could work just as well for high schoolers as it does for college students, letting everyone choose their own path based on what they actually want to study.

My only hesitation is that a plan like this usually comes with a hefty price tag, so we might have to face the reality that it’s out of reach before we even get started.

wanderingbadger44 said:I think that’s an incredible way to look at things, and honestly, it’s a brilliant suggestion that could work just as well for high schoolers as it does for college students, letting everyone choose their own path based on what they actually want to study.

My only hesitation is that a plan like this usually comes with a hefty price tag, so we might have to face the reality that it’s out of reach before we even get started.

and room

because you can't just shove 1,000 people into a med program just because there isn't enough lab space or equipment.

Larry Walker24 said:and room

because you can't just shove 1,000 people into a med program just because there isn't enough lab space or equipment.

Maybe we should look at some Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles here? I actually mentioned earlier that during freshman year, there aren't really any hands-on labs—it's mostly just online lectures and computer-based exams. Once you hit sophomore year, enrollment is limited to the first group of students based on available capacity for lab sessions, mentorship programs, and so on. Everyone else might need to consider a different major or university altogether 😁 Personally, I think offering three attempts without charging an extra fee would be a much fairer approach.

wanderingbadger44 said:I think that’s an incredible way to look at things, and honestly, it’s a brilliant suggestion that could work just as well for high schoolers as it does for college students, letting everyone choose their own path based on what they actually want to study.

My only hesitation is that a plan like this usually comes with a hefty price tag, so we might have to face the reality that it’s out of reach before we even get started.

The real headache would be those schools that nobody wants to attend—the ones kids end up at because they couldn't get into their first choice (even if high school isn't mandatory anymore).
What happens to the teachers and principals in those situations? 😕

Technically, though, that could solve the funding issue. 😂

Larry Walker24 said:and room

because you can't just shove 1,000 people into a med program just because there isn't enough lab space or equipment.

I don't think the bottleneck is really in medical school—there's already plenty of screening happening long before students even apply, between entrance exams and people dropping out during freshman year. The real issues are likely in fields like economics, law, transportation, or American studies (and I won't even bring up divinity school, where enrollment is pretty much open to anyone who wants to finish the program).

Susan James said:The real headache would be those schools that nobody wants to attend—the ones kids end up at because they couldn't get into their first choice (even if high school isn't mandatory anymore).
What happens to the teachers and principals in those situations? 😕

Technically, though, that could solve the funding issue. 😂

I don't think the bottleneck is really in medical school—there's already plenty of screening happening long before students even apply, between entrance exams and people dropping out during freshman year. The real issues are likely in fields like economics, law, transportation, or American studies (and I won't even bring up divinity school, where enrollment is pretty much open to anyone who wants to finish the program).

Exactly. This is precisely why our education system is such a disaster. The priorities are all wrong. It’s all about the principals, the teachers, the textbook lobbyists, and the utility companies. The students and their actual needs? They’re at the bottom of the list. If they even matter at all.

Susan James said:The real headache would be those schools that nobody wants to attend—the ones kids end up at because they couldn't get into their first choice (even if high school isn't mandatory anymore).
What happens to the teachers and principals in those situations? 😕

Technically, though, that could solve the funding issue. 😂

I don't think the bottleneck is really in medical school—there's already plenty of screening happening long before students even apply, between entrance exams and people dropping out during freshman year. The real issues are likely in fields like economics, law, transportation, or American studies (and I won't even bring up divinity school, where enrollment is pretty much open to anyone who wants to finish the program).

Maybe you're onto something there.
I guess we’ve all become so "cheap" that the federal budget doesn't even register our existence anymore.

Will the schools your children attend be applying for the recent public call for tenders? Have you heard anything about this experimental program, and if so, what’s your take on it?

Can you please drop the link to that public RFP so we can see what it's actually about? 🙂

https://www.education.gov/experimental-programs
Here is the link to the public announcement and the program details.
The information provided is pretty thin, but at least it's the only guidance we've received as parents.

Nobody’s actually heard anything concrete yet. The new curricula haven't even cleared the review stage. As for the textbooks for these new standards? They won't be ready until September at the earliest. The whole rollout plan is incredibly vague, too. If you try to pin them down with a specific question, they just give you that classic, non-committal "we'll figure it out as we go" brush-off.

It’s all just a disorganized, hit-or-miss mess—if you can even call it organized. Honestly, I have no idea which school is going to be crazy enough to sign up for this total disaster. 🤷

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but I'm hoping someone can clear things up for me. What’s the deal with computer science becoming a mandatory subject starting in 5th grade, while it stays elective for the younger grades? Is that actually happening, or is it just going to keep getting pushed back?

Once we actually have enough qualified staff on hand and every school across the country is fully equipped—that’s when it might become mandatory.

If you want my two cents... I don't see that happening anytime soon.😁

Is computer science really optional? I heard through the grapevine that they’re making it a requirement for 5th and 6th graders starting next school year!

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Is computer science really optional? I heard through the grapevine that they’re making it a requirement for 5th and 6th graders starting next school year!

But with which teachers and what kind of equipment? 🤔

It’s not happening anytime soon—not until the necessary conditions are met, as they’d say in Congress.

(Look, I actually work in training computer science professors, so I know for a fact there aren't nearly enough qualified instructors to pull this off by next school year.)

I honestly haven't a clue—maybe some local school district or something? I mean, we did get an email from the principal, so I guess it’s legit enough. 🤷

Tyler Ruiz502 said:I honestly haven't a clue—maybe some local school district or something? I mean, we did get an email from the principal, so I guess it’s legit enough. 🤷

Look, I was just speaking in general terms, not focusing on one specific school. If you actually received an official email from your principal, then it's probably legit.

stormynomad69 said:I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but I'm hoping someone can clear things up for me. What’s the deal with computer science becoming a mandatory subject starting in 5th grade, while it stays elective for the younger grades? Is that actually happening, or is it just going to keep getting pushed back?

Since there are a few people out there who seem to have some doubts about this... I’m not quite sure what you mean by that—it looks like a typo or perhaps a fragment of a word! If you were trying to ask about constitutional matters or something related to legal frameworks here in the States, feel free to clarify. I'm happy to chat once I know what's on your mind!With decisions like these—especially when we're already short on staff and equipment—it’ll probably all get pushed back until we eventually become a Gilead Sciences company. And by then, we won't even need to worry about it anymore. 🐔

I actually really like
this
!
Quincy:

Classes for all students from first through eighth grade will be organized into four blocks: the first runs from September 3rd to October 26th (39 school days), the second from November 5th to December 21st (35 days), the third from January 14th to March 21st (49 days), and the fourth from March 25th to June 14th (52 school days).

Quincy:

They’re introducing a new block scheduling system for subjects. For example, fifth graders in the first and third terms will take geography, art, music, and computer science, but they won't have science, shop class, or history until the second and fourth terms. This approach actually lightens their workload by three or four subjects depending on the week.

I honestly don't even know where to start with this one. It’s just... wow. I've been sitting here staring at the screen for a few minutes trying to figure out how to put this into words without sounding like I'm overreacting, but maybe I am? Or maybe I'm the only one seeing this? It feels like everything is shifting so fast lately. You look at the news, you look at what people are saying on these boards, and it’s just constant noise. I try to stay level-headed—really, I do—but sometimes it feels like we're all just spinning our wheels while the world moves on without us. Is it just me? Am I being too much? Anyway, I'll stop rambling. Just some thoughts rattling around in my head. As I was saying:
I’m just... I don't even know how to put this. It's been weighing on me. I'm not sure what you're trying to get at here. You just dropped a single word—"this"—without any context at all. Are you trying to share something? A link? A thought? I'm sitting here waiting to engage, but there's nothing to work with. Give me something to go on. I like it.

I actually did an internship at a high school that likely pioneered this whole way of organizing classes—it’s a perfect example of how things should work, and honestly, it runs like a dream.

Susan James said:I actually really like
this
!
Quincy:

Classes for all students from first through eighth grade will be organized into four blocks: the first runs from September 3rd to October 26th (39 school days), the second from November 5th to December 21st (35 days), the third from January 14th to March 21st (49 days), and the fourth from March 25th to June 14th (52 school days).

Quincy:

They’re introducing a new block scheduling system for subjects. For example, fifth graders in the first and third terms will take geography, art, music, and computer science, but they won't have science, shop class, or history until the second and fourth terms. This approach actually lightens their workload by three or four subjects depending on the week.

I think it's time we started heading in that direction.