20 Nov
2012
20 Nov
'12
7:35 a.m.
Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
It would mean less general education for much of the population and very early
specialization in that case, i.e., different academic/non-academic streams at
early secondary school. Whether that's desirable or not is a complex issue -
as I remember, that's how it's essentially done in Germany for example.
To which the usual reply is that year 12 isn't for everyone, or at least,
academically serious year 12 isn't. It should be *available* to everyone who
wants it, of course, but if there are people who want to go into a
trade/apprenticeship/job training programme earlier than that, then why not?
I read The Lord of the Rings when I was in grade 6. I
don't think that any
teaching in regard to reading literature should be required in high school.
Anyone who can't read LOTR by year 8 is probably a lost cause as far as
serious reading is concerned.
Maybe, although people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds might
be the exceptions if proper education were offered, but on the other hand that
education would be best provided prior to year 8.
so is essay writing for anyone who studies
the humanities/social sciences. (Even in the natural sciences, beyond a
certain point one has to be able to write papers/theses/dissertations).
What portion of the population do a humanities course at university? I expect
that it's a lot less than half the population and I don't think there's any
good reason to force the entire population to pretend to learn about writing
essays about literature for that. I think
there's an important role for serious school education intended to
prepare people for rigorous academic study at university.
Unfortunately such serious education is incompatible with having every child
complete year 12.