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Hey Pandas, If You Could Change One Thing About The School System, What Would It Be? (Closed)
Ugh, school. Where do we begin? Both as kids and adults we all have something we would like to be changed. Share your ideas.
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#1
Teaching basic finance! As in, how a mortgage works, how banks lend money, how credit card interest works, retirement funds etc. Why didn’t they teach us any of that in regular everyday school?
Final score:
59points
Martin Kaine 3 years ago
Multiple upvotes. Consumer (and maybe business) math should be a required course in HS.
BeepBeepBoopBoop 3 years ago
at my school we have a "money matters" class, which is an elective. Honestly I don't know what the class is, they don't really explain that to us anyways. If it's this stuff, it should be required!
phoenix_rising 3 years ago
For the last period of US history at the end of the school year back in 8th grade, my teacher listed things like taxes, credit/debit, etc. and said he would teach us about any one of those things for the period. My class chose the stock market and that's what we learned about. I wish that there were more periods and classes like that
Ashley Schriber 3 years ago
Absolutely. I got top grades in math for most of my school career. Didn't stop me from becoming a financially illiterate adult. I feel a lot of that time solving quadratic equations and calculating the surface area of various geometric shapes could have been better spent.
phoenix_rising 3 years ago
I agree, once it gets to a certain level of math you don't need that math unless you're going into a field that requires it
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Peej Maybe 3 years ago
Yup another upvote from me. I can't believe this isn't a thing, and probably helps to explain the huge levels of debt people get into
DeoManus Argentem 3 years ago
We were taught budgeting and how to balance a checkbook in 4th grade (this would have been early-mid 1990s)... Of course by the time we were old enough to get real checking accounts, nobody used checks any more, lol! We had an investing elective in high school, but nothing compulsory :(. Both in Florida. Thankfully a bill was signed earlier this year requiring financial literacy/money management credit to graduate, joining the 10 or so states that have had them. It's great! But also, I think this is definitely something parents need to be teaching! Each family has different capabilities, means, needs, and concerns.
Andrea Wellman 3 years ago
The school I went to had fake checkbooks in 4th grade math plus and I (in regular math) was so jealous. We just did those pale colored one minute speed math tests that were great for getting scores, but nothing I used as an adult... 567- 245 isn't something most of us need to calculate in our head. Making change as a waitress (we carried our own bank,) and not overdrawn on my debit card, was definitely something I needed to know!
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RELATED:
#2
Pay Educators More!
Final score:
44points
Sharon Morris 3 years ago
Wish I could upvote this a thousand times. I think all pro sports players should have mandatory 5% of their contracts applied to school funding. They're more overpaid than teachers are underpaid! No, I'm not a teacher, just appreciate them.
Mia Franze 3 years ago
STOP RECRUITING KIDS TO ""ALTERNATIVE" lifestyles. Sex education should be taught, especially from a BIOLOGICAL view between a man and a woman. The other alternatives should be addressed elsewhere. The schools are making it "trendy" to play with their gender, and sexual preferences. Focus on subjects such as reading, writing, math, economics and Sciences. Being alternative and having that rammed down your throat is a distraction from getting a useful education.
#3
A greater focus on careers in trade (at least in the US). College is nice, but not for everyone. We still need HVAC technicians, plumbing, electricians, auto mechanics, good haircuts, and so on. Remember- every time you enter a fancy modern building, it was designed by the college educated, but it was built by guys with technical certificates.
Final score:
42points
phoenix_rising 3 years ago (edited)
I'm planning to go to a cosmetology trade school because it's my dream job and college is not for me, I completely agree
Elaine Morinelli 3 years ago
I'm a Boomer age 73. We had "tracks" in high school that lead to college or trade school. Tracks were abolished in the 70's because they were considered racist, and the way they were administered they WERE racist. But I totally agree with you. My husband and I are lawyers but our son became a commercial diver for five years and Now is a paramedic. He's happy and has no school debt.
Jackie Lulu 3 years ago
Me too. As if, on the college track you would have no need for balancing your checking account, typing, home bookkeeping, etc. Led me to making one of the stupidest financial errors in my life.
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Michelle Reynolds 3 years ago
There is a big reversal in the US, they are bringing BACK career and technical education!! Yeah!
Lene 3 years ago
I was educated at the university so I guess that statistically my kids will do that as well? But I am making a point out of showing my girls all sorts of jobs. One day there were some guys filling holes in the road we live at and I got the girls outside with me so they could see how roads are made. I have shown them garbage men's work (we basically stalked a garbage van for a few hundred meters one day on our way to kindergarten). We have talked to policemen that were on a low-/no-action duty. We have looked at guys on huge ladders buildings walls and roofs. I hope my girls will get interesting carreers no matter what they choose 🤓
Andrea Wellman 3 years ago
So well said. Most places don't require a degree to be a firefighter. And the police academy isn't necessarily a degree seeking program.
Elaine Morinelli 3 years ago
P.S. I once had a client who had served prison time for selling meth (a great guy Though lol) and within five years of being released and attending HVAC school at community college, he was making $8500 a month. At the time, more than me.
#4
My biggest thing would be homework. Homework shouldn't be mandatory unless it's a class assignment that you didn't finish. Let kids be kids, school is not their life, so let them live it how they want and not be stressed out by something so unnecessary (homework, not school)
Final score:
39points
Scipio Africanus 3 years ago
I don’t necessarily agree with getting rid of homework completely but it should be minimal
enohPilivE 3 years ago
Homework is a construct to keep parents involved in educating their children. Sadly, parents these days don't have enough time in the case of single parents or low income families, just plain lazy (mutually exclusive from the first), or actually believe it to be somebody else's job to educate their kids.
Andrea Wellman 3 years ago
Thats just false. Homework may be a bummer, but it absolutely does not cause depression, which is an actual illness. Having a difficult time in school can lead to self esteem issues and loneliness if severe enough, but homework does not cause nor contribute to depression. Please quit saying that as it is flat out wrong.
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An Unpopular Opinion. 3 years ago
Exactly, you wake up early and go to school, stay there for hours on end, and then you go home and stay up late trying to finish homework, and how are you supposed to learn anything in those conditions?
I can't think of a good name 3 years ago
3!! My old school was about 6. U are lucky. (This sounds like 3 Yorkshire men sketch)
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Hales M 3 years ago (edited)
When I was a kid I used to go away for weeks at a time. All my teachers would assign 3 weeks worth of homework and daily school work. I always did it all. One teacher had me do 4 pages of work sheet problems each day, a daily 1pg journal entry about my trip, a 500 word book report and and read a novel each week with a weekly assignment... it was grade 3. I brought it all, dropped it in her desk and she looked at me and said "holy s**t I don't want to mark all this. "... she literally didn't even look at it. Made me really question the point of homework.
Peej Maybe 3 years ago
Homework and revision (see my main reply to this board). Dumb and worthless as a means of assessment and ffs, WHY impose it on kids when they're just finding their feet socially?
Andrea Wellman 3 years ago
Revision? What? You'll literally use revision for the rest of your life. Writing reports/messages/plans... if you are not revising you are not submitting your best work. (I know how I sound, but its true.)
Load More Replies... #5
Standardized Tests (New York State uses these tests to assess their educators) It is not fair to evaluate teachers based on my son's ability to take a test. I would just like the teachers to be evaluated across the board more fairly.
Final score:
33points
Martin Kaine 3 years ago
It's kinda like if you judged dentists by the number of cavities they filled for their clients. Shouldn't the clients of a good dentist have *perfect* teeth?
#6
The zero tolerance bullying thing to be more inforced. Me and my friends sometimes get tripped,stuff thrown at us, and harassed right in front of the teachers eyes. The teachers excuse is the hierarchy system and how they cant control the popular kids. ( kids with lots of money, mainstream kids, kids whose parents have threatened to sue the school or harm the schools students,etc.)
Final score:
32points
BeepBeepBoopBoop 3 years ago
YES THANK YOU! The bullying policy also *needs* to be gender neutral. Y'all. A girl can bully a boy. Last year, my friend Jesse got slapped by a girl when he did nothing wrong (at least that's what he said), and he slapped her back. The AP was there for all of this and he's the one who got suspended.
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
Haha. There's an Anti-Bulling Policy my school set up that does sh*t about bullying. It's called "No More, Not Here" and mainly focuses on racist bullies. While this is Great, it doesn't work. Kids often say the above mentioned phrase to me, to each other, and to other kids when we are just walking in the halls (I'm not a person of color, sorry if I made it seem that way X( ). It's really annoying bc they say it in a weird silly/sarcastic tone that drives me nuts. If 12--15 year olds won't do something about bullying, how is bulling going in other schools? Edit: They say it like "No More Not Here, (Insert name here)!"
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Gretchen Marie 3 years ago
Sexual harassment and assault should be addressed as such. Why do college students have victim rights after a sexual assault but a middle school child has no rights? They should have access to counseling and safety from the offender!
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
My friend got s*xually harrased in 7th Grade. While it wasn't anything serious (compared to physical harrasment and such), it was mentally affecting them. There was this boy named Jack who's a little sh*t that asked my friend, let's call them Elle, if they wanted to be his (insert gender here)-friend. Elle said no. Fast forward an hour, same thing again, only Jack kept following Elle around and giving them this weird-*ss look. (Weird chad face lol) This kept happening for WEEKS, increasing in intensity. Elle left the school in 8th grade bc of this.
Load More Replies... Sydnie Laney 3 years ago
every time bullying happens and I find out I warn other kids, if it continues I report, if it wont work then ,i take matters in my own fists
Peej Maybe 3 years ago
Bullying definitely needs dealing with more effectively than exclusion, and harassment in any form by one pupil to another shouldn't be tolerated at all even if it's the sort of thing adults think is relatively harmless. Psychologically, it could be screwing someone's life up on a daily basis
#7
More money for education, education should be one of the top priority for each government, everywhere in the world
Final score:
28points
Nancy B Frisbie Abdallah 3 years ago
Yes education should be #1 priority in US budget. Then all schools should have a base budget as well as teacher pay having a base budget. Then according to area and economy have increased so a teacher can live in that area without having to work two jobs. A base pay scale should level the playing field where high economic areas would not have a huge advantage over low economic districts. Education should not be paid according to the homeowner tax base. That leaves inner city schools at an unfair disadvantage. The war machine need not be the big winner in the country’s budget. It’s more now than when America was in the east. Rectify teacher pay so great teachers have the incentive to go to inner city schools or remote towns. Education needs to be funded fairly then you wouldn’t have a top paying state list. Florida being 48th…. Pay scale here sucks and the republicans just made it worse. The only raises are for new teachers. They stay a few years and then leave because the pay stays.
Luis Gomez 3 years ago
But how is the USA government going to afford to kill brown people overseas and keep all those military bases all over the world?
#8
Expecting so much out of teachers and in return paying them so little.
Final score:
25points
#9
The way bullying is handled. Being a student myself, I have witnessed many other students being bullied to the extent of tears, and when they alert their teachers about it, they just turn a blind eye. This is not - and won't ever be- okay. Kids commit [unalive] because of bullying. We need to make a change.
Final score:
24points
BeepBeepBoopBoop 3 years ago
I'm so sorry this happened, I hope it gets better and be proud of what you believe in! (This is no intention to be rude)
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TotallyNOTaFox 3 years ago
Somebody searched for trouble, got mad that I ignored them and punched me - teacher said I provoked it... took that as permission to show my martial art skills.
#10
I was a High School teacher so I am drawing on my experience here. The Finnish system is the world's best. Follow that and all of society will benefit. Please research before commenting.
Final score:
23points
phoenix_rising 3 years ago
Just read this: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/10-reasons-why-finlands-education-system-is-the-best-in-the-world
#11
Teach things that will make a difference in a persons life such as ...life skills on a global and multicultural level. Planning and managing goals, finances, income, taxes, insurance, home purchase, home mantenance, auto maintenance, navigating bureaucracy and the paperwork involved, law, political governance, voting, cooking, cleaning, purchasing goods and groceries, building and maintaining relationships, having children, writing a will, planning a funeral, building a viable business, wilderness survival skills, sewing skills, plant identification, basic first aid, and I'm certain there is much more I have missed. STEM should also be taught but leave specialized interests for post secondary (which should be free), with introductories in high school. Also, when things like chemistry are taught, teach the correct and most current information. Kids don't need their heads filled with the historical progression of scientific understanding that was proven wrong except in a history class.
Final score:
21points
A Jones 3 years ago
This is good. My HS had an independent living class and it did well to cover these topics, including how to mend clothes. I do wish they cover how to handle credit cards much deeper.
Stephanie Goadsby (Submission author) 3 years ago
My HS had parenting class, foods class, and fashion class. They barely scratched the surface on anything truely useful in any long term sense. Handling credit cards should be dissected fully in schools. There is so much involved in your credit score that people don't even realize and it can get overwhelming when you have no other option but to charge your basic needs to credit even though you know that it's going to cost you more later. Having an effective plan to pay it off is even more important or you end up nickled and dimed to death. Knowing the best way to build good credit can be difficult if you don't know what makes the biggest impact.
Load More Replies... TotallyNOTaFox 3 years ago
We learn a lot of such stuff in Germany in school - not as much as we should but the basics are covered
Stephanie Goadsby (Submission author) 3 years ago
That's wonderful. We barely even get any basics in Canada. The only reason I posess these skills is through my own desire or having the need to educate myself, otherwise knowing someone willing to teach me their craft. I am fortunate to know people from many walks of life with a broad spectrum of skills.
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Hey! 3 years ago
Most of these topics were taught at home by my parents, and then we taught our children in return.
Stephanie Goadsby (Submission author) 3 years ago
I wish it were still like that. Though I'm sure families like that are not extinct, they certaily aren't as prevalent. It takes a villiage as the saying goes. Too much has been lost. My parents have certain skill sets. The problem is their lack of will to impart them. More important things to do than teach their only child if you know what I mean.
Load More Replies... #12
I live in Canada. Despite being a bilingual country only one province is committed to being bilingual (not the one you think-- it's actually the ittt bitty province of New Brunswick out in the Maritimes). I dislike that there is no consistency in the country for how language is taught. What I would want is for half days to be French and half to be English with a period devoted in each grade to native languages. It's embarrassing to honestly have no clue how to pronounce names that use characters from outside our typical alphabet especially when those people are literally born and raised here. I would also want, at least for a couple years in elementary, a period devoted to ASL-- it shouldn't be on me to pay for a college course as an adult to learn how to better communicate with deaf people in our society, the government knows they exist, why create systemic isolation? If there is time to learn how to use a computer in the 21st century where kids start school already owning one, then there should be time to learn languages that both honour our country's heritage and help us communicate with those we would otherwise make feel uncomfortable. As it is, in my province (Ontario), you are only required to have one period of french up to grade 9, after that you can switch to a different language or continue in French for another year or two. I had the privilege of attending a private French immersion school so all classes except for English were taught in French-- I speak both fluently and can couch that it in no way inhibits your ability to speak English, if anything it helps you learn the intricacies of grammar conventions.
Final score:
18points
Panda For Scale 3 years ago
ASL, yes! My friend is a college ASL professor. After much hard work, she was able to have ASL declared a microcredential. https://exceptionaleducation.buffalostate.edu/microcredentials
Panda For Scale 3 years ago
And she wrote a children's book about a deaf child living in a hearing world. Here's the link: My Happy Place https://a.co/d/e2j4a0G
Load More Replies... Hey! 3 years ago
We're also in Ontario and my 3 children learned ASL in school; it was integrated somehow.
Hales M (Submission author) 3 years ago (edited)
Oh wow you're super lucky! I attended three elementary schools and one highschool. None of them had ASL except for 1 had an ASL club but it was only held once a month after school but it was at the same time as most sports/band meets.
Load More Replies... Ashley Schriber 3 years ago
I'm Ontarian, too. I'd love to be bilingual, but despite getting top grades in French (and I did it from grade 1 to grade 11 or 12), I cannot conduct a French conversation. Hmm, I'm starting to notice a pattern here on the relationship between achievement in school and real-life benefits in adulthood...
Hales M (Submission author) 3 years ago
Yeah, honestly it makes such a massive difference to be expected to ask questions and answer fully in french. I transferred to public school in grade 8 and was told that when I ask questions in French class to ask in English so the other students could understand my question. I pointed out that if they couldn't understand my present tense and conditional questions at that point then that was all the more reason to speak French. I was not a favourite. I also will point out my teacher spoke in English to explain all exercises and lessons. This was also a school where I was told cursive wasn't allowed as they never taught it and they peer-mark most quizzes... I have never hated a school more.
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Xenon 3 years ago (edited)
Thanks, that was distraction as hell for mes, haha.
Load More Replies... #13
1. School funding should not be determined by standardized test scores, the "gifted" schools have the highest state funding and endless amounts of programs, while "regular" schools are cutting extracurricular programs left and right since they can't afford it. 2. Pay teachers better wages AND provide the supplies needed for their classrooms to function. I'm not talking about the fun posters I just mean basic material required. Pencils, paper, white board markers. We managed to rent all these kids laptops during covid but can't provide teachers basic supplies in the classroom? 3. A curriculum catered to the needs of the individual student. Not everyone learns the same way or at the same pace, but every child deserves the chance for a proper education. 4. Edible school lunches. 5. The ability to effectively protect children from school violence, ranging from a fight to a firearm. 6. Putting kids in detention and preventing them from catching up on homework/class work. Seriously? I was honestly floored to hear this from my high schooler.
Final score:
17points
Hey! 3 years ago
#3 My oldest son got in trouble all the time in Grade 1 because he would finish early and then help out the others. The teacher was not amused. I tried to get her to give him more; she wouldn't. I also went to the principal. No one is budging. No one is "special". Changed school the year after that where the grades were also separated in the same class by their needs. Game changer.
Rando-Pando 3 years ago
(Responding to #1) Just fyi not all schools for "gifted kids" (kids that tend to already understand the things being taught in regular school so they need higher level stuff in order to actually learn instead of sitting through all of their years at school not learning anything) have good funding and or are noticed very much by the system. Sorry this is so long, I had to get it outta my system. Also speaking from experience.
TKA 3 years ago
I think here iss (in school suspension aka detention) they have to be doing school work. Oss (out of school suspension) they can do what they want. OSS is like a reward, they get days off school with no rules. When our daughter was in 9th grade she got oss for 3 days because she defended herself against a girl trying to beat her up.
#14
Dress codes. Kids should be able to wear what makes them comfortable, not what the school seems fit. At my high school, they banned Hoodies, Crocs, Open-Toed shoes and a bunch of other things.
Final score:
16points
BeepBeepBoopBoop 3 years ago (edited)
I agree, but there's some things that just aren't appropriate and I see fit. Now your schools banned things that you mentioned seem dumb lol. The only thing that ever stuck out to me about my school's dress code is no tops without straps, and shorts or skirts or anything like that have to go to mid thigh. I see both of those as good. Also our big school has a completely gender neutral dress code and I've seen boys get dress coded for shorts being too short
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
Wow. You're so lucky. There's kids at my school who wear short-shorts, NO PANTS, 🍝 straps, and NO SHIRT (both male and female). Some people just want to watch the world burn....
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Whitefox 3 years ago
I feel there does need to be a basic dress code for both genders. But kids also need a chance to learn how to dress themselves and what their individual style will be. Uniforms do not allow that. It's hard to be a young adult wanting to find out who they are when they cant experiment safely. After they graduate they are facing a whole new set of norms and are having to figured out what to do with their lives. It just seems to me that a kid whos ben allowed to make some personal choices will be better equipped to move on to that than someone who has been stunted and now has to figure that out on top of everything else.
Bluekittyhorse 3 years ago
I don't particularly like dress codes and uniforms, however I do understand they're needed to keep some students from wearing inappropriate clothing. And I understand why my school (a career center) has uniforms. Some classes require certain outfits due to the nature of the trade they're teaching, and my school also uses it to identify what your trade to better keep track of the students (which is very useful in situations where we have to leave the building and kids sometimes get mixed up, like when the Automotive kids set something on fire the second week of school).
Peej Maybe 3 years ago
Uniforms are dumb but ffs schools, if you're going to make your kids wear one, at least let them source the clothes from ANY vendor, not just some stupid expensive company the school took a back hander off
Hey! 3 years ago
Depends. I sent my kids to a private school one year and the uniform consisted of pants/skirt, shirt/blouse, tie and a vest made out of polar which was great during winter (-40°C), not so great during the summer (+40°C).
Load More Replies... DeoManus Argentem 3 years ago
I can't agree with this - I support uniforms. It makes everyone equal. Also, for a kid school is their "job" - if you're working blue collar you most likely wear a uniform, if you're a white collar professional you generally have a written/unwritten understanding of what's appropriate to wear. If your attorney/accountant/surgeon/financial advisor showed up wearing a hoodie, shorts, and crocs... Well, you do you! Plus, it's so convenient for kids to just grab a shirt and pair of pants and go! No judgment because you wore the same thing yesterday!
#15
I would like to see schools stop allowing small minorities of parents-with zero background in education-influence what children learn or what books kids have access to. If you don't want your child learning about something, it's your responsibility to restrict it, just like you would with a violent TV program.
Final score:
14points
Sharon Morris 3 years ago (edited)
Yes, STOP Banning books! Knowledge that's not shared is wasted. If you don't agree on the subject, don't try to stop all from learning.
ItsJess (Submission author) 3 years ago
Maybe I'm biased, because I had very present parents who encouraged me learning about everything. Nothing was off limits- they watched what I was reading or watching like a hawk, but were always open to talking about what I'd seen and answering questions I had. Even controversial issues, my parents helped guide what was appropriate at what age and helped me understand on that level. And they placed lots of faith in my teachers to do the same thing. They asked what I was learning about in school, but trusted that my teachers would guide me to develop my critical thinking skills so that I could understand things happening in the world. I see a lot of Gen Z rebelling by learning, of all things, and fighting to understand issues that affect people everywhere. It gives me a lot of hope for the future, but I feel sad that learning and reading has become a transgressive activity. I'll gladly take my downvotes on this, I have educators in the family and this is a hill I'll die on.
Load More Replies... #16
Minority kids should be treated fairly. I'm in a UT school rn. I got tackled a few days ago bc I was wearing a Pride pin.
Final score:
13points
Sardonyx_3 (Submission author) 3 years ago
1 Mistranslated word in the Christian bible= widespread phobia.
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H M 3 years ago
And the flip side? School told GD she is trans cause she likes computers and over rode parent. Confusing the young...
Sardonyx_3 (Submission author) 3 years ago
GD? Also wow. Some adults are so incredibly idiotic...
Load More Replies... Sardonyx_3 (Submission author) 3 years ago (edited)
Do you REALLY want to go there? Because I will GO THERE.
Load More Replies... #17
Got 5 Things! Here we are: Firstly, the excessive amount of Homework. I don’t want to have to be doing six hours of science per night, but oh well, here I am. I’m not saying effectively rule-out homework as a thing, but tone it down a little. Well, a lot. Secondly, we need to learn some basic Life Skills. Finance, Economics, Cooking, Cleaning (both boys & girls!), Self-Care & Hygiene (would have helped some kids in my class 🤮) and the rest of the basic stuff you gotta know. Thirdly, Single-Sex Bathrooms & Changing Rooms. It’s SO uncomfortable having to basically get naked with a large, hormonal male staring at you from across the locker room. I don’t get how some people think this is inclusive. Fourth, the Bullying Situation. We need more opportunities for people who experience bullying to be able to seek help (sometimes anonymously due to embarrassment or shame) after being subjected to harassment / bullying at school. Lastly, more lessons on acceptance of your body. You only got one, there’s no point in endlessly comparing it with others and wishing you could change things about yourself, it just leads to dysmorphia. You’re fine EXACTLY as you are!
Final score:
13points
Scipio Africanus 3 years ago
No school I’ve ever seen has had universal bathrooms or changing rooms
TKA 3 years ago
I’ve only read this recently on here from another country and the pe teacher watches. I can’t believe that is a thing, I didn’t even like changing in front of other girls (I’m a girl obviously)
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Just a panda 3 years ago
Tbh they should just make a small lil space so you can privately change or make bathrooms a lil more private like... what's with the space under the door? I also have one more... My sister once was stuck in a room ALL DAY because she didn't know something. NO ONE CAN PROVE WHATS IN YOUR MIND!!!!!
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
My favorite idea for gender-neutral bathrooms that DON'T push the limit you described in your post: Urinals (WITH INDIVIDUAL STALLS) and Toilets ~
Hey! 3 years ago
I agree with the homework. No one should bring homework back at home, just like parents (most of them) don't bring work back at home. Life skills should be learned at home. I was and I taught my children too. Are you saying male/female are changing in the same room, at the same time??? Even our Phys. Ed is separated. Wow. Enough that we need to be naked in front of other girls, but in front of males. No way.
#18
American here: Logic, as a skill, needs to be more emphasized. Many classes have bits of that incorporated, but evidently not enough.
Final score:
13points
Graham Berry 3 years ago
Yes, I was hoping some one would mention this one. Logic and critical thinking should be integrated into every class curriculum and grade of school with no exceptions. You want people to be smart, then teach them to think. This alone would solve so many problems.
marianne eliza 3 years ago
And critical thinking. My favorite college class but really needed in high school.
#19
The fact that the school is run by a man so as a 7th grader we are not allowed to bring purses to school to store period products and if we take a pad out of our pencil cases in a male teachers classrooms you're asked what it is as they think you're being sneaky with a phone or something. Absolutely disgusting, these people.
Final score:
12points
ItsJess 3 years ago
I know it can be embarrassing, but to counter this, I would 100% be as open as possible about the state of my period. You won't allow me privacy or discretion? Okay, I'm going to share EVERYTHING about my period and wave my gigantic pads in front of you, and loudly announce my frequent need to use the restroom thanks to gas, period poops, more frequent peeing and the need to change hygiene products frequently.
Hey! 3 years ago
My oldest brother taught special need children from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Every year he bonded with a female teacher so she could follow his female students to the washroom, explain about periods, etc. The first year he didn't and the parents were insulted he would explain such a thing to their daughter (why didn't you do it yourself then?). He wasn't following them to the washroom, he would do a demo in class for everyone.
onivdsrapowijap 3 years ago (edited)
The first sentence implies that it's the fact that a man runs the school that is the problem, when the problem is really that the person who runs the school doesn't allow purses or period products. There are definitely a lot of misogynistic men who don't allow period products, but it's the "misogynistic" part that's the problem, not that it's run by a man.
#20
Change the curriculum for special needs students. I am level one autistic and so many times I would tell my teacher that their, questions, or instructions don't make sense. They'd just go (insert Karen voice) "Well, EVERYONE ELSE got it" well I'm sorry I have a condition that makes me different! We have the technology to do personalized learning plans where everyone has their own special curriculum, just we've been doing the old way for so long and the teachers are lazy. 2. Less school days! Just from being at school for a day causes me to hide in my room for the rest of the day, it's hard for me to go 5 days a week because I'm autistic level one. 3. Teachers need to be payed more 4. Teachers should show that they care and not be sarcastic. I've cried so many times because a teacher was sarcastic to me. (Which I can't tell what's sarcasm or not too well) and so many teachers just don't want to talk to me and treat me like a human. The classes I do best in are the ones where the teacher is kind to me and I want to impress them. If they don't care then I don't care THIS IS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM BTW
Final score:
11points
Sydnie Laney 3 years ago
same! I have ptsd ,depression, and anxiety! They just act like im supposed to at normal? Then you blame me for it? I went though it And I cannot control ANY of it!
BeepBeepBoopBoop 3 years ago
sending my wishes for it to get better. I really wish more teachers would take their own students more seriously, and maybe take the way they learn into account.
Load More Replies... Hey! 3 years ago (edited)
You would have loved my now retired brother. He taught Gr 8-12 for special need teenagers. The first two years he was just teaching Gr 10 I think and then parents and teachers realized that the students would benefit better if they kept the same teacher all through high school. The kids got better grades after that. Ontario Canada.
Michelle Reynolds 3 years ago
This is hard because there are not enough teachers to teach at every student's level, they have to teach to the majority. Supplemental programs are designed to help struggling students, but even then, it may not be enough.
TKA 3 years ago
When our kids went to a rich school, they had to test bad enough to get on an iep and get extra help or text smart enough to be in advanced classes, they only allowed so many in each (say 25) but if they were 26 in test scores they got nothing. When we moved to a poorer area, the school immediately put them in the correct classes. They didn’t have a maximum number of kids that they could give help too. It’s really sad! I’m so glad we moved when we did (2nd & 4th grade). Our son is a freshman and is off his iep and is even in one advanced class and all his other classes are mostly with typical kids, meaning there isn’t a 2 special ed teacher in class.
Christa Neves 3 years ago
What exactly is "autistic level 1"? I've never heard that terminology before. I would assume that you mean that you are considered high-functioning on the autistic scale but Autism is not something that is easy to quantify and covers a huge range of symptoms, so there's really no way to designate "levels" by a number. The most common general descriptors are "high-functioning", "mid-functioning" and "low-functioning", possibly combined with another identifier like "verbal" or "non-verbal". One symptom of Autism is being pedantic. The teacher who tried the "everyone else got it" response is either naive, or in denial. If there's one student who says they didn't understand, there's going to be more than one who also didn't understand and just didn't say so. The only exception that I can think to this is if the first student "didn't understand" because they weren't paying attention and the rest of the class was. Just so you know, I am a high-functioning (verbal) Autistic educator.
Chickens are fluffy (Submission author) 3 years ago
Yes I'm high-functioning, I don't normally say it like that because my parents don't like it when I say it. They think it give off the wrong impression on people. So I go with the level system to say where I am on the spectrum, but not a lot of people seem to know it. Sorry for the confusion
Load More Replies... #21
Funding. Every public school ( US) would get all the funding needed to pay the teachers living wages. To feed the poorest kids a Healthy meal(s) To teach foreign language, arts, and music starting in grade school. As well as the math, science, literature, etc. Curriculum. The US was supposed to be the great melting pot. But how do you blend with a monolingual education? Our educational system is the laughing stock of the world.
Final score:
11points
#22
Learn anything anytime for free for all your life.
Final score:
11points
#23
1. Smaller class sizes. This means hiring more teachers, which means paying them better and treating them better. Many studies have shown how much better smaller class sizes are for everybody: less stress for teachers, more individual attention for students, and the teacher has time and energy to understand individual students' needs. 2. Equalize the amount of money the schools get for students. My first-year college students were always appalled when I explained to them that in the US, it's local property taxes that pay for local schools, meaning that poorer areas with lower property values get significantly less money for their students. My first-years always asked why the US didn't pool the tax money federally and then dole it out equally per student. I told them I had no idea, because that is definitely what we should be doing! The current system feeds into vicious cycles of poverty.
Final score:
9points
Ash (Submission author) 3 years ago
I totally forgot to add that students should be having mental health classes from an early age! Learning about emotional management, self-soothing, self-care, healthy friendships/relationships, conflict resolution, active listening, etc. A lot of schools only teach these things to students whose emotional problems are so obvious that they've been placed in an Emotional Support class, but honestly mental health problems are so widespread now that these subjects should be taught to everybody!
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
And also adding: Mental health classes shouldn't just be the teacher explaining the dictionary definitions of related words; it should be more educated. i.e. Depression comes in varying levels and/or waves. etc.
Load More Replies...
Cactus 1549 3 years ago
I think the reason that they don’t pool the money and distribute it equally per student is because that is one of the bases of how communism works, and almost 100% of people in the US are against that no matter how beneficial it could be, just because it is communism.
Cactus 1549 3 years ago (edited)
Though I do think that distributing it equally among the students would be a good idea. Edit: punctuation
Load More Replies... #24
Probably won’t be a fan-favorite, but making political history education stronger. Understanding the history of politics is what creates thoughtful voters.
Final score:
9points
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
Ugh. Some kids in my history class are F^cking Dumba$ses. We were all re-learning about Colombus. (btw Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! ^V^) and some IDIOT said (and I QUOTE): "Well, Colombus was a GREAT guy. He discovered America. And traded shiny things to the InDiAnS!" Yep. They said it. Also, we were told BY THE TEACHER how the term "Indian" is INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE. And. Yet. They. Still. Said. It. It's incredibly aggravating to the point where I want to switch classes.
#25
Stop the no-tolerance nonsense and allow for flex-tolerance judicial protocols. This protocol should allow both students & parents/guardians to submit an appeal to cases. Learning how to appeal to cases is important to development, judicial experience, and form processes.
Final score:
8points
enohPilivE 3 years ago
Nope. Bullying is bullying. Being a little disruptive sh** in class is being a little disruptive sh** in class. Your child needs to learn how to grow without it being at the expense of others - if you don't believe in it then you are a miserable human being. NOTE: If your child has special needs, like autism or adhd that are beyond your control, suck it up and ask for help. Your child and/or you are not any less normal or less of a person for it and in fact you are robbing them of their potential in life by insisting they get treated differently on outcomes rather than being incorporated equitably into the process.
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
The problem with the zero tolerance system is the victim of bullying is punished the same as the bully. It doesn't matter, both are equally guilty. How is that right? I understand what you're saying and agree, but zero tolerance does more harm than good.
Load More Replies... Gretchen Marie 3 years ago
I have not encountered and situation where I could see this as wise.
#26
Later start times and please, PLEASE, better sex education. My school literally asked us if we knew how sex worked, and when the class raised their hands to say they did, the teacher just showed an animated video of the life of a sperm cell. I didn’t know how any of it worked, I had been looking forward to the class to have my questions answered. But I was too embarrassed to speak up, everyone else seemed to know already. Also, lgbtq inclusive sex ed! I’m an 18 year old lesbian now and only just properly learned about the hymen and that “breaking it” is a myth. That’s not right.
Final score:
8points
Stolas <3 3 years ago
Yes! As an aroace, I wish they told us that we didn't have to feel these emotions if we didn't want to. They were normalized in my middle school, people were confused as to why I didn't have/want a boyfriend. 1) Aro 2) Suzy, middle school relationships last one or two weeks, give it a break.
DramaNerd 3 years ago
Yes! I hate the “sex feelings are natural and human” talk. If everyone has them, how come I don’t? I’m ace-arospec btw
Load More Replies... MegTheSteg (Submission author) 3 years ago
I see you didn't get properly educated either, sorry about that.
Load More Replies... #27
I'm a former military B.R.A.T., born and raised. Because of this my siblings and I were able to experience other cultures and their education systems. I have to honestly say the USA education system completely sucks. In Japan kids are in school from 6am to 6pm. No one changes classrooms except the teachers. Lunch is at your desk and free. Vacation breaks are non-existent. In Germany and most European schools you are taught a trade at fifteen years of age and your entire education is FREE and not paid for through property taxes, enabling everyone to be taught fairly. Childcare is usually unnecessary as most of these educational systems require children to be in school before their parents leave for work and end after most parents are home. As in the US military, if there's a problem with your child in school, the parents supervisor/boss is notified. And the parent has to report back to said supervisor on how the issue was resolved. This tends to severely cut down on behavioral issues and child abuse. Exposure to other cultures assists in allowing us to see past differences, see other people are just as human as we are with similar hopes and dreams and enlarges our minds to consider other opinions and future possibilities. The US educational system is archaic and corrupt. Most countries know more about our true history than we do. These are several of the reasons the US rarely ranks higher than 24 on the list for the best educational system worldwide. There are several "3rd world" countries that remain ranked higher than us every single year. US textbooks, syllabus, exams and educational requirements are NOT controlled or created by educators. There is a small corporate group with its own agenda dictating these things by offering textbooks and much needed supplies for free. Most US teachers detest all of the above but are not allowed any other alternative without risking termination. This how we got here, this toxic environment of today. Isn't it time for a major change?
Final score:
8points
Cactus 1549 3 years ago
Is Japan actually in school for 12 hours a day, every day (except Saturday and Sunday) all year, with no vacation breaks or extra days off school? The post was a little unclear on that.
onivdsrapowijap 3 years ago
A school day in Japan is only 6-7 hours, which is pretty short, but there's also a ton of homework and longer school years. And extremely strict parents, who make their kids' school experience miserable by beating them for bad grades.
Load More Replies... #28
Way less focus on sports. Especially football. I don’t see the appeal in watching a bunch of idiots slam into each other, and the football guys always have massive egos. I’m American btw, and I think our country would be better off if we actually focused on learning important stuff.
Final score:
8points
onivdsrapowijap 3 years ago
I think sports are very important in school. They help children stay healthy and give them something to take their mind off the stress of school. If you don't like football, there's always other sports. And if there aren't other sports... well, time to find a new school, because a school that doesn't offer multiple sports probably isn't a good one.
#29
Naptimes I think school should have Naptime students are expected to be 100% ready at all time but we have to wake up early and (sometimes) go to bed late like for studying and are expected to do good on all assignments/tests given I think naptimes are necessary for school
Final score:
7points
#30
We have a system in the UK where successive governments have tried to hide the impact of generation upon generation of funding reductions by making the syllabus' and exams easier. I remember my daughter doing her school leaver exams and me asking her questions and her answers other than basics were 'that's not on the syllabus'... or 'we don't have to know that'. I know a number of university academics who say that it used to be in a degree course that the 1st year was revisiting basic stuff just to make sure all the students were on the same page, now it's the first two years doing it. All so some twat of a politician who got a private education off mummy and daddy can say 'see? Grades have gone up... so we're doing a good job.' Kids are not getting thicker or more stupid, but they are getting a raw deal by being turned out thinking they're well-educated when they're not compared with previous generations.
Final score:
7points
#31
as much as i believe in being progressive in most things, when it comes to our school/educational system i feel we need to stop trying to be progressive and take a step back. instead of using textbooks which can be used over several years teachers now use a lot of copied handouts. subjects such as math don't change so why should a book be considered obsolete? also, english grammar books could be replaced with a simplistic version of the harbrace handbook for elementary students which is pretty cut and dry in how to write effectively. ALL parts of history should be taught and, again, the use of textbooks would be essential to this. it would make the students have to read and digest the information rather than have a handout with simple target points that don't show how something that happened 100 yrs ago is currently effecting our societies. i know that many would not agree with me and that's okay but i believe that getting an education means you have to put some effort into it. school does not have to be dry and boring if teachers are allowed to be creative and inventive in their methods. and, for heaven's sakes, a real change needs to be made by parents - something that is not within the parameters of the schools - but they need to be involved in their children's education at least to the point in that they know what the kids are studying. most parents don't like homework and think it is too much but it is one of the first lessons that kids learn in time management. so, in that vein, the teachers collectively need to make sure that the students aren't being loaded down with homework for four subjects on a single night. yes, changing the system would be complicated but i think the benefits that would be available for the kids would be worth it.
Final score:
6points
#32
Websites. UNBLOCKED.
Final score:
6points
TooShy4Identity44 (Submission author) 3 years ago (edited)
Truth: There was one time I searched for something for quick research, and I got really frustrated because of the keyword, and it was blocked. send help. Don't downvote this. The downvote button could also mean the same thing as the report button.
Xenon 3 years ago
Curious as to what the word was. Of course bp will probably censor it as well if you answer, haha.
Load More Replies... #33
Qualified teachers in classrooms teaching, not teaching assistants. TA’s assisting teachers, not teaching whole classes. TA’s are no longer mums washing paint pots! TA’s should be used for intervention, small groups, classroom prep and 1to1 assistance not covering teachers because schools can’t or won’t spend money on paying for supply cover. Even more so since academies pay thousands for CEOs, executives and leaders & various other heads of this that & the other. An old saying- too many chiefs & not enough Indians. Could go on but won’t. I’m having a rant! 🙈😂
Final score:
5points
#34
Kids with abuse or tramatic backgrounds should not be in the class with the rest when ; Scary videos, scenitive ones, judement videos, yelling or screaming, loud noises, and speaking of fostercare and DHS in front of us and doing things that scare people? Like I can handle most of it, but sometimes its too real! I will defend myself and I will fight for what needs to be done!
Final score:
5points
DramaNerd 3 years ago
And even if the teacher mentions something about how you can leave if you want too, nobody ever does cause it’s embarrassing
Sydnie Laney (Submission author) 3 years ago
that is true I understand that, but maybe when teaching a subject they can let us go for awhile, if others don't understand, make them, or show them, justice and equality reardless the past for all
Load More Replies... Ash 3 years ago
I don't know that kids with traumatic backgrounds shouldn't be in class with other kids, but there definitely needs to be more sensitivity about the fact that there may be students there who are struggling with PTSD etc. Also, everybody should be getting mental health instruction from a young age!
Sydnie Laney (Submission author) 3 years ago
only leaving the classroom when the topic occours (Sorry forgot to mention, I realized the mistake in my explaination above) I agree everyone should get help with mental health instuction, and there can be sensitivity
Load More Replies... Hey! 3 years ago
I ran out of a movie theatre one time. All the above post was included and I could no longer breathe and I was probably panicking. The staff asked if I was okay and my husband assured them I would be. When you live through something you can't see it done in movies particularly, like physical/sexual abuse.
Sydnie Laney (Submission author) 3 years ago
Im so sorry for what happened to you, I'll be praying, I hope you get better with this soon, I wish I were there to help you in person.
Load More Replies... Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
I have a sensitivity to loud noises (yelling/screaming/weird sh!t kids yell in class). I usually have my computer open and have earbuds in.(~Spotify~) All of my teachers think that I'm "not sensitive" and "just faking it". It's really annoying and I really wish most teachers could learn that I(and LOTS of other teens) am sensitive to loud noises (sensory overload), intense temperatures (please keep the room BELOW the "mild heat" of 90 F), and certain actions (No I do NOT want to get the top of my head/back "patted" by random strangers if I get a question correct.).
Sydnie Laney (Submission author) 3 years ago
You should make them understand about this, its not fair to assume someone is fine, they clearly never went through anything
Load More Replies... Michelle Reynolds 3 years ago
I can see this in elementary, but students need to know how the real world works.
Gretchen Marie 3 years ago
I believe this person is referring to PTSD which most of these children have.
Load More Replies... #35
The methode of watering down the education to get as many kids through as possible. I honestly think that it's more benefitial to let them work to pass rather than lowering the requirements over time just t o have pretty numbers. We in Germany have 4 seperate kinds of "High School" for kids with different potentials, so the effect of the smart kids being weighted down has a buffer. (Some idealists want to change that to not "discriminate" the slower kids though...)
Final score:
5points
#36
Teach adulting. No school systems adults would not work in. No homework.
Final score:
4points
#37
Way less bureaucracy and busy body paperwork for the teachers.
Final score:
4points
#38
Smaller schools. Administrators need to be familiar with all the kids and be able to treat/help them on an individual basis rather than single policy/across the board/one size fits all policies.
Final score:
4points
Mia Franze 3 years ago
If more students who don't speak English are in a class in the USA with native English speakers, it causes a barrier to those students that speak English, so obviously much of the time is taken up with "translating" than educating. I am a firm believer that if you live in the USA, you NEED to learn English, don't hold other students back from advancing THEIR educational. This was/is a consistent issue in areas with large immigration problems. The schools require extra resources that tax payers get stuck paying.
#39
Actually paying teachers💁
Final score:
4points
#40
I have somethings I would change (sorry if I copied someone's answer I could only skim over some answers because my battery is at 9%) Better food. Please don't feed kids mystery meat and "mashed potatoes" then go on and talk about how to eat healthy. Pay Teachers more. They are bringing knowledge to the next generation and they get paid 10-20 dollars an hour? Who actually wants to be a teacher after hearing you have to deal with kids and some have attitude and get paid hardly enough. 8% my battery is dying still. Maybe be a bit lighter on homework, if you are complaining about you working after hours what about the kids doing school after school hours. At least make some of it optional. Being able to enforce stuff. Don't just watch your kids get stoned and swap drugs. Please at least stand up for someone being bullied. You think that the short kid is gonna do something? I wish i could do more but it is 5%
Final score:
4points
#41
The strict dress codes. PERIODT!!
Final score:
4points
#42
Retired teacher here, so QUITE a few things: -- invest as much money as possible in early childhood education -- centralize education on the Federal level, so that all educator salaries are the median average for the entire US. As it is now, people on the coasts generally do very well as teachers; people anywhere else, esp in the South, do not do well at all. I moved from the South to the West Coast, just so I would do a lot better as a teacher. -- make school lunches a lot better. Michelle Obama had the right idea, but it was too much too soon. Bring back salad bars, please. -- hunger can be hard to spot; one school at the very least in each county/parish (I'm from Louisiana originally) should be designated a site where kids can get grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches. I taught high school in a very affluent area of Los Angeles. Each day I brought a bag of home-cooked food to school, and left with it empty every day, even in an affluent area. Kids (and staff) get hungry. Fed people feel cared for, and can function better. -- Don't evaluate teachers' ability to teach on how well or poorly a kid takes a test. Just so ridiculous. -- Aggressively vet administrators. Rotate them back into the classroom when complaints come pouring in, and they've lost touch with what it's like to be a teacher. Five years as admin, one or two back in the classroom. Make them get back in touch with EVERYTHING teachers have to do and are responsible for. -- Restorative justice works. Say a kid tags a desk; make the kid write an apology to the teacher AND clean all the desks. Let kids know actions have consequences. -- Make schools safe for LGBTQ+ and trans students. Have designated safe bathrooms for everyone. -- Make administration do yard duty, while teachers get a break. It's what we had in Los Angeles due to a strong teachers' union. We had nutrition (15-20 minutes) and lunch (30 minutes) off. Time to eat, decompress, relax for a minute, run to the restroom, make copies, check phones/messages, or just chill out for a bit. -- Teachers' unions across the US, including a national teachers' unions. In Los Angeles, we fought for and got better working conditions a couple of times. Workers control the means of production! Workers together are far more powerful than any small powers-that-be. Without teachers, staff, custodians, etc., there is no school.
Final score:
4points
#43
take all politics out of the classroom.
Final score:
4points
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
no, the reason you bunch vote against your class interests is precisely because you've been given an unbalanced/incorrect political education.
K80.127 3 years ago
This needs to be higher. I HATE that my children come home from school with political stuff (kindergarten and first grade)! Stop changing the curriculum around the current "hot topics" for politics - if it needs to be changed, give it a few years to be out of the public eye -
#44
Get rid of SPORTS! Massive amounts of $$$ are spent on equipment only used by a few, fewer will ever play sports outside of school. NO pep rallies that take away from class time, NO uniforms, NO team signs. NO stadium for one sport! No sports injuries. Have exercise classes.
Final score:
4points
onivdsrapowijap 3 years ago
I understand wanting to focus less on sports, but getting rid of them entirely? What about kids whose parents can't afford to or simply aren't willing to help them sign up for sports outside of school?
#45
The stupid dress code. I hate all of it who looks at someone's knees and is like ooo your smexy
Final score:
3points
Lia Salvatore 3 years ago
upvote x 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
#46
Less testing, less grades. More practical learning (learning about adding numbers while grocery shopping or learning languages via penpalling. Et cetera). Not too big classes. Not using tablets/computers all the time. It's important to do stuff manually. And honestly, I want the school system in my country to make it mandatory again to choose either German or French as one's 2nd foreign language (English is mandatory as the 1st foreign language). And they should stop with forcing special needs kids to go to public school. There's simply too many heartbreaking stories if kids with severe autism that go through hell when they go to a normal public school and their parents fight hard battles to have their kids go to schools that spezializes in whatever the kids struggle with.
Final score:
3points
#47
Liveable wages for teachers. Class materials and supplies provided by the schools.
Final score:
3points
#48
The dress code! At my school, straps have to be 4 fingers wide and if we wear leggings we have to have fingertip length shirts. One time someone came up to me and asked "Is my shirt too short?" and I said no. She said that our principal said it was. I saw someone else with the exact same shirt in a different color and she said she didn't get told anything. I have more complaints, but this is the main one.
Final score:
2points
enohPilivE 3 years ago
Just implement uniforms. Eliminates bullying and makes selective enforcement of guidelines such as length of skirt much more obvious. Level the playing field and be done with it.
Christa Neves 3 years ago
Stretch pants/leggings are ok if they are opaque and fit (not too small) but all too often I can see undergarments through the material and, like it or not, that is distracting. I've seen students wear tights as leggings even though such were never meant to be worn as outerwear (they are see-through!). It is a similar issue with necklines on tops and exposed midriffs. When you toss in runaway hormones, the distraction gets even worse. I wish my school would go with a uniform but too many people complain about the expense and lack of individual expression. BTW, I'm an educator, not a student.
#49
There’s a few: 1)As a student I find that tests are really hurtful to confidence as I’m a bad test taker but know all the subject matter. Having limited tests or no tests would be an improvement 2)a serious no tolerance policy on drugs bullying or false accusations(wether be academic or other 3) self expression. I can’t wear a racer back tank top without being dress coded but the cheerleaders are allowed to walk around with half their butts sticking out 4) more basic life skills teaching- financing, repair, and building. I’ll need to know how to do life beyond high school and it’s hard to learn it all
Final score:
2points
why hello there 3 years ago
Maybe we could have different types of tests and choose which one makes more sense? You may be bad at the types of tests you get, but you might be great at another type of test.
Izzi C (Submission author) 3 years ago
That is true. In math, paper over online and I have to voice my thoughts out loud for me to do well.
Load More Replies... Stolas <3 3 years ago
10000% agree on the dress code thing (and everything else) . In middle school, my friend wore a top that showed like an inch of her bra strap. The male principal pulled her to the side and said, "YoUr BrA sTrAp Is ShOwInG,". It was barely noticeable, I didn't even notice it until he said something. In my mind I was like, "why were you looking that closely, sir?" Bro, they SCOTCH TAPED IT TO HER SHOULDERS! She took it right off as soon as we were out of his line of sight, didn't say anything to her the rest of the day.
DramaNerd 3 years ago
Yeah. Apparently my shoulders are so distracting to the boys 🙄
Load More Replies... Brooklynn Jackson 3 years ago
Yep, I think there should be 2 types of tests... One is the normal tests we take, another one will be orally done; you will be asked all about the matter and your own views in it to make sure you actually understand the thing
#50
To have more flexible lunch options. Yes, you can go get a note from your doctor and then give it to the school and THEN you get a different lunch, but they never have vegan options. Also, my school is constantly saying how you need to drink water but instead of giving us free water bottles with out lunch, we get free chocolate milk.
Final score:
2points
why hello there 3 years ago
The school lunch at my school looks so disgusting that I don't understand how some people can stand it.
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
Half-cooked frozen mini pizza? No thanks! A raw-ish "Chicken" sandwich? No thanks! The list is ENDLESS
Load More Replies... 
Genevieve (Submission author) 3 years ago
Same. They always promote water as the healthy option, but they give chocolate milk for free
Load More Replies... Stolas <3 3 years ago
We get free milk as well. We also have water, coffee, energy drinks, and slushies; all of which you have to pay for.
Xenon 3 years ago
I don't really agree with energy drinks or soda for lunch. yes I know some students in high school could use energy drinks. Junk food and soda venting machines don't belong in schools especially elementary schools.
Load More Replies... #51
I have a few: Start time; my school starts at 7:30 but busses come at 7 so I have to be outside at 6:50. Teens need more sleep! We’re all severely sleep deprived. Homework; there is hours a night pretty much no matter what classes you take and kids have sports and extracurricular stuff and jobs which are all also needed for money or college applications and just general quality of life. Pay teachers more! They do a lot and don’t get very much in return. Chill on state testing, thankfully my state doesn’t a lot money by test score (we do it by taxes on who lives nearby which also need to change, it’s causing school inequality because of the wealth differences), but there are so many and I’m sure they aren’t collecting much real data with all of them. (Ex. Government state test is required senior year and kids at my school don’t need it to graduate and thus answer “c” to every question. I’m sure other schools have similar things happen.) Mental Health support and general accommodations; kids are so so stressed and anxious and there’s virtually no support. Accommodations for other disabilities are not always respected by teachers and they really need to be.
Final score:
2points
Jackie Lulu 3 years ago
They recently changed the start time at schools in our area... good thing.
#53
Kids teasing kids. I hate this…. Kids hate on me because i like anime. Like, oh I’m sorry you don’t like it!! Also, I’m taking a Japanese class, and people ask me what certain things mean, and I say it and they laugh at me for not knowing or for knowing it. Anyone else have this problem? Kids are so rude to other kids. This gives me so much social stress and it’s hard me to focus about it, so you can imagine I don’t have the best grades. Teaches need to do stuff about this. Also, I have another, when I was in kindergarten we had an egg hunt. And we had a no pushing rule, and a kid pushed me. I got no candy that day. Teaches need to look at both stories instead of seeing the story from their eyes. Anyone agree on these or at least one of them?? Thanks!!
Final score:
2points
RandomPanda 3 years ago
And, on top of that, nobody does anything no matter how many times someone reports it.
#54
As an 8th grader I think they should make learning more fun, apply what their teaching to our actual lives, focus more on what we will actually need in life, teach us the easy version of things instead of the things that are harder to remember, feed us food that’s actually edible, and give us more free time,
Final score:
2points
Demon Child 3 years ago
Well in order to get better food you need a higher budget, which the school can't really control. Also could you elaborate on the "teach us the easy version of things instead of the things that are harder to remember" part? Some things we just have to know, even purely for college. And it's only a couple things that might not be a applicable to everyone's lives, but just because it's complicated doesn't mean you shouldn't learn it
#55
Two more things 1) Skimpy uniforms for girls. What the hell? Why is there STILL no trousers option for girls in the majority of schools? What is WRONG with people? 2) English literature curriculum, for the sake of arnold UPDATE THE BOOKS. No kid should have to develop hatred of Shakespeare from having it forced on them, and here's a newsflash, there are better / more contemporary books on most issues (racism, exclusion etc) available than stuff that was written in the 1940s and 50s!
Final score:
2points
Brooklynn Jackson 3 years ago
I know right?? In my school, we have WHITE uniform. What the f**k do they expect us to do when we have periods? We don't even have a proper skirt; it is a skirt-pant sorta thing. The washroom stalls are so small!! We first need to open our belt, store it safely in case it falls down, open our skirt, do our business all while holding the skirt so that it doesn't touch the pee-filled ground. What about when we have to wear pads? It gets covered with water and other s**t below. WHYYY???
#56
How about giving kids the opportunity to specialise? When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play sports. I ended up working in the industry so that was good. But it was at the expense of my more scholarly subjects. Maybe if a kid showed a talent or interest in a subject, allow them to focus all of their attention on that, instead of muddying the waters with subjects which they have no use for. If I have the potential to become a world class botanist, then why do I need to study religion, for instance? Or a language? I just think we ought to give kids a chance at being the absolute best they can be. I'm not saying this is for every student, but I think the opportunity should be there.
Final score:
1point
Nicole Krenzler 3 years ago
There is something to be said for a wide ranging education, learning a little bit about a lot, because each subject teaches you about how the world works from its own unique perspective. It makes you a more well rounded person.
Jon scargill (Submission author) 3 years ago
In my experience that's called the scattershot approach. Surely, if some kids excel in a particular field they should be encouraged to follow their passion rather than be forced into mediocrity across a broader field. Let them throw themselves into something they have a passion for rather than bore them to death with something that doesn't even poke their interest never mind pique it
Load More Replies... DramaNerd 3 years ago
Looking at the other side of the story, if this happened, you’d have a bunch of football jocks taking basic classes because they’re relying on playing in the NFL, and then when they don’t get picked, they don’t have anything
Jon scargill (Submission author) 3 years ago
There is no other side. If some kids have an idea which way they want to go then why should we stifle their passion?
Load More Replies... #57
3 things I want to happen, I know I'm breaking the rules. 1) Homework. "Here you just worked so hard for 8 hours, work on this for 2 more". It brings lots of stress and anxiety to students' lives. I feel like if we just abolished homework, school would be a lot more fun. 2) Students had a bit more freedom in learning. Idk about you, but I learn when I'm having fun. The other day in an interesting biology lesson, I learned that sharks were once land-dwelling creatures and resembled horses. I feel like we should have a bit more freedom in what we learn about. For example; in my biology class were working on a project that has one general idea, but sub-topics that we get to choose and research. I'm doing how food and nutrition impact mental disorders, like autism & anxiety. 3) The way we handle bullying, I think that speaks for itself.
Final score:
1point
#58
Most of this has to do with money, but… 1. Small class sizes. It is literally impossible to make every child know math when there are 30 in one room who don’t want to be there. 2. Practical lessons with hands-on learning. Anecdotally, I know that teachers often have to pay for supplies and resources in order to accomplish lessons for different learning styles.
Final score:
1point
#59
Not NO homework, but homework that isn’t scored for the student’s final grade. As a teacher, I use homework assignments to help my students practice what they already learned. Grades aren’t attached, just participation.
Final score:
1point
Erin 3 years ago
I wonder, do most kids actually do the homework for your class? I know I would want to but if my 6 other teachers gave me graded homework that night and yours isn’t graded, homework for your class would have to be a lower priority. If it was like this in all classes, I would probably still do homework but have a much better school-life balance.
#60
Exams. They are the dumbest method of measuring someone's intelligence ever devised. Always held in the baking hot summer, revision always interferes with young people's lives - yet here we are in a progressive society in the 21st century STILL using the damned things rather than a continuous assessment of a pupil's work as a means to determining someone's entire future. Have a bad day, stuff up an exam, and it could radically change or alter the course of someone's life - where oh where is the sense in that?
Final score:
1point
#61
Change of friendship my friend treats me like a piece of trash or 💩
Final score:
0points
BananaStrings 3 years ago
Not to state the obvious, but they’re not your friend if that’s how they treat you. I’m sorry you’re experiencing such. I don’t know you, but I believe you deserve better. I also know it’s not easy to meet new people and make new friends. But please do give it a try.
Lia Salvatore 3 years ago
oh. that sucks soo bad. remember, ur not alone, im here for u. sincerely, internet stranger with lots of typos
#62
Speaking for the American school system... I would abolish the whole thing. Considering it is producing pretty much the dumbest people on the planet. So apparently not working. Why keep it?
Final score:
0points
#63
Quality of life stuff you know money and more of it being you know funded towards schools
Final score:
0points
#64
Time for a major change in the US educational system.
Final score:
0points
Brooklynn Jackson 3 years ago
Tbh, all educational systems should change into the one Finland has... Not only are the results good, the kids get to be kids!! (Just my opinion though, and frankly I haven't read much about it so sorry if I made an incorrect statement)
#65
Oh so where talking about schools EH?! Schools, schools are here to help kids learn but there not exactly teaching kids to learn the reason for that is kids hate school so much that the teachers aren’t teaching correctly. So to appeal a kid into going and doing school is to have a good school and a good teacher that can actually teach. So about the teaching part kids are not learning as much as they should be for that is teachers are making they students to literally keep up even if they are talking 100 MPH and there is no “hey teacher I couldn’t catch that last part because you were talking to fast” yeah non of that is a thing in a school unless you have a really/extremely good teacher who isn’t bossy or mean. And instead of literally throwing kids papers that they could inevitably forget the next day is pretty rough cause some teachers don’t say what did we talk about yesterday or last week. So I wish I could change that but that’s not happening cause the government only wants money instead of teaching kids the “proper” way of learning. Comment below what you think you could add on to this answer and if you agree with me HOPE YOU ENJOYED!!!
Final score:
0points
Agent_fox77 (Submission author) 3 years ago
Sorry for lack of punctuation I just really wanted to get my feelings out about our corrupted world.
#66
That they would actually take care of bullies for real. Like actually charges or something. And in the event of an emergency let parents go to the school. Incase the police are not brave enough to go into the building, that the parents can be brave enough to go save there own children. That bad teachers get delt with sonner then later. And good teachers get bonuses or something along the lines of that.
Final score:
0points
#67
Teaching real survival skills. Like how to survive in the wild. What to do if you encountered a savage animal. How to start a fire. And such..
Final score:
0points
#69
I am prepared to get downvoted… We should all just get a chip of knowledge when we are born so we don’t have to listen to teachers talk about their kids…
Final score:
0points
#70
So many things but first off, I would have it so school funding would be split up nationally with each school receiving the same amount of money per student plus the funding for basic upkeep of the building, textbooks, etc. My second thing would be comprehensive sex ed in secondary schools that teaches about consent.
Final score:
0points
Sardonyx_3 3 years ago
And also teaches that complete abstinence-until-marriage is not a real thing. At least 70% of my school has already 'done it'. *Other 30% includes LGBTQ+ kids*
#71
I don't have many things to say, but hiring teachers that actually like children and aren't homophobic or racist or whatever. I had a teacher last year that said she liked kids, but she freaking hated us. I think she had some pretty big mental health problems
Final score:
0points
#72
The only things I would change are my grades. I would give myself straight A's.
Final score:
-1point
why hello there 3 years ago
If you get straight A's effortlessly, you're going to not know how to do stuff and probably won't be a functioning adult.
#73
Teach young children mindfulness & meditation.
Final score:
-1point
enohPilivE 3 years ago
If by actual 'mindfulness' where you learn the awareness of the human condition of suffering and reflect on the best course of action for yourself to alleviate suffering in the world then yes, but good luck since it's a spiritual exercise. If you mean the cheap breathing exercises with no true moral consciousness attached to it that are all the rage now then NOPE.
#74
I would have fired every single teacher in the school district except for my mom and my rifle . coach. Munhall class of 69
Final score:
-4points
What do you think ?
Doctor Danger 3 years ago
Schools in US. Where to start? More funding. More teachers. Better pay for teachers. Free student lunches. Remove revisionist history. Teach life skills. Stop medicating adhd without addressing diet and health issues. There are so many.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I'm so surprised I didn't see anything about HEALTHY food. The c**p they feed our children has major impacts on their development both physically and mentally. Children would be more adjusted and capable of achievement if their bodies and minds weren't struggling from lack of nutrition and constantly inflamed.
Hey! 3 years ago
Between when you read the post and today when I did, there are a few that did complain about the food. I didn't know it was that bad.
Load More Replies... marianne eliza 3 years ago (edited)
Pretty obvious which ones were written by current students. Me? I want to stop paying income taxes and property taxes for schooling other people's kids. Perhaps starting at age 60, childless persons would be exempt from school taxes. And for parents? Tax payer supported education for the first 2 kids only. After that, if you have more, you pay for the actual costs of educating your excess kids. Win win. Fewer kids, smaller class sizes. More money from parents equals more to use at school. But wait! We were sold the state lottery by promises that the profits were fix all our school funding issues.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
seems to mostly be about schools in the US. come to africa. We have 80 kids in one classroom and the classroom is made of mud bricks. thanks.
Doctor Danger 3 years ago
Schools in US. Where to start? More funding. More teachers. Better pay for teachers. Free student lunches. Remove revisionist history. Teach life skills. Stop medicating adhd without addressing diet and health issues. There are so many.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I'm so surprised I didn't see anything about HEALTHY food. The c**p they feed our children has major impacts on their development both physically and mentally. Children would be more adjusted and capable of achievement if their bodies and minds weren't struggling from lack of nutrition and constantly inflamed.
Hey! 3 years ago
Between when you read the post and today when I did, there are a few that did complain about the food. I didn't know it was that bad.
Load More Replies... marianne eliza 3 years ago (edited)
Pretty obvious which ones were written by current students. Me? I want to stop paying income taxes and property taxes for schooling other people's kids. Perhaps starting at age 60, childless persons would be exempt from school taxes. And for parents? Tax payer supported education for the first 2 kids only. After that, if you have more, you pay for the actual costs of educating your excess kids. Win win. Fewer kids, smaller class sizes. More money from parents equals more to use at school. But wait! We were sold the state lottery by promises that the profits were fix all our school funding issues.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
seems to mostly be about schools in the US. come to africa. We have 80 kids in one classroom and the classroom is made of mud bricks. thanks.
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