Anticipated
Issues / Questions
Teacher
resistance
Teachers would
initially be resistant to change. Some might be left without a subject to
teach in the afternoon. Well, that is the whole purpose. Some teachers would
be required to teach their academic subject since there will be some
students that wish to focus on mathematics or a language, perhaps one teacher from each
department. The remainder of the teachers would be involved in running the
various programmes. At first, a teacher might find it difficult to run a
tennis training programme, but in time, since teachers are experienced
organisers, they would soon become very proficient.
Not enough
academic matter
Juniors would study
3 subjects every morning: Maths, English/Social Studies, and Science. An
extra subject could be added (tech / art / drama / language, etc).
They would be free to choose ordinary subjects in the morning once
literacy and numeracy have been achieved.
Seniors would study
three subjects of their choice each morning. Maths and English recommended
for Year 11. Depending upon the type of timetable, a fourth subject could be
added. However, studying three subjects to a high degree of proficiency is the
preferred aim. If a student were only keen to do one or two morning
subjects, that could be accommodated if they filled their free time
productively.
The whole point of
this programme is to reduce the 'total' academic nature of the school programme
and to get the students motivated for Excellence in their chosen areas.
For students who wish to purse an academic future, they do have the
opportunity to study a subject of their choice intensely for a year in the
afternoon. In fact, they ought to be able to cover two or even three years
of material over the course of one year of intense study.
Timetable
This would pose a
lot of trouble at first as managers and teachers would have to learn to
forget the past and even ignore current university requirements. The aim is
to create more rounded and self-confident high school graduates. If it is
high academic achievement across a broad range of subjects that is required
(the norm) then a parent could send their child to a different school.
Universities would no doubt recognise the benefits of this programme in due
course.
There will, no
doubt, be many more issues that educators might raise ... but all can be
overcome with positive purposeful determination with the single aim of
improving the student mind.
Attendance
Because skill is
associated to time on task, if student attendance falls below 80%, the
student should have to re-take the whole year.
Unruly students
This programme is
designed to give students the best opportunities possible in terms of
learning, which I define as stimulating and improving the brain and thereby
improving their future prospects. If a student fails to comply, they should
be quickly withdrawn until such a time that they change their mind. No
teacher should have to teach any unruly student. Nor should other students
have to tolerate their presence. If several teachers withdraw the same
student, that student should be encouraged to consider another school.
