Hey Pandas, If You Could Change One Thing About The School System, What Would It Be? (Closed)

#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?

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59points

I Drink Your Milkshake!

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Martin Kaine 2 years ago

Multiple upvotes. Consumer (and maybe business) math should be a required course in HS.

11points

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#2

Pay Educators More!

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44points

Panda For Scale

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A Jones 2 years ago

hear hear!

10points

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#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.

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42points

Martin Kaine

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phoenix_rising 2 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

14points

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#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)

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39points

phoenix_rising

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Scipio Africanus 2 years ago

I don’t necessarily agree with getting rid of homework completely but it should be minimal

5points

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#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.

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33points

Panda For Scale

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Martin Kaine 2 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?

15points

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#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.)

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32points

Boatboy Ash R

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BeepBeepBoopBoop 2 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.

17points

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#7

More money for education, education should be one of the top priority for each government, everywhere in the world

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28points

Orbitale

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Nancy B Frisbie Abdallah 2 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.

5points

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#8

Expecting so much out of teachers and in return paying them so little.

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25points

Marcus Lynch

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Sharon Morris 2 years ago

Say it again, LOUDER!!!

7points

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#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.

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24points

Zingalicious

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Sardonyx_3 2 years ago

I got tackled at my school bc I was wearing a Pride Pin

11points

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#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.

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23points

WordWeaver

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phoenix_rising 2 years ago

Just read this: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/10-reasons-why-finlands-education-system-is-the-best-in-the-world

4points

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#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.

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21points

Stephanie Goadsby

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A Jones 2 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.

8points

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#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.

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18points

Hales

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Panda For Scale 2 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

8points

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#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.

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17points

Ashlee S

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DramaNerd 2 years ago

Adding to this, maybe focus on connecting students with teachers that’ll work well with them

6points

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#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.

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16points

Xavier_Is_Sus

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BeepBeepBoopBoop 2 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

12points

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#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.

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14points

MrsFettesVette

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Sharon Morris 2 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.

8points

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#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.

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13points

Sardonyx_3

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why hello there 2 years ago

Why must homophobes exist?

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#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!

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13points

Cynthia Plath

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Scipio Africanus 2 years ago

No school I’ve ever seen has had universal bathrooms or changing rooms

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#18

American here: Logic, as a skill, needs to be more emphasized. Many classes have bits of that incorporated, but evidently not enough.

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13points

Howaboutno

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Graham Berry 2 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.

6points

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#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.

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12points

popkjnhbvgc

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ItsJess 2 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.

14points

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#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

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11points

Chickens are fluffy

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Sydnie Laney 2 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!

9points

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#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.

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11points

H.L.Lewis

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Rick Koen 2 years ago

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#22

Learn anything anytime for free for all your life.

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11points

William Hamilton

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Rando-Pando 2 years ago

YES PLEASE!!!

3points

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#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.

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9points

Ash

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Ash (Submission author) 2 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!

5points

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#24

Probably won’t be a fan-favorite, but making political history education stronger. Understanding the history of politics is what creates thoughtful voters.

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9points

Hmannah

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Katiekat 2 years ago

"Learn history so you don't repeat it." -- George Santayana, 19th century British writer

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#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.

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8points

A Jones

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enohPilivE 2 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.

6points

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#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.

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8points

MegTheSteg

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Stolas <3 2 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.

4points

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#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?

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8points

Doreena

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Cactus 1549 2 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.

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#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.

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8points

Waddling Land Fish (they/she)

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Rando-Pando 2 years ago

Twinsies!!

3points

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#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

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7points

Deep_something

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Jackie Lulu 2 years ago

A "quiet room" with recliners.

2points

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#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.

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7points

GenericPanda09

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#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.

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6points

talliloo

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meow 2 years ago

I am sometimes assigned entire PowerPoints to do with a group over a weekend so I have no contact with my group so I can't tell them to finish their work and then my grade gets knocked down even though I finished all of the slides I was supposed to do with time to spare

1point

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#32

Websites. UNBLOCKED.

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6points

K311yTh3C@t

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TooShy4Identity44 (Submission author) 2 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.

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#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! 🙈😂

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5points

Jono

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Lia Salvatore 2 years ago

when dealing with this topic, rants are allowed 100%

2points

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#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!

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5points

Sydnie Laney

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DramaNerd 2 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

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#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...)

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5points

TotallyNOTaFox

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Xenon 2 years ago

We had occupational school for less academically able students as well as college prep for the rest. I hope attendance was optional but I don't know if it was. It was based on placement at the beginning at I think 9th grade.

3points

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#36

Teach adulting. No school systems adults would not work in. No homework.

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4points

Explicitly sick

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#37

Way less bureaucracy and busy body paperwork for the teachers.

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4points

JustinTime

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#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.

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4points

Cat

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Mia Franze 2 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.

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#39

Actually paying teachers💁

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4points

Demon Child

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Domenico Serri 2 years ago

Yup you got that one right

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#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%

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4points

Shaba Ding Dong

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Hey! 2 years ago

Most of these are repeats but it's worth repeating because everyone sees the same problems. The only thing that's new is the battery dying on you. LOL.

3points

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#41

The strict dress codes. PERIODT!!

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4points

Fadhuwa Hussain

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Rando-Pando 2 years ago

Lol "periodt!!"

2points

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#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.

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Katiekat

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Hey! 2 years ago

All worthy causes.

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#43

take all politics out of the classroom.

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David Zumwalt

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Xenon 2 years ago

Still teach civics and political science NOT indoctrination.

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#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.

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Octavia Hansen

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onivdsrapowijap 2 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?

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#45

The stupid dress code. I hate all of it who looks at someone's knees and is like ooo your smexy

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Booklover<3

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Lia Salvatore 2 years ago

upvote x 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

1point

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#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.

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Lene

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K80.127 2 years ago

Special needs students don't belong in public schools. (Here comes the wrath) they should have public schools specifically for those with special needs!!!

1point

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#47

Liveable wages for teachers. Class materials and supplies provided by the schools.

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Xenon

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#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.

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2points

why hello there

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enohPilivE 2 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.

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#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

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Izzi C

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why hello there 2 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.

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#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.

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Genevieve

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why hello there 2 years ago

The school lunch at my school looks so disgusting that I don't understand how some people can stand it.

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#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.

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none yabuisness

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Stolas <3 2 years ago

Mental health is really important, especially in middle & high school!

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#52

No extra credit on any test in my county.

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Ryan Bogdansky

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#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!!

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Sakura

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RandomPanda 2 years ago

And, on top of that, nobody does anything no matter how many times someone reports it.

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#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,

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Halie Rhodes

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Demon Child 2 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

3points

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#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!

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Peej Maybe

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Brooklynn Jackson 2 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???

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#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.

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no v FF the hi k

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Nicole Krenzler 2 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.

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#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.

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Stolas <3

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Brooklynn Jackson 2 years ago

Who gave the downvote?? This is actually a good submission!!

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#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.

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Hmannah

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#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.

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Hmannah

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Erin 2 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.

1point

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#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?

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Peej Maybe

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#61

Change of friendship my friend treats me like a piece of trash or 💩

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Jenny Barner

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BananaStrings 2 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.

7points

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#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?

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Matt C

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Robin Roper 2 years ago

Are replace it with what?

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#63

Quality of life stuff you know money and more of it being you know funded towards schools

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Alias-the-shade

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#64

Time for a major change in the US educational system.

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Doreena

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Jackie Lulu 2 years ago

They've tried that a couple of times and just made it worse.

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#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!!!

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Agent_fox77

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Agent_fox77 (Submission author) 2 years ago

Sorry for lack of punctuation I just really wanted to get my feelings out about our corrupted world.

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#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.

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Fluffy mommy panda

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Xenon 2 years ago

How would you determine good teachers? Student votes would be popularity contests, testing could lead to teaching the test or other useless criteria open to abuse.

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#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..

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Milo

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Sardonyx_3 2 years ago

How To Start A Fire... I thought everyone knew this

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#68

Make it useful

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Hank Jimison

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#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…

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No

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Hey! 2 years ago

LOL.

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#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.

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Magical Watermelon

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Sardonyx_3 2 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*

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#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

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Boreddd(she/her)

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#72

The only things I would change are my grades. I would give myself straight A's.

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Sooploosh MacSchnibble

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why hello there 2 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.

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#73

Teach young children mindfulness & meditation.

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Gretchen Marie

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enohPilivE 2 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.

1point

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#74

I would have fired every single teacher in the school district except for my mom and my rifle . coach. Munhall class of 69

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By Deleted User

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