I do think no matter what reforms we do in schools, the subject being the most interesting / stimulating thing currently available must help a lot.
We are getting to a point where we need to rethink how we teach to be more resistant to technological distractions. Students would be more stimulated by topics they are interested in and pursuing interests doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Instead, kids are bored all day and naturally looking to relieve that boredom by focusing on passive videos or social media.
If we make the classroom reward being self-driven and passionate in an environment mirroring the real world (with guardrails provided by schools) we’d get driven, passionate students ready to operate in reality.
… Of course, we’d probably have to have motivated teachers that give a damn, kill toxic social media, and abolish capitalism to keep kids from trying to make pragmatic, soul crushing decisions to make money over interests but, well, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.
It’s not as simple as motivated teachers and communism, though they are necessary - the entire system of teaching needs to be rethought from the ground up. It uses one-size fits all solutions that aren’t even the best choice for most neurotypical kids, and leave neurodivergent, vulnerable, and top and bottom performing children unsupported. Everything from classroom discipline (e.g not fidgeting) to sitting at a table and chair causes problems in a classroom, and then the kids get blamed for not molding to the classroom environment.
I do think no matter what reforms we do in schools, the subject being the most interesting / stimulating thing currently available must help a lot.
Also wonder if this means people are passing notes around again!
We are getting to a point where we need to rethink how we teach to be more resistant to technological distractions. Students would be more stimulated by topics they are interested in and pursuing interests doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Instead, kids are bored all day and naturally looking to relieve that boredom by focusing on passive videos or social media.
If we make the classroom reward being self-driven and passionate in an environment mirroring the real world (with guardrails provided by schools) we’d get driven, passionate students ready to operate in reality.
… Of course, we’d probably have to have motivated teachers that give a damn, kill toxic social media, and abolish capitalism to keep kids from trying to make pragmatic, soul crushing decisions to make money over interests but, well, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.
It’s not as simple as motivated teachers and communism, though they are necessary - the entire system of teaching needs to be rethought from the ground up. It uses one-size fits all solutions that aren’t even the best choice for most neurotypical kids, and leave neurodivergent, vulnerable, and top and bottom performing children unsupported. Everything from classroom discipline (e.g not fidgeting) to sitting at a table and chair causes problems in a classroom, and then the kids get blamed for not molding to the classroom environment.