Most schools have a standardized routine that they follow. But what if we all jumped out of our comfort zone with school? What would happen? Could school actually be less boring for children? Every school you go to I can almost guarantee that at least one child is failing. We all have the power to know, and to think. Some people do not choose to use these skills that we have. But If we took a step back and looked at the big picture on why these kids are failing then we would come to realize that the standardized routine needs to be changed.
Kids are bored of just sitting in a boxed up room all day raising their hand about some complex curriculum written on the board. Reading out of text books all day and taking a test at the end of the year. Do you realize that is approximately 175 days of learning something each day, and you decide to test us the last week of school on it all? People have said "dear alphabet, I liked you better when you weren't in my math homework, sincerely failing." This is the type of attitude kids have about learning. Kids, especially teenagers in their high school years want something new. Something that will always be a new learning experience.
What if we learned by choice, things that interest you. Do you ever think why your students do not try? They are not interested in what geological or mathematical term is coming out of your mouth. They think it is irrelevant to what they need to know in life. Therefore they chose to take what they think is the easy way out. But in reality it’s so much harder than just doing things right the first time. If you do it right the first time then it can go by easy. Study, think, and do. You need to think that throughout your high school,middle school, or even collage.
I am going to use myself as an example, I am really interested in taking a career in Marine biology or forensic science so why not start focusing on one of the main things that will drive me to succeed in life. Give me assignments that relate to my future dreams to help them become reality. Of course you would still teach what is required to graduate, but in a new way. I am talking about going on field trips, have speakers come to classes and have them tell the students what it was like while the war was going on. Make it an every day experience. Something that they will not forget over the summer. You can do this while you focus on their dreams.
What I am saying is, use what these kids want to do in their future as another class, do go on field trips, do have people come to the school and explain what happened in the time period you are talking about. This may not change the drop out rate but It seems like it could help. Make these kids want to go to school make them strive for their goal. Make them successful. We all have the power to think, know and succeed.
