The Faults of our Educational System: What's Best for Your Child?

You're born into this chaotic world, 4-5 years later kindergarten begins, then 6th grade, and before you know it, you're a senior in high school preparing to graduate. At this point, you're lectured by extended family, colleagues, and teachers that you must find yourself before it's too late.

You're pressured to know exactly what you want to be in life.

Find a steady career ASAP, or you'll end up in your parent's basement playing video games screaming upstairs for more pizza rolls.

Throughout these immature, naive, and sponge-like years (absorbing everything we encounter), we are taught a plethora of useless jargon that can't be applied to the real world.

This makes the transition from high school to college such a distressing and overwhelming time (for both the parents and kids). Thousands upon thousands of dollars dissipate before your eyes. But hey, you did grasp that fancy piece of paper you can pin above your bed...

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"So, what do you want to do after you graduate?"

The most common response I have witnessed by fellow colleagues are shrugged shoulders & “I have no clue."

Personally, I would rather have my creative 18-year-old take those bags of moolah to explore the stunning, awe-inspiring, and ruminating cultures/regions of the planet. This is how they will frame the much-needed social, analytical, & hands-on skills required for a meaningful & lasting human experience.

We trust that our children, through primary/secondary education (K-12), are getting the critical & well-rounded education they need to live a successful life; financially, socially, & spiritually. When children sprint through the typical U.S. schooling process from 4 to 19 years old, they lack qualities that are needed to thrive in their obligation-heavy adult life. The educational system's approach to guiding, teaching, & leading children throughout their young lives is kaput.

It has been progressively failing since the early 1900s when the K-12 structure began expanding nationwide & becoming mandatory.

Here's why:

1) We are taught the "fundamentals" to human life, such as arithmetic, writing, & reading, but once the diploma is handed over, what is lacking? A whole slew of critical information.

We should replace many of the less applicable required courses taught in our American schools (i.e. algebra, most history classes, English literature, geometry, P.E., Latin), or provide better options, and focus our finite time alive on subjects that everyone can benefit from, such as:

- Nutrition & cooking

- Automobile maintenance

- Stress management

- Budgeting

- Credit

- Environmental science

- First aid

- Insurance

- Taxes

- Survival skills

and so many more!

This whole setup today is so ironic; what is the major goal of going to school in the first place?

To become a self-sustaining adult.

2) Schools are overcrowded: the smaller & more intimate the class, the better the individual student experience. Today, we are attempting to pack in as many kids as possible in a classroom for a single teacher to manage, which becomes far too chaotic & distracting. Not the optimal environment for kids trying to learn.

3) Parents are not involved enough in this educational curve. The average time in classes is less than 5 hours of the day (7-8 hours for full school days). 25 hours a week is not enough time to truly "teach" children and growing adolescents the proper material to excel in life. The teacher is expected to cram in as much information as possible in such a short time frame. There must be some sort of extra education off campus. This overdependence on schools inhibits a healthy & complete development of the child; mentally, physically, & spiritually.

4) The traditional seating arrangements in classrooms are flawed. Students typically sit in rows facing the front of the room where the teacher lectures. It is teacher-centered, not student-centered. Students are restricted from any socratic interactions with other classmates, it's disengaging (sneak on phones, pass notes, whisper without notice, etc), & there is limited observation. I believe we can avoid these issues with a U-shaped design. This alternative encourages more student interaction, helps control behavior, & allows for some observation assistance. A U-shape can make learning easier because of the comfortable & open atmosphere for students and teachers.

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We need to follow a different route like Finland's educational system. For instance, they have no standardized exams, no expensive or overrated private schools, and far less stress (based on individual reports by students). They admire quality over quantity and choose a holistic approach to teaching, unlike the US.

Students in Finland are graded by the teacher's class system and they track the overall process of the individual student, not the whole classroom.

Teachers are required to have a master's degree or higher, and they have to go through a rigorous selection system in order to make the profession. If they aren't performing well, then it is the individual principal's decision.

Finland also thrives on cooperation of students, faculty, and parents. They veer away from America's common theme of competition between students for success.

What manifests happy, determined, and healthy students?

Surely not the current American way of education.

Finland focuses on these core values required to promote equality and harmony:

- Free school lunches for all students

- Easy access to healthcare

- Psychological counseling (mental health awareness)

- Individualized guidance in the classrooms

- Students start school at 7 years old (not 3-4 in preschool)

- School is not required after 16 years old/ninth grade (a psychologically freeing ideal)

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I wrote this article because I have been reflecting on my personal circumstance being an upperclassman at the University of Arkansas. I am taking the first step towards my future career by majoring in nutrition science. After this B.S. (ironic abbreviation, right?), I have no clue what route I will take; continue (expensive) graduate studies in naturopathy, nutrition, public health, etc, OR stack on a wide variety of individual certificates (health & wellness coaching, personal training, etc) to save moolah & basically work for myself.

For now, I won't force my future and will simply let it come to me through self-experimentation & curiosity.

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My intention wasn't to bash the entirety of American schooling for its traditional learning style, but it does need considerable tweaking to reach an optimal state for sprouting generations, similar to Finland.

For several decades and counting, the United States continues to rank in the middle globally when it comes to students' excellence in mathemetics & sciences (based on student knowledge reports). Finland is in the 90th+ percentile for successful academics.

Maybe it's time to put some Fins on and start swimming in a different direction, eh?