I think Phillosophy should be a required corse in school. I think it would cut down on school violence. I dont believe in home schooling to solve the problems because kids need to get in the pattern of working a job, but something needs to be done. I can understand not teaching religion, but damit something needs to be done, and I think phillosophy would be the way to go. Its sad we have to put our kids through a metal detector everyday. What do you think?
I didn’t know your kids had to go through a metal detector!
Philosophy would be very interesting and may help reduce violence, also teaching meditation would be a great benefit IMO.
But I personally think the school system itself reinforces the origional problems which cause violence. In school you are taught (indirectly though it may be) that might makes right.
First off, that biggest might of all, the government, will punish you if you don’t go. So you’re compelled to attend boring and pointless lessons (alongside those that may be interesting or useful).
Then your school may punish you if you don’t wear prescripted clothes (in the case of schools with uniforms).
Your teachers will punish you if you talk to a friend in class, or in some cases if your simply no good at the work.
e.t.c.
No reason for any of this is explained to kids, it’s just a situation of do this or else. Is it surprising if kids start to think that might does equal right?
I agree that some sort of philosphy, or diversity tolerance classes would have been nice to have when I was going to school. My school was more more aggie and less urban than some environments. Suburbia \ mountain-esque town, so I was lucky enough to not have to deal with things like gang violence, metal detectors, etc.
I am not sure if my old school currently has those in place now but I can only imagine.
I am partially saddened by the state of some schools at this point. Like Dreamer kinda pointed out it doesn’t feel like school is really the more encouraging environment anymore. Lots of strict rules, punishment, etc. I also agree with him when it comes to some of them reinforcing the violence. I’m sure we’ve all heard stories of violent teachers, verbaly abusive teachers etc, and in most cases the school board justifies it, or sweeps it under the rug.
I think that’s an excellent idea.
A friend of mine who lives in Australia works as a teacher at a private elementary school. At her school they do teach philosophy to the kids, though not the same kind as you’d learn in college. She was telling me they actually use Calvin & Hobbes to assist in this. Being a lifelong fan of the strip myself, I think that’s awesome.
I think it could also be beneficial to teach kids basic human behaviouralism, before they enter into high school. If they could understand why as humans we do what we do, I think they’d be better suited to handle the high school environment. Perhaps the way they’d treat eachother would change, and fewer individuals would leave high school as damaged young adults. They’d know why they, and other people, act the way they do.
Not everyone likes philosophy. Beyond the cave part of the Republic, which was amazing, very little of it interests me. I don’t see how forcing kids to join another class that they will not use, or not enjoy to any extent, will stop violence in the schools. I’d argue it’s more in the culture than anything else. It isn’t cool to read books and get good grades. Change that concept, and I think that there would be less violence in schools, but I don’t know how easily that would happen? Anybody here ever watch the show Cribs, where the camera guy follows the rich artist or athlete around, and shows everyone their house? Only one of them that I’ve seen actually had books and featured them on the show. The culture needs to be changed before any real progress can be made, I think.
Meditation definitely should be taught though, that’s for sure.
Anyways, I hated taking Spanish in high school. I thought it was really boring, same with math. Since I got out though, I’ve realized that I love math and languages. I think that most kids will find school boring, because they are forced to learn. Once they get out though, there is the opportunity granted them, that they can learn if they want to. That is where the beauty of university and college comes in. It isn’t mandatory, and so people, like myself, who have issues about being forced to do things they don’t want to do, can do what they want. Right now, I want to learn and attain knowledge. I’ve realized I was immature in high school, and should’ve taken advantage of the opportunity I had. But you appreciate something more if you pay for it yourself, sort of like, the eggs for your breakfast taste better, if you cooked them yourself. I don’t think you’d find that concept in an environment where school is mandatory, and free (not including taxes, of course, hahaha). That’s why I’m against the state paying completely for university, as well, but that’s another discussion for another day. cough more dropouts cough
This is one of the few times I agree mostly with AHTD. No more mandatory classes are needed.
The thing I disagree with is that university and college should be payed for by the state. I think that they should be payed for, but not mandatory.