Do you think schools (K-12) focus too much on social issues, and not enough on subject matter...?

Question

So far, I find that the education system is too wrapped-up in race & gender issues, and in promoting social change, but have lost the focus on "teaching" subject matter. In my opinion, schools should teach the fundamentals (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, History, etc.) and leave ideas such as "getting along with others" to families and to College-level education.

I'd like to know others' opinions on this matter. Thanks.

Answer 1

i believe that schools need to prepare us more for the real world then just on some reading and writing stuff,because when i graduated i had no clue on how to approach things!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I believe some schools may still be making the mistake in not focusing enough on the fundamentals; however, most schools are doing the job well in our state of Illinois.  If you breakdown a particular day into minutes, we spend more time on reading, mathematics, writing, science, and social studies than most states do...you're right... makes you wonder what they're doing with their time.

Answer 3

wow.  what state are you in?  Ive been in Texas for quite a few years, and  - everything is subject matter.  Sometimes, i wonder when we can stop and have fun with kids the way we used to.

Answer 4

The schools in the state of Texas focus too much on standardized testing instead of teaching the basics. Children in other countries know more about American history than the children who live here. My husband is from another country and he told me about things that he learned in school that I didn't.

Answer 5

i think it's the opposite--not enough focus on life skills

people have no common sense--like when in teh supermarket and you stop to look at an item--you puill your cart off to the side instead of blocking the aisle.

Most of what I learned in high school is useless to most people---as long as the brain is being exercised-it doesn't matter what is learned--so life skills are perfectlyt appropriate to teach...

Answer 6

I am simply answering your question...

Absolutely not...quite the opposite is happening.

Answer 7

Studies tend to agree with you.  It seems every year that we have another social issue to add to our teaching schedule.  A few years ago, it was gun control.  This year, it is bullying.  We've also incorporated sexual orientation awareness (changing family dynamics), global warming (Earth day concepts), multiculturalism, etc.  And yet, we've added no time to the school day or the school year.

Answer 8

A big part of the school environment is being able to interact with other people who are of different races and from different backgrounds.  Those are life skills that students HAVE to have.  As students go through different developmental ages, they have to learn new strategies for age-appropriate interaction.  Twelve-year-olds don't understand why they want to smack each other around all the time, and don't consider the possible consequeces of tripping their best friend down the stairs.  They don't want to hurt their friends, but at that age, the physicality is part of their development.

As far as leaving this to families, the fact is that the majority of students aren't learning this at home.  For one thing, many parents expect the schools to handle these skills.  Also, where else are kids going to learn to interact with their peers?  Most families aren't going to have a large number of kids all the same age to learn to get along, and families are usually not highly-diverse.  And not all kids are going to be involved in sports, etc.  

And college-level education is not the place for social skills.  Colleges expect that eighteen-year-olds and up are able to get along with one another, and their primary focus is intensely content.

Answer 9

I was about to write my opinion when I read what "Just" had to say, and I think it bears some thought.  I lean his/her way!

Answer 10

To be honest, I don't think we have time to do anything other than teach and assess the essential skills.  Our kids do come to school with some big issues and those issues, in turn, have a big impact on their academic achievement and school friendships.  But we have no time to deal with any of that.  In fact, at my school we no longer have a school counselor-so the kids really don't have anywhere to go.

Answer 11

Whoa, maybe it's just where I'm from (Northern Virginia), but I'd beg to differ that it's the other way around! From all the schooling I can remember clearly, middle school and high school, there has been a strong and obvious focus on the core subjects that you listed. We learned grammar, how to write essays, read the works of literary giants, learned math, and learned fact after fact about the history of the world. It was ridiculous how much one was expected to recall for those d**n history classes, ahahaha.

Anyway, if anything, I always thought that it would be nice for a change of pace from all that memorization. I first found something like this in my Comparative Government class senior year. My teacher went above and beyond, not only teaching us the AP-suggested materials, but teaching us about the world around us, the sociology and everything.

I think that more teachers like that would be great! What if the families you speak of don't promote social change; racial equality? It's important to learn the concepts of acceptance, regardless of who you learn it from, and hearing it again couldn't hurt.