Posts
After viewing the site for The Partnership for the 21st Century I started to think about how great this would have been if this was around when I was in school. I look at the focus topics that they discuss and it goes deeper than just the basic subjects. It goes into the economy and how to think in diverse situations. Education today is lacking so many of those skills I feel like students are not prepared for what lies ahead of them career wise because they have not been equipped with the information yet. It is great how a program wants our students to succeed not only in the classroom but in the future as well. With this program you can really see how students can benefit in school and when they are out of school as well. As a teacher I would feel more confident that my student can make it out in the real world.
One thing that surprised me about the website was that my state was not listed for State Incentives. It is funny how the state wants a push for education and technology to work together and how just the other day I had to take a technology survey to see where I stood with technology for the state but we are not incorporating programs such as this to help our students out? We talk about how our students in my county are not living up to their potential or are not making it past high school. Did we ever think maybe it was because of what and how we were teaching the students? My brother who was an average student in high school went to college for maybe a week and quite. When I asked him why he said it was too hard and too much work. So what is wrong with this picture? Wasn’t high school supposed to prepare you for this? After that my brother went and got a job as an electrician, and still hated working and hated the hours but of course loved the money. He would complain about never getting to see his friends because he had to work all the time. What did he think life was a big party? If we are not teaching students that they need to work hard in order to achieve in life, what are we teaching them? This website showed me that there are ways to prepare our students for the future but it is up to us as educators to make that happen.
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMany of my students do not "get it" till after they have boxed themselves into a corner as far as education, career choices, and moving on in life after high school. The standards offer me an opportunity to help my kids and their track for high school. My state is not listed as well, however, we have lost six days of pay due to budget shortfalls. I am pretty sure the budget powers will consider much of this more than challenging to implement in the current economy. I am suggesting they will have to be very creative in order to have this put into place. Are economics required for graduation in your state?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI agree that our schools are not educating our students for the 21st century. In my state, Ohio, we only do what the politicians tell us to do. We are not funded enough to take any initiatives and when we try, we are told that we must follow state standards and NCLB's testing agenda.
I like the ideas that Partnership is promoting and I do believe that they will eventually be enacted upon do to economic need. I also believe that this will be a long process in my state. Our politicians are so corrupt, that they will act upon nothing that fails to line their pockets. Education has never lined anyones pockets. It is up to parents to look to the future and help their children to learn the skills needed for the new century. I have three teens and two of them are enrolled in our vocational school. Other nations have been promoting job skills, mentoring, and apprenticeships for decades. Only in the United States is this ignored for the American Dream; EVERYONE should get a college degree. Now look at the mess we are in. There are jobs out there but our students have not been trained to take these jobs. Hopefully, the Partnership will change the way we teach our children.
I was surprised also that my state, pennsylvania, was not part of this inniative as well. The only way 21st century schools is going to come about is a complete tranformation of what we know as a traditional classroom. Its alittle disheartening that there is not a more active role by state officials to make this happen when we sit complacent and watch other countries educate their students at a rate that leaves us behind. There are many educators who are dedicated, creative, and ready to lead this transformation. Without the funds or resources are hands remained tied.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah-
ReplyDeleteYou make such a good point about your brother. Does it make you wonder if high school was too easy for him? Do you think we need the skilled trades, like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, as much as we need college graduates? Do you think high school adequately prepares a young person for working a skilled trade and eventually running their own business?