Until a pupil can make an 'informed choice'; it should be mandatory.
Should school be mandatory?
- Thread starter aimeeandbeatles
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SpiritWolf
Warlord
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2006
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Up to high school, although there's probably too many people in college.
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
No, it should not. Mandatory schooling is child abuse.
Onionsoilder
Reaver
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
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- 3,173
School should not be mandatory, but I don't feel drop-outs should get the same privileges that those who completed it do.
Growing up illiterate and unable to do simple math is child abuse far more than schooling.
I am in favor of making school not mandatory. However, this does not imply that I think education is bad. These are controversial statements indeed.
Education is a good thing but you need to want to be educated in order to learn most effectively. Asking people nicely to do something is usually a better way to get people to do something than forcing them to do it. Sure, if you force them they'll probably do it but they'll do a half ass'ed job of it. If they really want to learn, however, they'll learn more and enjoy learning, causing them to motivate themselves to work harder.
Education is a good thing but you need to want to be educated in order to learn most effectively. Asking people nicely to do something is usually a better way to get people to do something than forcing them to do it. Sure, if you force them they'll probably do it but they'll do a half ass'ed job of it. If they really want to learn, however, they'll learn more and enjoy learning, causing them to motivate themselves to work harder.
Of course it should be mandated. *Completion* of HS shouldn't be required (since that would dilute the already low quality of a diploma), but students should be required to attend for at least half of it.
The bar for required skills is *awfully* low...the earning potential/quality of life for those who don't have those skills far outstrips any discomfort from being bored in school.
Besides, one's employment chances at 15, 16 are next to nothing anyway. Without any skills or Independence, what are you doing to do with that time? Work at McDonalds and play video games.
The "wanting to learn" is pretty contextual. If I were to ask my 4th graders if they wanted to be at school/learn, all but one or two would sa no and quit. If they were placed in a better schooling environment, more of then would want to stick around.
The bar for required skills is *awfully* low...the earning potential/quality of life for those who don't have those skills far outstrips any discomfort from being bored in school.
Besides, one's employment chances at 15, 16 are next to nothing anyway. Without any skills or Independence, what are you doing to do with that time? Work at McDonalds and play video games.
The "wanting to learn" is pretty contextual. If I were to ask my 4th graders if they wanted to be at school/learn, all but one or two would sa no and quit. If they were placed in a better schooling environment, more of then would want to stick around.
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
Schooling isn't child abuse, mandatory schooling is. Not sure about being unable to do simple math, but the other half of the definition implies that the vast majority of people in history were abused as children. (Literacy rate of India was 12% in 1947, rate in China was 20% in 1949.) But apart from the overly broad definition of "child abuse", I agree with the sentiment.
I voted mandatory through HS. A semi literate population is much better than an illiterate one. I would, however, make a HS diploma or GED a requirement to get a drivers license.
Kennigit
proud 2 boxer
Should be till 16/17. I'm undecided on which. Probably 17.
MeteorPunch
#WINNING
Schools are good and useful. It's nice to have a government-run daycare for kids until they are old enough to support themselves.
It can be essential to know things, but not to go to school.
It can be essential to know things, but not to go to school.
azzaman333
meh
Mandatory until the end of year 10. (2 years before the completion of high school)
azzaman333
meh
Minors are not, and should not be legally allowed to make that decision.
Elta
我不会把这种
I agree.
Same thing for everyone (generally) until 10th grade (U.S.) In the last two years you can prep for college, join the military, join a trade union as an apprentice. etc.
Something other than just working a lame ass job.
fugazi
King
The people who think it shouldn't be mandatory crack me up. Do you want to go back to the 19th century? If anything, school should become a bit more intrusive on the life of youngsters. It really has to grab the youngsters by the throat and 'force' language and culture upon them, as a lot of parents are failing in that regard. Language is the key to success and you have to start early with that or you'll forever fall behind.
As for courses such as physics, who cares? If kids show interest in it that's good but school should mostly focus on language, basic math and weaving a cultural background and backdrop for the kid through courses such as history.
As for courses such as physics, who cares? If kids show interest in it that's good but school should mostly focus on language, basic math and weaving a cultural background and backdrop for the kid through courses such as history.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
if school wasn't mandatory, kids wouldn't even be able figure out how to text eachother. they are dumb enough as it is, let's make 'em learn some stuff when they're still young.
I like it the way it is (or was; I don't know if they've changed it in the last few months, or are going to change it soon). Mandatory to the end of Year 10, and optional after that. Raising the leaving age to above that, or to an actual age, rather than academic level (as the government either has or will, I can't remember) is pointless, and only disadvantages those that do want an education, rather than advantaging those that do not. I argued this before with, I think, downtown, but I don't think that there is any benefit of delinquents or those less academically and more practically inclined from remaining at school in years 11 and 12, when they could be doing something more productive, like pursuing vocational education, taking an apprenticeship, etc. If they are at school, they'll just disrupt everyone and won't learn anything, or at least anything useful to their future career path. Of course, it's situational.
Bast
Protector of Cats
It should be compulsory all the way to first an undergraduate degree. And public funded. Anything after that, you pay yourself and it's up to you whether you want to do further study or not.
You can't survive in today's world without at least an undergraduate degree.
You can't survive in today's world without at least an undergraduate degree.
azzaman333
meh
You're so incredibly wrong it's not worth my time correcting you.
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