Just the 2 cents from a frequent lurker. Great thread BTW.
Wouldn’t we be better off to spend our (limited) education dollars on basic skills instead of allowing kids to drop basic subjects while accommodating them with what they are interested or good in – even if it’s outside regular hours? Basic math, English, geography, history amongst others come to mind as “musts”
I have employed grade 13 students who couldn’t spell or do basic math without a calculator. Limited choices are good but a good basic education goes a lot further.
Let them make choices once they are old enough to have a (faint) idea where they are heading and let parents pay for extras alongside of a solid basic education, just like they have to at the college or university level. It’s a cost of doing business; i.e. having kids.
Many more years ago than I care to remember I was forced into Latin in grade 5. Why? Because it provided the base for the then important languages; the Roman languages. Then came French (Spanish was an option) and English as mandatory subjects in grade 8 right up to grade 13. I didn’t like it or understand the relevance then but I sure understand it now.
You want your kids to be ahead of the crowd, you will have to pay for it. It’s a lot like investing in stocks. The big gains usually come from “futures”. Our kids are no different. Who else will pay for general retirement benefits and health care costs?
Cheers and Regards,
kidl
AI
