So the entirety of this suggestion would require additional systems in place. This has been in thoughts for nearly two decades. Here are the basics quickly written up.
Education
Start school at age 4 - in the session that is closest to when one turns four.
A few basic goals would be that up through age 16 there should be every attempt made to not require homework outside of time spent during the school day, on Friday’s, or perhaps just an hour a day. Students should be allowed to play, relax, spend time with family, spend time with each other.
One suggestion as the school day will be set at a max of 7 hours is to include time in the day for students to be in a library or a class that is just for them to complete their work.
There are a lot of educational theories and systems that could be used. This more specific detail ought to be left to the state and more local school districts.
Getting used to what will possibly be required as an adult is important and so is knowing that other activities are important. While homework should not be required/necessary the idea of working on knowledge and things on one’s own time should be promoted.
This system will both get rid of “vouchers” and alternative educations while also supporting and paying for any education that follows and meets the standards that are set by the new system as a national standards while being focused & determined by the state.
. Educational programs that are paid for through taxes must operate at the 2.5% or 5% business system or if based on current systems what would be considered a non-profit or in the 50* (1, 8, etc). Systems and that whole overhaul would be needed or a variation (again my thoughts are expanded and seeking here to focus on basic ideas)
These changes would massively alter how school is handled currently. It will bring in a lot more educators as classes in all fields are brought back or brought into the schools for the first time.
From dance, to self-defense, from cooking classes to farming, from physical education to economics, from technology to first aide, from cultural studies to history, adding these classes back does raise the cost of education it also brings the cost of such specialization back into the schools making it accessible to students who may not have been able to have access to these classes in the general community. Paying for education will be addressed as part of the Tax System and while some federal funding would be present the focus would be on funding at the state levels.
-
There will be four 11-week terms a year. This allows for two week breaks between terms and year round learning.
-
Each week classes are
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. -
Hybrid options should exist with either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday in the classroom and other two days out. All of this at the state or more local level.
-
A push should be made to promote hybrids for those who historically may have wanted to “teach from home.”
-
Accessibility to allow ALL to attend at least hybrid is necessary. At least some form of hybrid is needed to bring homeschooled back into the education system in some form.
-
Friday is used for clubs, group activities, plays, field trips, tutoring, extended projects, research, etc. It is also the social day so students can come in and be connected to fellow students (not required).
-
Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 are for ages 4, 5, 6, 7. Kids do NOT get held back. Students would be required to go to 3 of the 11 week sessions/terms a year of the 4 sessions and can choose to take any session off. If a student is having particular difficulties, then it may be suggested they do take a 4th session or have their interests, abilities, etc checked.
-
Students will intermingle for ages 4-7 and grades 1-4. More classes like art, food, building, stem, farming, humanities, and other interests will be offered alongside traditional courses. If you look back at these integrated grade classes it can help students advance & students who do advance further embrace the ability to help/teach those who are just starting the class or struggling
-
Kids will go to school for a recommended 7 hours a day. This is in part to help with after-school costs of parents to shift and to fit ideally with more work schedules. Individual schools can work with what schedules work for the region where they are located. NO Homework! Students should not be required to spend time outside of class time (including Friday’s) doing school work if at all possible.
-
Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 for ages 8, 9, 10, 11. Again 4 sessions a year, 3 sessions required, same M/T/W/Th or hybrid with Friday for activities/events/tutoring. More classes focused on helping to build strengths, learn how to manage or outsource weaknesses. Emphasis on critical thinking, analysis, morality/ethics, and similar concepts. Continuation of courses related to art, food, building, mechanics, computers, stem, humanities, health (more first aide especially) Classes related to puberty, can begin at this level but is focused on biology and the changes that can happen (menstruation) - this subject matter is determined mostly by state and local schools. Students attend for ideally 7 hours a day on school days. Individual schools can work with what schedules work. Individual schools start introducing courses that may be specific to the region (types of farming, plant knowledge for the area, history). NO Homework! Students should not be required to spend time outside of class time or Friday’s doing school work.
-
Grades of 9, 10, 11, 12 for ages 12, 13, 14, and 15. Big focus on what it means to be human, psychology, sociology, and continued ethics/morals. Sexuality with expanded ideas can be allowed to help as students go through puberty and figure out who they do or don’t want to be – it doesn’t have to be required but must be offered at any school that receives funding. Education ought to include abstinence, safe sexual practices (std/pregnancy prevention), self-choices, self-respect, and positive sexuality. Same 4 sessions, 3 required, and week days. Throughout this time period a focus and look at choosing what careers & course studies compliment the student’s strongest interests, greatest strengths, and choosing what a student most is wanting, at this time, to study and do in life. Again, courses for all areas of life should be emphasized.
*** Decision time.** Choose 1 vocation and 1 area of study. OR Choose 2 vocations.
An area of study would be what would lead to equivalent of an AA or AS now. There may be other areas of interest or fields that a student wants to be part of. Specific mixtures of programs may be a possibility; however, every attempt should be made to narrow the next level of education to 2 vocations or 1 vocation and 1 area of study. -
Equivalent of grades 13, 14, 15, 16 for ages 16, 17, 18, and 19.
Equivalent of one year will be service to country, it can be spread out, but the total time will be roughly 44 weeks at roughly 28 hours a week. This can be something like an ROTC, Peace Corps, Forestry Service, or similar Gov (state or federal) program that focuses on protection, repairing, helping humans, animals, plants, etc. It can be local or someplace they travel to. Military, Peace Corp, etc participation can be anywhere that there is not an active war going on.
Two years will be focused on education – various days of the week hybrid, etc as based on course of study. The goal is that at the end of this time period they have a basic training in at least one vocation and then either a field of study or second vocation.
One year will be designed to live on their own or with others as they get jobs. They are not “interns” in a traditional sense but are gaining experience. This can be taking a couple (up to 8) higher-ed courses that would lead to a focused future Bachelors degree, being an apprentice electrician (or other vocation), going further into their field of service (military or other), and otherwise starting adult life. They will get additional assistance as needed for areas where they may struggle – be it taking care of the house, vehicles (be it car, bus, local transit, etc), or most anything else. However, much of these practices would already be taught in the lower grades – from cooking to outdoor survival, etc. All attempts will be made to help students start their adult life as they finish their education.
When the student turns 20, they are finished with the tax-paid-for education. At that time if they need to go further or get additional help it is a different system, within the education system but also linked with the LifeSupport system (a type of welfare but again different system that I will share thoughts for that overhaul at some point)
There will, through these other systems, be programs to train further in a field of study, vocation, or to get training in another vocation… details will come later for this.
So, just a few thoughts that I have played with for around 20 years now. My father when it was coming up on the 2004 elections asked me what I actually felt was closer to ideal outside of what any party platform or ideology was. I sat down and wrote what I thought would be useful reforms across most systems. From there my dad reminded me that no party or individual would ever match completely and to regularly reassess my thoughts as well as question why my thoughts changed. Every few years I do revisit the general concepts and at times have went into much more detail though often felt that such detail changes more often and it is best to allow that change based on needs of the local communities, the state, and the time period.