Cut School Leaving Age to 14

pqrdef

The_White_Horse wrote: »

if they can't read or write by the time they are 14 they are defective.

Better lock them up then.

pqrdef

EdgEy wrote: »

Every time "what's the point of x" comes up in a lesson there should be an answer

Most of the time they won't be. A general spiel about the usefulness of qualifications won't motivate an individual subject, and a spiel about the value of a subject won't motivate individual topics. Most of the maths and science I was taught at school would have been useless even to future mathematicians and scientists, because the syllabuses were hopelessly out of date. And the general bottom-up approach means that pupils have to learn the bits without seeing how they fit together.

As a system of teaching and learning, the whole system of schooling needs a total rethink. Won't happen. In the meantime, schooling will just be a way of sorting out those most amenable to schooling, whatever that proves.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

IronWolf wrote: »

Children in this country are never going to be as motivated as those in third world countries, they are not exposed to the harsh realities of life and death. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so, I'd rather live in a country where people weren't suffering and maybe children are a bit spoilt, than to live in a country where children had to walk 10 miles to get to school where the incentive is a free meal.

I think you've got it in one there.
Our children are too spoilt and cossetted to have any need to be motivated.
They sqawk and then they get,so why should they need to be motivated to aspire to anything for themselves personally.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I think it is an excellent idea for some youngsters to leave school and go into an apprenticeship when they reach 13 or 14.
Some youngsters are better off out of the school enviroment and need a different kind of stimulation.
Standard education is wasted on these youngsters they need something totally different.
Kids left school at 13 and 14 years ago when my own parents were youngsters and even in my day kids left school at 15 apart from those of us who went on to grammar school.
Having said that literacy was higher then so maybe schooling methods had kids better prepared at a younger age,

onlyroz

Any business-owners out there willing to say they'd be happy to hire a 14-year-old school dropout for an apprenticeship?

StevieJ

Idiophreak wrote: »

What's essential, though?

If you look at, say, the Germans - over half their population (and a much higher proportion of youngsters) are fluent in English - and they gain significant economic advantages as a result. I doubt there are many school children sat around saying "this is a waste of time...I can't do it". There are bound to be some that "get it" more than others, but they're all "forced" to stick with it for their own good. (actually, I think it's because they often have to choose between English and Latin )

It is different for them, English is now the world common language, it is continually conveyed via US films and pop music in general, it is not therefore, restricted to the time they meet an English person.

CAN1976

Also, I believe they start learning languages much earlier than is the case in the British curriculum. If we want to get serious about languages in this country we need to start learning at a much younger age.

Exposure to the language being learnt would still be an issue though. French, German etc students can just listen to radio or watch television to get immersed in English language. The converse is not true.

RenovationMan

There would be a lot less disruption in lessons if only those interested in pursuing GCSE's stayed in school. Not everyone is academically minded and it doesn't benefit anybody for kids who don't want to be in school being forced to attend. If a 14 year old is interested in being a mechanic, there is not much value in studying simultaneous equations.

chucknorris

RenovationMan wrote: »

There would be a lot less disruption in lessons if only those interested in pursuing GCSE's stayed in school. Not everyone is academically minded and it doesn't benefit anybody for kids who don't want to be in school being forced to attend. If a 14 year old is interested in being a mechanic, there is not much value in studying simultaneous equations.

Plus late developers can always return to education later in life. I did not apply myself at school and left with poor qualifications and ended up being an electrician. But eventually I matured and realised I had more potential so I did a degree as a mature student and graduated when I was 32, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Kennyboy66

Going4TheDream wrote: »

................... climate, but it shows that one size doesnt fit all and that this guy suggesting kids leave at 14 etc may have a valid point

He may have a point in not forcing children down the academic route, but schools already work with FE colleges trying to get more practical hands on experience & skills. Speak to anyone involved and the biggest problem is getting employers on board.

The subtext is that he wants the state to basically adandon its education responsibilities to a significant minority of children at 14.

He also criticised Cameron's call for independent schools to sponsor academies, calling it 'morally wrong'.'The more that the playing fields are used by non fee-paying children, the less they are available for the parents of children'


He really is a despicable individual.