Cut School Leaving Age to 14

kabayiri

Percy1983 wrote: »

....
As it is the careers computer came out with:
1, Supermarker manager
2, Accountant
...

Can you imagine how impressive the careers computer was, which told those 2 blokes in the US, "why don't you invent the biggest online search engine on the planet", or .. "you will develop a social media framework used by 100s of millions".

I wish I could have accessed that application

Idiophreak

kabayiri wrote: »

Can you imagine how impressive the careers computer was, which told those 2 blokes in the US, "why don't you invent the biggest online search engine on the planet", or .. "you will develop a social media framework used by 100s of millions".

I wish I could have accessed that application

I love thinking about how these people might have turned out under the proposed system...Mr Gates? Your son's not been doing great in History recently, so we've branded him a "non-academic" student. We'll kick him out of school at 14. He'll join an apprentice scheme in plumbing along with a dozen kids who just couldn't be bothered to try at school. Best of luck with that.

Percy1983

Idiophreak wrote: »

I love thinking about how these people might have turned out under the proposed system...Mr Gates? Your son's not been doing great in History recently, so we've branded him a "non-academic" student. We'll kick him out of school at 14. He'll join an apprentice scheme in plumbing along with a dozen kids who just couldn't be bothered to try at school. Best of luck with that.

I do believe we are looking at this from different view points.

To me its not kicking them out at 14 but giving them a choice at 14 of vocational or school (with guidance of course).

As said given the choice I would have left at 14.

Pennywise

Idiophreak wrote: »

I love thinking about how these people might have turned out under the proposed system...Mr Gates? Your son's not been doing great in History recently, so we've branded him a "non-academic" student. We'll kick him out of school at 14. He'll join an apprentice scheme in plumbing along with a dozen kids who just couldn't be bothered to try at school. Best of luck with that.

But what of the opposite - "

Yes, Mr Smith your son isn't interested in academic subjects and is really struggling at maths and english but we'll keep him in school aimlessly teaching him history and physics that's way beyond his ability, making him even more unhappy, feeling more of a failure and even less interested in school, and eventually he'll give up completely, start playing truant, start assaulting pupils & teachers out of frustration, and he'll end up expelled with a criminal record meaning he'll never have the hope of a decent job. It's a shame, Mr Smith, that we can't divert him into more practical training within his abilities that could give him a decent trade because by the time he can do, the damage will have been done and it'll be even more difficult to reverse."

Idiophreak

Percy1983 wrote: »

As said given the choice I would have left at 14.

Given the choice, pretty much all 14 year olds would stay at home rather than go to school...the problem is that children don't always know what's in their best interests...

CAN1976

Who says it would be the institution's choice? At about 14 I remember choosing which subjects I wished to pursue, with some being non-elective. Are we not simply talking about being able to replace some of the non-electives as well as the electives with a vocational choice instead? The question would be themselves deciding to learn mechanics (or whatever) instead of English Lit.

Idiophreak

Pennywise wrote: »

But what of the opposite - "

Yes, Mr Smith your son isn't interested in academic subjects and is really struggling at maths and english but we'll keep him in school aimlessly teaching him history and physics that's way beyond his ability, making him even more unhappy, feeling more of a failure and even less interested in school, and eventually he'll give up completely, start playing truant, start assaulting pupils & teachers out of frustration, and he'll end up expelled with a criminal record meaning he'll never have the hope of a decent job. It's a shame, Mr Smith, that we can't divert him into more practical training within his abilities that could give him a decent trade because by the time he can do, the damage will have been done and it'll be even more difficult to reverse."

Oh, poor little Johnny's acting out because he's frustrated, is he?

Face it, put him on a plumbing apprenticeship, he's still going to get mocked for being the slowest in the class, so he'll start goofing off, fall behind and ultimately start truanting....The obligatory life of crime follows, but without a good basic education to fall back on, he fails to read the instructions correctly on a gun he's using to rob an offy, shoots himself in the head and dies. Struth, bet he wished he'd stayed in school til 16...

CAN1976 wrote: »

Who says it would be the institution's choice? At about 14 I remember choosing which subjects I wished to pursue, with some being non-elective. Are we not simply talking about being able to replace some of the non-electives as well as the electives with a vocational choice instead? The question would be themselves deciding to learn mechanics (or whatever) instead of English Lit.

But it's rather more severe than that...What happens if you choose the wrong GCSEs? In extreme circumstances you can't study the A Levels that you want to. Could, ultimately, be a costly mistake - but I'd suggest very few people's lives are substantially altered by their choice at GCSE.

Choosing to opt out of traditional education altogether is a somewhat larger decision to make...

Percy1983

Idiophreak wrote: »

Choosing to opt out of traditional education altogether is a somewhat larger decision to make...

I think following traditions blindly is a bigger mistake in life (be it education or otherwise).

CAN1976

Idiophreak wrote: »

Oh, poor little Johnny's acting out because he's frustrated, is he?

Face it, put him on a plumbing apprenticeship, he's still going to get mocked for being the slowest in the class, so he'll start goofing off, fall behind and ultimately start truanting....The obligatory life of crime follows, but without a good basic education to fall back on, he fails to read the instructions correctly on a gun he's using to rob an offy, shoots himself in the head and dies. Struth, bet he wished he'd stayed in school til 16...



But it's rather more severe than that...What happens if you choose the wrong GCSEs? In extreme circumstances you can't study the A Levels that you want to. Could, ultimately, be a costly mistake - but I'd suggest very few people's lives are substantially altered by their choice at GCSE.

Choosing to opt out of traditional education altogether is a somewhat larger decision to make...

them sitting it as mandatory and failing will set them in better stead?

jamespir

chewmylegoff wrote: »

so you think 90% of school leavers cannot read or write? are you serious?

if you are, you are probably one of the much smaller number of school leavers who cannot read or write.

actually i have done a lot of research into this as i am setting up a social enterprise to help those who have been let down by the education system

and 90% of school leavers in parts of wales have a lack or no basic skills and these include reading and writing