What should the education system aim to achieve?

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What Schools Are For and Why by John White

Personal fulfilment

Experience many absorbing activities

Engage in close relationships

Live a healthy life and understand what makes for this

Make competent decisions in relation to managing money

Social and civic involvement

Communicate with other people appropriately

Play is a helpful part in the life of the school and community

Critically assess the role of the media

Reflect on human nature, its commonality and diversity Contribution to the economy

Work collaboratively in the production of goods or services for the school or community

Be aware of the rights of workers and employers

Critically examine how wealth is created and distributed

Be aware of the impact of science, technology and global markets on work prospects

Practical wisdom

Sensibly manage desires

Learn to cope with setback, change of circumstance and uncertainty

Resist pressure from peer groups, authority figures and the media

Strike a sensible balance between risk-taking and caution

White’s view is that schools should be inculcating knowledge relevant to modern society, such as the ability to live healthily, to manage money and to find fulfilment.

I very much agree with Whites view on what education should aim to achieve. I think schools should offer a range of subjects suitable to students needs, abilities and learning styles. I think that schools should offer a range of subject in different areas  such as languages, humanities, arts, technical and vocational.  Students  should be able to choose more than one subject but it should be mandatory that they choose at least one in each area. Subjects such as English, Maths, Science should also be compulsory. Extra curricular subjects should be offered in the form of afterschool activities so students can put extra time into subjects they enjoy and will most likely utilise in later life. It is important that students have a wide range of choices and feel like they are part of the decision making process when mapping out their education, this is more realistic to real life, makes them more motivated and keen to learnt.

From my experience of school, we were offered a range of subjects at A Level but these subjects were ore academically related rather than relevant to modern society. This was great for students who would go on to Oxford or Cambridge but for students like myself I felt disillusioned about what path I could take to a career. Not any of the subjects offered were vocational. I wanted to study Information Technology and went to great lengths to arrange lessons with a college outside of school but in the end my proposal was denied. In the end I was lucky enough to be offered subjects which were mostly project based which suited my learning needs, but I still wonder I my life would be different if i was allowed to do the IT A Level.

It is important that children have skills necessary for life such as managing money, socialising, showing empathy to others and  decision making. This should be achieved through the community of the school. A school must give students the opportunity to prepare for future life by immersing them in real life activities such as work experience, expeditions, social events; possibly  let the students plan these events themselves. Studies should be related to real life situations. Teachers must also take the time to find out what is happening in their students life so they do not create a barrier between adults and students, schools must be able to cater to their needs and students will therefore relate to teachers and view school as a place which understands them and their needs. A place that will prepare them for everyday situations which we encounter as adults. 

All school staff must lead by example with the hope that students will follow. As teachers we must prepare students for real life situations; mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. Schools should make students aware of themselves and the world around them. We should teach the importance of  money management and practical wisdom and we must create an environment for students to explore who they are and develop the necessary skills; career, family and socially related,  in later life.