If I could change something about how schools work I would make it so that there would be more simulations, experiments and other hands on things.

No exams! *Laughs hysterically while covered in study notebooks and flashcards*

*Sigh* I have to allow myself at least 10 minute breaks every once in a while or I'll go insane. But seriously, I don't think exams are a good idea. They are 30 percent of your grade and cause a lot of stress. If you aren't feeling well or aren't having a good day, an exam good ruin your GPA. I think there is a better way to test if you've learned your material. Or maybe the school system should just have faith that you learned everything they taught you. If you do well in your class over all, then that probably means you understand the course. I know they want to be sure that you learned everything, but I think there are better ways than exams.

I'm homeschooled so......

I have to agree with GreenMango. Tests are scientifically proven to create depression in many students, and what is the point? They do not prepare you for the real world, it teaches children that it is okay and expected to just gather information for one test and then forget it. Think, for a minute. If you are working on your job, a massive project as say a graphic designer, and you just got a contract from Netflix, and you really want it to be amazing. Well, for one, your head will be filled with useless information like, "Ugh, I really wish schools taught me how to pay taxes. Or get a loan. And seriously, why did I need to know when a murderer crossed the ocean and "discovered" America?" (Sorry, that is just my family view on that part). And you are so flustered because it is almost tax season, and you are trying to buy your first house, that you forget all the stuff needed for designing the logo for Netflix that poof, you do a terrible job. There is this song by Boy In a Band about school, I recommend you all go listen to it. He is awesome, a brilliant genious, but off point from what I was saying! 

So in short, schools are nothing like they were 100 years ago. There are numerous documents showing that schools gave childen a few fundamental things: reading, writing, math, and religion. The rest of the time was to teach boys carpentry and such for work, and women house and family skills, since this was expected of them 100 years ago. Make that more modern - we could be educating our children - our ourselves - how to pay taxes, buy homes, have a successful marriage, all these things. Yet we learn about pi, pathagorean theoryms, word problems about this girl named Sally wanting pizza but too lazy to drive (in other words, having her spend hours to just decide which pizza place will deliver quicker), and so forth.

That's my very long opinion - and I could go longer - so I really want to see what you guys have to say! Let's keep this all friendly. I know my opinions are really on the edge for one way or the other, so please do not take offense. It was just how I was raised, and what I chose to see.  

I think schools should teach more useful things. My sister is nearly 15 and I'm nearly 13, and neither of us have any idea what a tax is, how banks work, how to buy a house, where you get loans, how you get loans, mortgage, how to cook anything besides grilled cheese and ramen noodles, sewing, parenting, anything! And yet, we both recall learning about band and table saws for an entire semester in woodshop and could easily name the good and bad emperors of the Byzantine empire.

I'm not saying history and wood shop shouldn't be taught, but let me ask you this.. how many times a day do you eat food? I'm assuming 2-5. How many times a day do you use a belt sander? Exactly. There's a reason those crazy rebellious teens eat nothing but pizza rolls, because that's all we know how to make! And seriously, maybe not everyone cooks, maybe you go out to eat three meals a day (which I'm sure sooo many people do) everyone needs to pay taxes. We should at least know what they are.

I also agree with the testing thing.. personally I have to take medicine each morning for something, and most days it makes me feel pretty nauseous during the first few periods of school, so it's hard to focus on the early morning 2 hour exam that determines my future.. I can't imagine actually being sick and taking a test like that, which I'm sure happens to many people. It's just really stressful and kind of like you get one chance and if your feeling a little under the weather or are having a bad day, there goes your career... 

I don't know how to end this, but those are my thoughts. I don't hate school, but it has its flaws, like anything and these are just a few..

welp.

bye then. 

Prepare for a rant!

I'm going to take both sides on this. I'm one who believes that reading makes you smarter, and that being able to solve problems (by that, I don't just mean math problems) is a necessary skill in life. What I don't think is OK is students breaking down from stress, basing EVERYTHING on memory/abilty to retain information, or teachers who embarrass kids who aren't as smart. Everyone has strengths, and what schools need to do is learn how to play those strengths instead of focusing only on book learning.

We should definitely bring a 'Modernized Home Ec' back, where we learn how to live on our own. I also think students should be given more choice. I'm 13 years old and I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to go into the art field, because it's something I love to do and I think I could get a career in it. So, if I already know what I'm going to do, why do I have to take classes like Calculus and Chemistry?

Since artistic, musical, and theater kids are forced to take math and science classes, I think those kids should have to take artsy classes, too. Notice how art classes are graded on effort/paying attention in class, and (usually) aren't that stressful? I think math and science should be the same way. Just like some kids don't have a knack for art, some kids don't have a knack for book learning. 

We still need to learn some things like history and math- it's important, we have to be able to teach our own kids and pass knowledge on. But seriously, it's to the extreme now and pushing kids to the breaking point. (My parents are both teachers, so I am aware that there are a crazy amount of tests in high school.) I'm definitely against that.