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School system sucks. Why not start your own?
Written by Abel Cheng   
Monday, 10 September 2007
One issue that is close to my heart is our school education system. I know that the current education system does nothing more than teaching academic stuff (eg: alphabets, math, reading) and it’s a one size fits all system.

The students focus too much on academic excellence than other soft skills. The system produces students who go for zero-sum more than win-win.

The current system is not efficient in helping children develop their own unique talents. If you get an "F" in school, you’re doomed to fail. At least that’s how the teachers think.

But in reality, that’s not the case. Name three entrepreneurs who were school drop outs? You can give me the answers easily.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not against education. Education is important. What pisses me off is what they teach, the way they teach and the way they measure students’ performances.

The children are robbed of the opportunity to become who they truly are. The situation gets worse for children with special needs.

In fact, I am not alone. There are many parents share the same feelings and they got so fed up that they started their own schools.

One of the parents from United Kingdom said: "As each of my children entered the school system, they became a grey version of themselves, losing their sense of joy and wonder."

In one of the schools the parents started, they get rid of the rigid confines of the national curriculum, have small class sizes, foster respectful adult/child communication and involve creative and challenging learning.

Another mother, Laura Dyer, started a school after she found out her son, severely autistic and with developmental problems, that the more time he spent at school, the more his skills and ability dropped.

Four schools mentioned are:

1. Lewes New School, Lewes, Sussex
2. The Family School at Larkhall, Clapham, southwest London
3. Chrysalis School for Autism, Codicote, Hertfordshire
4. Moon Hall School and College

After reading the article, starting a school isn’t a bad idea after all.

Comments (1)add comment

Aaron said:

  Great article Abel. I'm very blessed to live in a community where I know my children are receiving a good education. I have volunteered for the past two years and their elementary school consistently wins grade school awards......

BUT I still would prefer to home-school my children and let them choose whatever extracurricular programs they want to join as balance. Sadly, I think I can still give my children a better education and teach them better life skills on my own.

Thanks for stopping by
2007-09-11 16:34:54 | url

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