Seth Godin’s question, What is school for? is a good question. However, I think it might be better to ask (in the words of James Brown), “school -what is it good for?”
School, huh, yeah,
What is it good for,
absolutely nothing,
school, huh, yeah,
What is it good for,
Absolutely nothing,
Say it again, y’all,
So I changed the lyrics a bit, who cares?
The purpose of school is obvious. You have to go to school to learn. But we shouldn’t be asking, “What is school for?” We should be asking, “What is school good for?”
For example, who really needs calculus, advanced chemistry, or geometry? Yes, some will need these subjects, but most will not. I am not saying that we should get rid of them completely. Rather, let’s see if we can make some room for more useful subjects that will serve these kids in whatever occupation they choose in the future.
- Communication Skills. Small talk and big talk are important skills needed to succeed in any market. Making small talk with customers, co-workers, and bosses is a highly underrated skill. Knowing how you speak to someone is just as important as knowing what to say. Therefore, communication skills must be fine-tuned whether you are talking about a company picnic, making an important presentation, teaching a class, or any imaginable social situation.
Teachers should focus less on standarized testing with multiple choice and essay questions. Being able to make polite small talk about work, the weather, or current events is a skill just like calculating circumference. Being able to chair an important meeting without blushing or whispering is a skill. In short, Public speaking abilities should be taught and evaluated just as with any other course.
- Debating Skills. The Debate club is for dorks. Well, those dorks grow up to be successful business entrepreneurs, politicians, judges,etc.
Debating should be a mandatory class for all students. It instills confidence and it teaches the important skill of how to convince people. Being convincing is a necessary talent for any career.
- Leadership and Interpersonal Skills. Every class has its stereotypical line-up. The bully, the nerd, the suck-up, class clown, etc. Have the students exchange roles and interpret the others’ behavior for a day. What would happen and how can this be useful in the real world?
First, forcing people to see their own behavior from the perspective of others is a real eye-opener. It can teach you how to relate to people that are different from you and how to be a team-player.
Second, being able to size-up a situation immediately and take action is the mark of a good leader. Ever watch someone enter into an unexpected, chaotic situation? How they react in this situation says a lot about someone. Do they take control immediately or do they wait for someone else to bark out orders?The problem is that, in school, we all fit into a stereotype and it is hard to break out of it once school is over. Therefore, schools should be places where leadership skills are taught, not just accepted. And being able to relate well to those around you is probably the most essential tool for anyone anywhere.
“I only got seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use.”– James Brown
