thoughts on what we should teach our children
I am a professional teacher, and with a school having decided they want me for the forthcoming year, I will be continuing in that capacity for at least another year, despite now being 71 years old. In fact, it is my hope to continue in that capacity for as long as I am able to make a positive difference in the lives of adolescents.
Officially I teach social studies, and over the years have taught American History, World History, Comparative Religion, Economics (Macro and Micro), US Government, Comparative Government, and Social Issues. I have also taught English and Study Skills. Outside of school I have taught SAT Prep (verbal and Math) and writing. And for what it is worth my undergraduate degree was music and my first graduate degree was religion.
Beyond that, before becoming a teacher I spent 20 years in data processing / computers, was a Certified Systems Analyst and am still a Certified Data Processor.
This is preface.
I read often about how we need to teach students to code, about how important it is to teach STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering, Math) subjects (sometimes modified to STEAM with the inclusion of Arts). I think we are missing some important things in thinking about education, about what we want our children to learn. I am going to offer some thoughts, developed over all of my life, not just my 2 decades as a classroom teacher.
I do not assert that my ideas represent a complete approach to education. But I do offer this: I have not only been a professional educator for some two decades, I have been a life-long student. I took ten years to get my undergraduate degree. I continue thoughts on what we should teach our children:
