I feel that pre-k through 8 are preparing the child for high school. 9-12 are preparing them for college. That's how I'm looking at it for my child.

I don't think anything fun is taught in high school. For instance, they have "sex education", but it's not a hands-on course, neither an immersion course.

Luckily I come from a once-communist country where in high school we DID have philosophy. The history teacher thought it, and he had no concept of what an original thought was. He was a big pary member. After communism collapsed, he immediately swang himself into politics, and denied any iota of communism in his blood type. I think he was a secret service agent, both pre- and post war, and both pre- and post communism. A slimebag, in other words.

And college prepares you for what?

Not for a job, since grade twelve prepares you to be a productive member of society.

College prepares you for life? But you're already alive at college entrance age, you've proven you could do it for 18-19 years, what can they teach you?

Ergo, college is a waste of time, effort, energy, carbon atoms, spilt seed on the ground, bad beer, ear drums, gasoline, and mainly, brains.

of course you have the right to home school your child as you wish. but we're talking about tax payer dollars and what the priorities are. relatively few will attend college but what purpose is college if not to prepare your child for a prosperous career? point being, all children need education that readies him/her to make a productive living for themselves and their family whether or not they can afford college.

I'm not home schooling my child. Education is a priority for me for my child. My child needs to be able to support themselves when I'm gone.

My child is attending a good school that is preparing them for a college prep high school. My child knows that college is expected for them in the future.

College prepares one for a job/career. It taught me a lot.

great. now suppose your child decides not to go to college. do you want high school to leave him illprepared for the work force? i never attended college and had a very successful career whch paid far more than what the average college graduate makes. regardless, the discussion concerns philospy being taught in hs, not college.

Well, if my child doesn't want to get hurt, then they're going to college.

In our time people could have careers without college. I think it is different for my child's generation. I don't even know if a bachelor's degree will be enough. They are more common now.

I took philosophy in college. I think it would be good for teaching independent thinking skills in high school. It also would also offer the children a different perspective. We're only talking about one class, right?

yep. so what class gets cut to make room for this one class? don't know of many school districts that are not increasing class sizes, cutting school year and other fiscal measures to continue to fund the ciriculum they now have. and the cutting is far from done. so where do the philosophy teachers and classrooms and available hours come from? and rarely has there been more oportunities for people without college degrees in the techonoly world than have existed in the last twenty years, especially when compared to degrees in philosophy.

They could cut a study hall class.

A philosophy class isn't about a career choice in philosophy unless one wants to be a philosophy professor.

A philosophy class does teach thinking skills and thinking outside of the box. Each class - math, art, etc., stimulate different parts of the brain. I think that the more a child learns about different areas of life the better. I think it would be great for kids to learn about Socrates, Aristotle, and Descrates.

Dear Winx, don't let some of the "low-lifes" in here poison you with their sickk ideologies!
- jr has no right of pushing his lucky circustances upon you -- he's managed to secure a well paying job which requires no education, but pays well -- probably something hazardous...

- wux is also entitled to his opinion -- "college is a waste of time, effort, energy, ..." -- spoken like a REAL COLLEGE GRADIATE!!!

They're jealous because life's deprived them from the "basic" modern day experience of every honourable young man/lady...

Very well put. Get rid of study hall and homeroom. Both are wasted class hours during the day, in regards to having time with yuor teacher(s) and learning what you need to be in school in order to learn. You can do your studying and homework at home, hence the title homework!

JaneStar,

They won't poison me with their ideologies.

When my child was born, I made their education a priority in my mind. It started with the first book that I read to them. I hope for my child to learn everything that they possibly can and love learning it. I want my child to be able to hold conversations on many topics. So far, it's been working.

We want our children to have a better life then the one that we have had. They also need to be able to survive on their own when we are gone.

Daniel,

Homeroom was a waste of time, wasn't it? It was all about taking attendance and waiting for the bell to ring.

perhaps schools in your district still has study hall but not in mine. such ameneties were the first to go in this budget crisis. and who will teach these philosopy classes? volunteers in your community? you don't get it that budgets are pushed to extremes as it is. classes are now being cut, class sizes enlarged and teachers laid off to keep districts solvent.

we've had a nice exchange of views thus far without personal attacks that jane, whom you offered a smile and flowers when she engaged in precisely that, often resorts to. will you lower your debating tactics to her level or continue a mature, intelligent and cognitive disscussion?

Good morning. Yes, we did have a nice exchange of views.

I was just having a little fun there. That's why I used the laughing smiley.

Hmm...I didn't know that other areas were cutting out study hall. My child has a study hall class.

Yes, budgets are being pushed in the school system. Hopefully it will get better. Children need the best education that we can offer to them. They are the future.

on this we do agree.

yes, we're all here for fun, it is a dating site afterall. some have here have fun with vicious personal attacks unfortunately. i do not applaudd such childish, schoolyard bullying though i am often amuzed by it i must say.