This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Do we specialise too early in our education system?

I've often thought about this. I definitely think that we don't get enough exposure to certain subjects for long enough. I know I struggled with the concept of having to base my future on a couple of choices I made on a whim aged 14 and then at 16. What about individuals who enjoy a wider range of subjects?

Reply 41

a.posteriori

Ancient Greek is really, really cool.

Reply 42

TimmonaPortella

21

TheSownRose

tl;dr version: Does our education system force people to make potentially life-changing choices when they're still too young to know what they want?

( I actually read your post, but I don't see the need to quote all that.)

Yeah, its hard to expect GCSE students to narrow into 4 a levels - i too would change my choices if I was starting again - but what's the alternative? we have to specialise at some time before the end: we can't keep everyone in pre uni education until much later than we currently do, and we couldn't teach a levels to enough depth if we kept the same volume as gcses.

besides which, however long we wait some people will always regret their choices. theres always the option to start the AS year again if you really mess up.

Reply 43

RevisingHard

9

Should be set till 18

Reply 44

linkdapink

15

Sorry, I only read the first few posts.

I agree with this so much. In year 10, I wanted to go into something to do with Finance. I didn't pick options around this though, but I don't think I would have picked Business Studies really (looking back). In Year 12, I decided that I wanted to be a Biology teacher, but didn't take any other Science A-Levels. I now find that I can't be a Biology teacher for this reason.

However, now (after work experience), I've decided that I much prefer Maths, so doing a Diploma in Maths and then a PGCE in it. It's so hard to decide what to do so early on! I was only JUST 18 when I went to Uni. I picked Biology (stupidly) even though I know now, that I probably would have faired better with English!

Reply 45

infernalcradle

15

I don't see why we can't have a dual system...let those who want to specialise do so...ie. keep the current system, and have another one in which those who are unsure can do the major/minor thing that they have in the US...

Reply 46

AP1989

11

Yeah I've always thought this as well, which is why I like the US college system.

Reply 47

im so academic

15

wookymon

You really couldn't make it up....

Ancient Greek + Latin =/= crap

:lolwut:

I would be here forever if I could list the benefits of learning such subjects. :yep:

Reply 48

username219321

14

im so academic

Yes. If I had it my way:

Everyone do IGCSEs/O-Levels in: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, [MFL], Ancient Greek, Latin

If you want: Mathematics II, [second MFL]

If you're not academic - IGCSE English Language, Mathematics, Science, Science II + whatever you want to do (e.g. GCSE in Music or a course in Theatre).

The "academic" route - then specialises in Pre-Us. The "non-academic" goes to further education/vocational colleges or specialised drama/art school or whatever.

I doubt "everyone" could handle 11 GCSEs. Also where would the teachers to teach "everyone" 3 languages come from?.

Reply 49

username219321

14

im so academic

Ancient Greek + Latin =/= crap

:lolwut:

I would be here forever if I could list the benefits of learning such subjects. :yep:

List even 5 of them. Also explain where you would recruit enough teachers to teach them to "everyone".

Reply 50

im so academic

15

matt2k8

I doubt "everyone" could handle 11 GCSEs. Also where would the teachers to teach "everyone" 3 languages come from?.

Good. Some academic discrimination for once. The education system is not supposed to let everyone pass - what's the point of that? Finally, at least you're implying my system brings in standards.

Abroad/paying graduates a premium for teaching.

Reply 51

im so academic

15

matt2k8

List even 5 of them. Also explain where you would recruit enough teachers to teach them to "everyone".

*Many of other words in the English language are derived from the Romance, Latin and Greek languages. An understanding of such will enrich a student's understanding of English as a whole.
*Learning any language is helpful, especially since British kids are lacking in language skills compared to other countries.
*Learning such subjects makes one educated to some extent compared to our politically-influenced curriculum.
*It's important to learn about past civilisations and cultures - students would learn some respect for the past and appreciate its influence on today's world
*Many kids are lacking language skills and cannot even communicate in coherent basic English. If they are taught from an early age an enriching language curriculum, this indifference should hopefully be eradicated to some extent
*We need kids learning tough academic courses rather than ******** Mickey Mouse courses

Abroad/paying graduates a premium for teaching

Reply 52

username219321

14

im so academic

Good. Some academic discrimination for once. The education system is not supposed to let everyone pass - what's the point of that? Finally, at least you're implying my system brings in standards.

Abroad/paying graduates a premium for teaching.
All I'll say to that is you really do live in a bubble don't you? Your system doesn't bring in "standards", all it would do is mean people who can't handle 11 GCSEs (maybe not anyone you know, but an awful lot of people) would be screwed over.

You'd have to be offering pretty massive salaries to get even close to hiring a fraction of enough Latin/Greek teachers to try and teach every student Latin/Greek.

Reply 53

Aphotic Cosmos

17

I would like to see more choice as to when we start specialising. I had a very comfortable, gradual shrinkage in the number of subjects I studied - 16 (KS3), 11 (GCSE), 6 (IB), 1 (BSc) - accompanied with an increase in the time and effort I spent studying each of the remaining subjects at each stage. Many people, however, haemorrhage subjects very quickly throughout their secondary career, and by the time they get around to applying for degree courses they may seriously regret dropping a subject that proves essential to certain degrees they're interested in. I was given the opportunity to put off specialising too quickly through doing the IB instead of A-levels. 6 subjects instead of 3 helped keep my options wide open until I knew what I wanted to do. I suspect that many other students would benefit from a course that offered benefits similar to the IB.

Specialisation isn't a bad thing, students just need to be given more choice as to when and how they start specialising, and more advice on which subjects are vital for degrees they may be interested in.

Oh well, whatever, I'm now at a stage where I'll be studying just two sub-fields of Geography next year - Biogeography and GIS - and I'm really looking forward to it! Yay for specialisation! \o/

Reply 54

cru_jo0

2

Yes Yes Yes and Yes!

I am going into my second year of uni and im still pretty cluless =/

Reply 55

lekky

19

No.

morecambebay

Nobody is FORCED to specialise. If you dont think you are ready to specialise at GCSE...choose a wide range of GCSE subjects. If you arent ready to specialise at A level...choose a wide range of A level subjects.

This

Reply 56

mishintio

Aphotic Cosmos

I was given the opportunity to put off specialising too quickly through doing the IB instead of A-levels. 6 subjects instead of 3 helped keep my options wide open until I knew what I wanted to do.

This may be because I'm a huge IB fanboy (read: whore) but i'm with you on this. I take the point that you can take as many as 5/6 A levels, so they're evening out the playing field, but because the IB forces you to take a range of very different subjects (and do well at all of them to do well overall) i think it solves the over-specialisation issue quite neatly.

But then maybe that's more an A-level/IB debate. Before i generate mega-hate, i definitely think A Levels do have differing advantages over IB, particularly in subject depth.

Personally i opted for a Scottish uni because you get to gradually specialise over the course of your first two years...but some people know exactly what they want! I think so long as these differing options are available, we dont have TOO bad a specialisation issue.

Do we specialise too early in our education system?

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you