President Obama has said repeatedly that one of this nations goals should be to prepare our children to meet the challenge of the future. If we are to achieve that aim, the first step is to make certain classes mandatory for all high school students. Classes that will give them the necessary skills to become competent communicators, analytical thinkers, and help them to understand the changing world around them.
These are the basic classes they will need to accomplish those tasks:
English and writing classes should be mandatory all four years of high school. It is amazing the number of high school graduates that cannot even write a simple paragraph. The first goal of this English and writing class should be to teach the child how to become proficient in writing the following types of paragraphs and later, papers. Informative. descriptive, How to, and Persuasive. Successive English and Writing courses, should continue to increase the child's skills in these types of writing, making sure that proper spelling and punctuation lessons are included to make the child a competent communicator of the written word.
Public speaking and interpersonal communication classes should also teach the student to communicate proficiently orally. In addition, the student should also learn how to communicate effectively one on one, and in groups.
Every student should be required to take at least one year of debate, not only will this increase his oral communication skills, but it will also teach him to think analytically, and in an organized manner, while responding to the ideas of others.
History and Government should be a required in every high school. Every student should be required to take at least one year each of American history, world history, and Government. While many people believe the teaching of history serves no purpose, it is in fact, essential to understand the past struggles and the triumphs. Studying American history will give students a better idea of who we are as a country and the values we hold dear. Studying world history will give us a better understanding of other cultures, peoples and their struggles. The study of our Government, will give students an understanding of how a democracy works, and ways to improve it.
Current Events should be taught hand in hand with history. Helping students learn and keep abreast of what is happening in the world on a daily basis. Current event classes should cover events in the area of science, politics, law, and humanities. These classes should cover noteworthy achievements and conflicts.
Science should be mandatory all four years of high school. These courses should cover the basics in Biology, Natural science, conservation, astronomy, and Geology. These courses should make every student aware of the necessity of finding innovative sources of alternative fuel that will end our reliance on other countries and help the ecosystem.
Literature should also be a mandatory class. Students should at least have a rudimentary understanding of poetry, short stories, novels, and plays. These courses should include authors from many different countries, who express many different viewpoints. These courses should also introduce to the students both classic and contemporary literature.
And finally, Life skills classes should be mandatory for each student. These classes should cover personal finances. teaching a student to use a check book, make a budget, and other skills needed to make them savvy in maintaining a financial independence. It should include simple basic cooking classes, and food handling, comparative food shopping, and nutrient. These classes should also help each individual student learn how to make the choices necessary for preparing himself for college or for a trade. Including resume writing and interviewing.
With these basic and fundamental classes, we can achieve the goals necessary to prepare our children for the future and give them the tools necessary to help build a stronger and better country and economy.