System Outage | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

System Outage

We need to value people more than grades

83
System Outage

If we don't change, it will continue to go downhill.

School.

A word that makes every student cringe and internally starts sobbing.

As a child who was homeschooled and in public school both, I do understand that education is valuable and needed as a society. As I was homeschooled, I was driven to get everything done as quickly and efficiently as possible, which taught me much about time management and work ethic.

However, there are some ways that the institutions for "learning" that end up hindering students from reaching their full potential.

School enforces conformity to a schedule, which can be fine, but it does take away from a student's need to learn how to make decisions for themselves. If this choice is going to continually be taken away from them, they won't be able to make decisions for themselves, which really isn't conducive to the obligatory preparation for adulthood that school is supposed to give them. If we want to prepare them for the world, we need to guide them and help them make educated choices, not simply bark directions at them. I happen to read at over 600 words a minute, and my first-grade teacher absolutely hated me because I was ahead and vocalize my opinions on what we've read. She actually recommended that I be tested for ADHD.

The school system also takes test scores as validation, not the individual children and their needs to understand materials. While grades are important, they do not define the students in a classroom, and we need to realize that. Educators and parents put so much pressure on students that it seems not only impossible to get good grades, but approval from those they care about the most as well. Grades are not everything, and they are not worth mental breaks that come with that stress. Children are what are important, not test scores.

And while STEM is amazing, we're losing focus on things that children value--art and music. Funding keeps getting cut so dramatically that students are losing their chances to express themselves. Art and music are things that help us cognitively and can improve memory and coordination. The way programs are centered is part of the main issue, because there are more to our children than STEM and sports.

We need to start focusing on the actual students in our schools and their needs if we want to improve our school system. It isn't fair to put them under such stress that it's equivalent to the amount of stress that put adults in mental institutions in the 1950s.

College students especially are one who is affected the most by these conditions: from school not closing even though it is 20 below and snowing to trying to juggle a full class load and working two jobs, our stress levels are through the roof constantly.
Once again, it boils down to making the students and faculty the priority. If we can't do this, the system is just going to continue to deteriorate and do more harm than good. If and when we learn that students are people and have limits, that can be a good start, but we have a long way to go.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

82004
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

9381
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments