Why is Education Bad? – Many people have taken it upon themselves to criticize the education system, but not many have done so using reasonable evidence or tangible reasons. In fact, some of these critics are even teachers themselves, and can’t seem to pinpoint exactly why education isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Is education really the best option when it comes to raising your children? Or should you consider homeschooling instead?
There are plenty of reasons why education may not be the best option, ranging from the dangers of standardised testing or you’re just worried about your child’s emotional health, physical safety, or intellectual growth, here are six tangible reasons why you should think twice about sending your child to get a formal education at a school.
Why is Education Bad For Your Kids? (6 Tangible Reasons)
1. Kids are Getting Overworked
Today’s school curriculums are designed to provide children with as much exposure to a variety of subjects as possible, and while that’s great in theory, it often leads to them getting overworked.
As a result, student performance has been on a downward trend in recent years. If we want our children to get an education rather than being overworked, education needs to be revamped.
Research has shown that students who don’t take breaks during longer classes consistently struggle academically down the road. In addition, kids are expected to participate in extracurricular activities and sometimes even two or three different sports simultaneously which can lead to burnout or sometimes, life-changing injuries.
If we care about our children getting a top-notch education and thriving in adulthood, then it might be time to make the school curriculum as flexible as it could be. Remember, one size never fits all.
2. The Learning Environment Doesn’t Have a Place For Non-Conformists
Individualism and rebellion are a natural part of growing up; in fact, if we didn’t have those traits, humanity would have become extinct thousands of years ago.
Many young people consider their school to be an institution that suppresses their individuality and punishes their questioning nature. Students aren’t welcome to disagree with each other or with their teachers, they can only write what they’re told to write, and they’re punished for asking questions or presenting unconventional ideas.
In a traditional learning environment, it’s easy to feel like you don’t fit in. Maybe your teacher doesn’t appreciate your creativity, or maybe other students are calling you names because of how you view things differently. Whatever it is, schools are one of those many places where non-conformists don’t have a place to fit in and learn safely.
School isn’t a perfect system and students are expected to work inside of its confines instead of outside of them, so what if we changed school so it made more sense for kids who think differently?
3. Bad Grading System
Grades are used to maintain a level of hierarchy in society. I’m sure you will agree that grades are a lousy way to measure knowledge. The school system tends to focus on grades instead of the skills and ability of the students
In reality, it’s up to each individual student to determine which skills he or she wishes to master; furthermore, students should be free to choose whatever topics hold their interest in order for them to gain a deeper understanding of the subjects they wish to pursue in college or beyond.
Our educational system focuses on memorization and recall, which means we’re not developing key skills necessary for kids to thrive as adults. The creativity we were once known for has been stifled by our insistence that education must be measured by standardized testing and grade point averages.
4. Mandated Objectives
Government standards are typically determined by state legislatures, or sometimes committees appointed by state lawmakers. These objectives are nearly always mandatory in nature.
While there may be some flexibility as to how a school implements these standards, it must still comply with them in order to remain certified. Oftentimes, if a school fails to achieve at least 80% of its objectives it risks becoming unaccredited or even closed down altogether. This serves as an incentive for teachers and schools to focus on setting rigorous curricula and impossible deadlines that cannot be met rather than what’s best for students.
Some objectives are even left up to teachers themselves, who may assign work that isn’t aligned with state standards if they have their own agendas.
5. Student Loan Debt
The average student has nearly $37,014 in student loan debt (STATISTICS). That’s a full third of what they made during their first year on the job after graduation, and it can be a good reason to keep your kids out of college until they are financially ready.
Although these loans don’t technically have a set maturity date (they come due upon graduation), they can put pressure on a new graduate’s finances, both because they have so much debt and because they often can’t find jobs right out of school.
It may seem like a good idea to take out loans for your kids to fund their education, but there are many other ways to pay for college. Using loans can end up causing more debt and stress than it’s worth, so weigh your options carefully.
Consider using resources like income-based repayment plans or applying for grants instead of taking out student loans. You don’t want your child’s future financial situation compromised by an overly costly education they didn’t need.
6. Mental Health
Research has shown that kids who are highly stressed may develop low levels of self-worth and are more likely to engage in risky activities. Which begs another question: why do we force students to go to school in the first place? The act of sitting in a classroom all day and learning from an instructor just isn’t natural for kids especially when you consider how quickly their brains are developing.
Although kids do not experience stress and anxiety in school as much as adults, teachers, or parents might think, they are exposed to it every day. The pressure of succeeding academically which comes from outside sources like parents and peers can be far more stressful than actually performing well on a test.
Children need relaxation time so that their bodies can be open to learning without distraction. That’s why we consider education bad for kids: It stresses them out far too much.
Read Also:
- 10 MBA Scholarships For International Students
- Tips on How to Study In USA For Free
- 7 Reasons Why Education Is Important For A Country
- 5 Reasons Why Education is Important for Farmers
Conclusion
Of course, there are many different ways to teach kids and education may or may not be a good idea for everyone. It’s difficult to determine whether or not your child will take from their experience in school what they need in order to develop into an intelligent, productive member of society.
We all hope that he or she will, but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out that way. Ultimately, there are many factors that contribute to our children’s development beyond what we’re able to control. Whether you’re pro-education or against it, make sure you consider all angles before deciding what’s best for your family and your child in particular.
References:
- https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics – Average student loan debt in the US
- https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/Our-Educational-System-Is-Destroying-Creativity
- https://wehavekids.com/education/10-reasons-why-your-child-should-not-go-to-school
