Think Outside The Box...Stop! That was too far

Think Outside The Box...Stop! That was too far

 Especially as A-level students we are encouraged to think outside the box and do our own research. Fair enough! I do understand that independence is a vital skill needed for our future lives, but taking a look at students in my school, it is sensible to say that the majority of them is already pretty much independent. Many have their own jobs, which allows them to buy luxuries without having to ask parents/carers for funding, as well as numerous of the students have their driving license and a car in which they are in complete control of. If that is not independence I don't know what is.

Despite us having to experience how it is to do independent research and how it should be done, I have noticed many teachers in my school cannot be categorised as 'experts in their subject'. After having asked some other students from other schools across the country, I have encountered that I am not the only person who noticed this issue. One student in particular told me about a case in which he asked his subject teacher a question and rather than being given an answer or even a suggestion for an answer, he was brushed off with "google it". This boy's question was in context of the topic they had learned in their lesson, but still the teacher was not able to provide an answer. I am talking about a person that students look up to and whose statements they are supposed to make use of in their examinations and later life. This person in a position of authority demanded a student to google the answer. Personally, I think this is outrageous. 

This article is not just a rant about teachers, in my opinion the job of a teacher is one of the most important ones. They prepare children for their later lives, which is not only beneficial to the children themselves, but one of the children they're teaching may just be the one that finds the cure for cancer. So, why does the government not ensure that these teachers are given sufficient training, so that they will be able to provide the children with all the answers they want regarding the subject the teacher is expert in. One of the first things that parents teach their children not to ask if they want something, because if they do not ask they will never know whether they could have gotten it. Well, how will these children feel if they are told to make use of another source, in context of the case named above, even a dangerous source for children to answer their questions (the Internet). Rather than having a discussion with a real person, which also teaches children an inexpressibly vital skill (people skill), the child would be more likely to go straight to the internet as a source to answer their question.

Of course, it could be argued that this further improves their independence, but thinking about the two skills in direct comparison, I would say that independence is more avoidable than communication with other people. As an adult you may still be able to live with your parents and if that is not possible, there is the option of seeking benefits. But to do these things you would have to communicate with other people. Without communication we will get nowhere. So why don't we teach these children, that are eager to soak up all the information they are given, how to communicate. Students should have more opportunities to discuss topics that are slightly out of the box with their teachers, so that it will be easier for them in their later life to communicate with people.

I have noticed that it becomes increasingly difficult for adolescents to discuss issues on a serious note. It is easy for them to have a conversation about a party they were at the night before, but when it comes to politics the majority of them seriously struggles. I believe that if regular discussions are held in schools, rather than rushing through the specification, children and teenagers will be more confident in discussing serious topics with their friends at lunch. This could further help with revision for examinations or simply general knowledge, as well as the ability to have a sophisticated conversation with people of the same age group.

The solution: Discuss. If you are a student who likes to ask questions, don't let teachers that have been trained insufficiently put you off. If you have a question: Ask. Even if you don't have anyone to answer your question, there are still other ways in which you can ask real people, even though this may have to take place virtually, in forums such as "The Student Room" for people in the UK. If you are teacher reading this, don't be offended, you have a very important job. Maybe this article will make you think differently about the way you're teaching in a positive manner. Students have so much more respect for teachers who know their stuff. I am talking from personal experience. I do acknowledge that this strategy cannot be implemented immediately, but I believe that one day the government will realise that teachers who are completely confident and sure of their subjects will change the world!

Kome, as of 25th March 2015