Will the Future Students be Machines or Thinkers?

A typical high school requires that each student take aextremely good at receiving average grades. The
number of english, science, history, math, and languageprocess of turning this pile of bricks into a thriving
classes in order to graduate. There are usually farsociety of intellectuals and thinkers is a daunting task at
fewer, if any, art and creative pursuit requirements.best, but it is possible. Students must learn to enjoy
Unfortunately, the school system is stuck in the past.discovery and creation and this development begins
While it is important to learn from the past in order towith schools.
improve the future, the primary function of a school isInstead of heightening tensions provided by grades and
to prepare a student for the future. If a school doesforcing students to conform to a certain student
not sufficiently prepare students for the tough realitytemplate, encourage students to branch out. If in
that they will be hit with the moment they grasp theiraddition to requiring class credits in the core subjects,
diploma, then what is the school worth? Presently, theschool systems required at least one creative class or
majority of schools are obsessed with grading theiractivity a year for students, the student body as a
students in any possible activity and trying to rankwhole would improve slightly.
them in every possible category.Now, this change would be far from the final goal, but
This system of ranking and false achievement doesthis would be an enormous step in the right direction.
not prepare a student for the future. Actually, it hurtsJust imagine if, instead of coming home and doing four
their future because it reduces students’ creativityhours of homework, students came home and worked
and ingenuity, which will be the most importanton solving a difficult math problem, went outside and
characteristics for the future generation of adults andpainted a painting of their back yard, and wrote a
leaders to possess.paper explaining the relationship between life and
The question is not whether to change the currentdeath. Imagine if three students got together and
school system, but instead it is how and when todesigned and constructed a windmill together that
change it.would create enough electricity to power their science
Our current youth are a generation ofclassroom. Imagine, if students could think.
screen-obsessed, creatively blind students who are