If studying abstract concepts causes frustration and feelings of low self esteem, why not teach vocational skills that give a chance to feel success and also be self-supporting as adults.
Different cultures around the globe treat and care for kids with learning disabilities by different methods - from the extreme of the burden being on the child's family to the burden being on the public school system.
For a culture that places the burden on the public school system, my opinion is that each child should be evaluated separately for their strengths and weaknesses as they mature, and if further academics cause frustration, than a vocational track should be selected that matches the student's capabilities.
I think the point of education is to prepare kids to be self-supporting adults to the best of their abilities. And, this means a large variation of offerings needs to be provided while kids are school age.
Vocational training for all or part of the school day, while kids are junior or high school age, seems a worthwhile use of time while kids are still growing up. This is a productive use of time and prepares kids for a realistic future life. Not everyone is capable of college academics, so why try to prepare every child for that same future.
If kids are pushed along, grade to grade to keep up with their age group, but have not learned the academics expected at that grade level, are we doing a disservice to childrens' future?
Why not give kids alternative work in a track labeled in such a way as to sound like a positive goal, such as careers as chefs or catering, rather than the more mundane sounding food service?
As adults we know that hands on experience is necessary to perform many vocational skills successfully, and school time that includes these skills is effectively educating the kids that have difficulty with abstract concepts.
In summary, I think the plan of gearing public school offerings to both academics and vocational offerings for boys and girls is reasonable and practical for kids and society. I think the school years are a time not to be wasted in teaching every kid the same academic subjects when it will lead to failure for some kids.
Let's give kids a chance to be successful in the way that matches their abilities by providing a range of academics and vocational offerings in the public middle schools and high schools.
Article by Susan Kramer
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