Introduction
Lifeboat ethics dictate that the common good must prevail. The current high school curriculum is modeled to suit the majority of students. This does not always suit everyone. The result is that students are not able to apply the skills that they learned in real life. A cause for this may be the lack of relevance of the curriculum to daily life. Another reason may be the fact that the person does not remember the lessons learned in high school. A good high school curriculum must be relevant to the current institutional and real-life events. (Rose & Betts, 18) This will put a student in a position that will enable him to survive and thrive in today’s society.
Curriculum Discussion
High school is an important stage in the education process. The process of education includes learning and practical activity. The two are very important since they enable the acquisition and application of knowledge in real-life situations. Lifeboat ethics dictate that the common good must prevail. It displays the situation of a lifeboat with fifty persons on board. The lifeboat can hold sixty persons. There are one hundred people in the water.
The people in the boat must then decide how many people they will allow onto the boat. They cannot carry everyone since the lifeboat will collapse and everyone will drown. The people on the boat must choose the criteria that will decide who will be allowed on the lifeboat. They will most likely choose people who will not reduce their chances of survival. (Rose & Betts, 35) This can be compared to the current curriculum. This high school curriculum teaches topics that are suited to the general population.
This is opposed to the concept of personal learning that identifies the unique characteristics and interests of each individual. Some topics are outdated and need to be revised. Topics need to be integrated into each other. More weight should be laid on results. The personal characteristics are subsequently analyzed to determine the suitable professional path that a student should follow. This concept also enables students to acquire the skill that they can use in their day to day activities.
Modern High Schools attempt to cover the topics that are needed for one to achieve success in the world. This includes both day-to-day and professional or career objectives. Topics such as algebra and social sciences assist one in solving daily mathematical problems as well as having good relations with people among other things. Geometry, statistics, and other branches of math enable students to perform crucial day-to-day calculations.
Literature, speech, and writing should be emphasized because of the benefits it offers students. The three enable people to communicate effectively in the corporate world and among the people that we encounter in our day-to-day activities. A person who can communicate effectively stands a higher chance of thriving. Sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, and space not only open professional avenues but also enrich high school students concerning understanding the chemical, technical, physical, and the natural world. Schools need to improve in the delivery of learning. These will enable students to be able to remember and apply their lessons in their future activities. (Rose & Betts, 134)
More attention should be paid to the individual’s efforts, interests and strengths. High school students are usually from age 14 to 18. The level of teaching that is available at high school is relevant since the students are taught on issues that they are facing or as soon to face. This includes an introduction to the career or professional industry. Subjects such as physics and other sciences enable students to prepare for technical fields such as astronomy, education, and scientific experimentation. Math prepares students for roles in areas such as statistical research and accounting. Social sciences enable students to deal with daily stress and advice other members of society.
They are also able to launch careers into fields such as psychology. The best way to test whether a high school curriculum has been successful in enabling learning is by testing the said knowledge in a practical capacity. This involves requiring the students to go to a real-life situation. An example is asking Math students to perform cash operations at a hypermarket. A psychology student can be asked to advise or motivate someone and the assessment is done on the effect that the advice has on the individual concerned.
Summary
The high school curriculum has attempted to respond to the challenges of today. A more personalized and practical curriculum should however be embraced. The lifeboat ethics approach should be reconsidered. This will improve its effectiveness in real life. Outdated topics should be removed and practical subjects encouraged. Evaluation should be more practical and result-driven. (Rose & Betts, 105)
Works Cited
Christensen, Doug. Time to rethink the high school experience. NCSA Today. (2003). Web.
Rose, Heather, & Betts, Julian R. Math matters: the links between high school curriculum, college graduation, and earnings. California: Public Policy Instit. Of CA, 2001.