Schools are vital to preparing people for the challenges and opportunities of adult life. Schooling takes place at many different levels, ranging from preschool through graduate school.
Some schools specialize in teaching particular skills or topics, such as music, foreign languages, or advanced math. Others focus on certain groups of students, such as the handicapped or disadvantaged.
The Purpose of School
Schools provide a number of different things. Some believe that the main purpose of school is to nurture a skilled workforce, which can help promote economic growth. Others believe that the purpose of school is to foster social equality and justice. Still others argue that the purpose of school is to prepare students for life by teaching them a variety of skills, such as reading, writing, mathematics, history, and foreign languages.
Some schools also help students learn about their own culture. This helps them understand their own beliefs and values and can teach them to respect the diversity of other cultures.
Finally, many schools offer a variety of extracurricular activities and internships to connect school with the real world. This helps students develop a sense of their own potential and can inspire them to pursue goals that they might not have considered without this exposure. It can also teach students how to work with and communicate with people from different backgrounds.
The Structure of School
School is a formal organization in the sense that it must be run a certain way to be accredited and recognized in most countries. Teachers and administrators must meet certain minimum qualifications, students must pass periodic standardized tests, etc.
It’s no secret that the political environment has shifted away from a focus on teaching students to be good workers towards a more generalized goal of “education.” This shift has made schools rethink what their primary purpose is and how they are supposed to do it.
The result has been a proliferation of choices for families. Some are choosing home schooling, others are embracing charter schools or tax-credit scholarships. Still others are deciding to stay in public schools, but on their own terms. The resulting confusion makes it even more difficult to define a clear, coherent model of what schools should do. And it creates the specter that schools could end up standing on less solid civic footing than before.
The Teachers
Teachers are the heartbeat of schools. From the authoritative teacher who instills discipline to the caring teachers that create a nurturing environment, each type of teacher plays a vital role in day-to-day school life.
Teachers work with students on a daily basis and they are the people that parents often discuss their children’s progress with. They are responsible for leading learning activities in the classrooms and they may also assist in teaching outside of the classroom, such as by accompanying students on field trips.
They are dedicated to their students and their dedication is evident in their round-the-clock work habits. They are constantly looking for ways to improve their teaching methods and they will not give up on a student that is struggling with an academic subject. They also share their passion for learning with students and can inspire them to go beyond their limits.
The Students
Students build friendships that last a lifetime, and are often encouraged to pursue their passions in extracurricular activities. In addition, students develop valuable problem-solving skills that will help them throughout their lives. Attendance is a major part of school, and regular attendance enables students to learn in accordance with the curriculum. Students who are absent can become disengaged from the classroom environment and fall behind on course work. Additionally, students who are chronically absent may experience negative disciplinary actions by teachers and administrators.
The term pupil is commonly used for a child in primary and secondary education; however, once a student starts further education (such as sixth-form or university), the term “student” is more appropriate.
Some schools use tracking to group students by ability, IQ and achievement level. It is possible to improve schools by eliminating tracking and opening challenging courses to all students, for example. Positive teacher-student relationships and school connectedness are strongly linked to academic performance and act as a buffer against negative outcomes.