School is supposed to be a place to foster creativity and passion. But students may not enjoy their classes. Many parents and students complain that history, literature, foreign languages, advanced mathematics and science are irrelevant to life.
They say that looping, where teachers keep the same class for more than one year, depersonalizes learning at a time when students need and want long-term relationships with teachers and classmates.
Definition
A school is an institution that offers formal education and training to students. A typical school provides a curriculum that includes a variety of subjects, including math, language arts, science, social studies and foreign languages. In addition, schools also may offer extracurricular activities such as sports or art.
Traditionally, most schools provide primary and secondary education. Depending on the country, children start at preschool or kindergarten and finish at middle school or high school. Students may continue their education at college or a vocational school.
Although all people can learn school subjectsno ones social class, ethnic background or skin color creates exceptionsa great many students are not eager for school. A famous cartoon by Bil Keane shows a little girl asking her father, whose job it is to teach her, why she has to go to school.
Purpose
Schools have a number of purposes, both formal and informal. They serve society’s need for a literate population and teach children how to live as a group, such as sharing a common language and history. Schools can also promote social change by encouraging students to think outside the norms they learned as children through their families and culture.
Having kids in school exposes them to hundreds of other people their age, which is helpful no matter what they do in life. Many schools also encourage adherence to certain values, such as honesty, humanitarianism and critical thinking. However, some schools also teach kids how to follow orders and assimilate into a rigid social system that can stifle creativity and individuality. Moreover, when social promotion—promotion of the most successful students regardless of their academic performance—is the rule, the school becomes a showcase for dishonesty.
Types
The type of school a student attends can have a significant impact on their academic performance. Parents can choose from traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools. They may also opt for virtual schools and boarding schools.
Traditional public schools are typically funded by local, state and federal taxes and operate under the governance of elected school boards. They often have standardized curriculum standards and admissions procedures.
Some public schools focus on specialized subjects such as STEM disciplines, the arts or international studies. These magnet schools are designed to attract students from across traditional district boundaries.
Charter schools offer a different educational model by offering more autonomy in exchange for higher accountability measures. They are sometimes referred to as free schools or academies and can be religious or secular in nature. Gifted schools are learning institutions that gear their curricula towards children with exceptional talents and intelligence. They usually have smaller classrooms and can accelerate children’s grades by skipping over certain subjects.
Locations
Pro: Schools promote a sense of community, acting as lively hubs that regularly host events like craft fairs and sporting games. Often, these events bring together local residents of all ages to form strong bonds within a neighborhood. For families, this proximity can also make it easier to arrange playdates and interact with fellow parents.
Con: Homes near a good or excellent school district can be more desirable and will hold their value well during resale. However, living close to a school can have drawbacks such as noise levels and traffic congestion. Street parking can also be a challenge for homeowners as staff and parents fill the area during school hours or when special events are held on campus. Homes with private driveways or ample off-street parking space are better suited for this type of neighborhood.
Teenagers are a common presence near schools and may loiter or even trespass on private property. This can create a nuisance for neighbors and disrupt normal neighborhood activities.