1114 replies to this topic

[Daveyboy]

All the games they play are electronic.

Funny stereotype  but simply not true.

PhysEd is mandatory through Grade 10 and a very popular elective in Grades 11 and 12.

 

Here is a sample curriculum from Parklands Secondary School in the Saanich school district.

 

Physical & Health Education 9

The aim of this course is to enable all students to enhance their quality of life through active living. The physically educated person has the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to incorporate physical activity into regular routines, leisure pursuits, and career requirements throughout life. Striving for an active, healthy lifestyle fosters personal growth and the ability to meet the challenges of society. The new BC curriculum for Physical and Health Education 9 includes the following big ideas:

• Daily participation in different types of physical activity influences our physical literacy and personal health and fitness goals.
• Lifelong participation in physical activity has many benefits and is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
• Healthy choices influence our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
• Healthy relationships can help us lead rewarding and fulfilling lives.
• Advocating for the health and well-being of others connects us to our community.

Students in this course will learn these topics through exposure to a diversified program of physical activities, the development of knowledge and understanding of the principle rules of sport and recreational games, various group activities, guest speakers, goal setting and reflection, and inquiry projects. Students will also receive CPR instruction on alternating years (either in PHE 9 or PE 10).

https://parkland.saa...sical-education

[mbjj]

We had mandatory PE as far as Grade 11 then in Grade 12 you could take "Community Recreation" which was great. We went skating, bowling, tennis, learned different card games even. There was no pool so swimming wasn't an option but the skating was fun. How did we survive without a pool!

[Victoria Watcher]

 

I'm of the belief that all we need in education is some socialization skills, and the ability to read (reading comprehension) and do basic math.

 

OF COURSE AI can teach math and reading better, faster, and more completely than any teacher can.

 

With AI teaching the course, the student can click on any word they don't know or understand and get an explanation and pronunciation.  They can click on a sentence or paragraph and get a recap.  This is already 100x more than a teacher standing in front of 25 students can do.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 03:11 AM.

[lanforod]

That will work for some. It won’t work for many. I don’t understand why you keep pushing this one size fits all narrative of online only learning.

[Victoria Watcher]

If we teach discipline also, it works for most.

[dasmo]

We don’t need to teach discipline. The opposite. The reason the internet and AI can provide excellent material for learning is because of the minds of people. We need to help kids find reason. To care. Care is the first step in actually learning. Care leads to attention which leads to application. The system now tends to produce care through fear which isn’t true learning anyway. My eldest has just transitioned from homeschooling to public school. I am experiencing first hand the issues with the present system. The biggest being embedded propaganda. Science isn’t about science it’s about programming climate change. Gender bending studies are sprinkled throughout. Social studies is about programming white guilt and brown victim hood. Then there is the issue that the material is to advance and too repetitive. Science for grade nine going into detail about how cells create proteins? That’s relevant if you are studying to become a clone engineer. So that will be repeated again in grade 10, 11, and 12. Then forgotten forever. AI won’t solve any of that if the fundamental structure is not changed. If the expectation of excellence if you can regurgitate is not changed. But ya, my son learned to cook via YouTube. Also to paint. It’s also helping with math since his teacher is too focused on doing the homework problems and the textbook sucks since it’s 95% homework problems and not exploring the core concepts. But my son also benefits tremendously from a human tutor who does nothing but motivate him. AI is only a tool. Not a solution. But I do agree our existing school system is not great and needs an overhaul.

[Mike K.]

Thank you for the insights, Dasmo.

You sound like a really caring and understanding dad.

[Victoria Watcher]

I don’t recall exactly what 10th or 11th grade math is, but I submit that less that 1% of the population uses it in their career. So why are we teaching it?  And if the answer is just to "exercise the brain" or something, why not instead exercise it on something useful?  Like spelling and grammar.

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of 11th grade math problems include: solving complex equations with variables on both sides, graphing linear and quadratic functions, finding the slope and intercepts of lines, calculating trigonometric values for angles, applying geometric theorems to solve problems involving shapes, and analyzing data using statistical methods like mean, median, and mode. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 08:45 PM.

[Mike K.]

Grade 11 math was the most practical, to me. I use geometry when building, all the time.

[Victoria Watcher]

Grade 11 math was the most practical, to me. I use geometry when building, all the time.

 

So do I, all day at work, but it's mostly flat rectangle or occasionally triangular shapes.  Not complex trigonometry and graphing quadratic equations.

 

I advocate for basic math, not complex math.  It's a silly subject for all but those going into a career that requires it.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 09:10 PM.

[Mike K.]

Yeah. I appreciate that, too.

[Victoria Watcher]

I occasionally have to convert circumference to diameter.  And while I know the simple formula, I simply bring up a free computer tool to do the work.  It's in my phone or on my desktop.  And it knows pi to many more decimal points than I do.

 

I just truly cannot believe we teach school today almost the same as when I attended, before everyone had a computer and internet.

 

I cannot help but think most school hours are simply "free" daycare. 

 

I'd prefer school to teach students how to learn, think critically, problem-solve, estimate, analyze etc.  Plus read and write of course.  Not just drill home facts and dates and figures and complex math or science formulas.  I enjoyed physics and think it taught some good skills, but not most of the topics.  Chemistry was even sillier.  Nobody needs to know how to add 3 moles of one pure gas to 5 of another.  Unless you are becoming a chemical engineer, which is a noble and valuable career, and lots of call for that here.  But again for 99% of students, it's wasted time.    

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 09:39 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Here is what most of us will become:

 

[Victoria Watcher]

We always talk about a nurse shortage.  And its #1, 6 and 23 on the list above.  Why can't we have kids coming out of high school with 3/4 of their nursing education completed?  Same for construction trades or other jobs.   ECE for young kids educators.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 09:35 PM.

[dasmo]

Thank you for the insights, Dasmo.

You sound like a really caring and understanding dad.

Thanks. Appreciate that.