Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion What if you could start from scratch?

I recently argued with my 7 year old that there are some things you are just required to know... because I said so. I rarely bust that out! But on that list were:

Swimming for survival not leisure
Riding a bike
Tying your own shoes

I'd like to add to the list- being able to both give and receive constructive criticism, how to ask a thoughtful, intriguing question and how to respond to one, how to make polite conversation even when the party is boring and how the magical, mystical internet really works!

I also think everyone should be required to know (really know, not have read about someone in a book) who is smarter than they are.

For me the social and emotional skills are the most important. To be kind to yourself and others is very much at the center for me.

With all of the lists I think it is worth noting many people lack these skills and still have very happy and good lives. There are a lot of paths to happiness and whether or not you know how to ride a bike you can get there.

Can I start a series of threads here, or is that too presumptuous? �Syler gave
me the idea:
The Ultimate Science Thread:
The Ultimate Math Thread:
The Ultimate History Thread:
The Ultimate Early Reading & Writing Thread:
The Ultimate Good Behavior Thread:
The Ultimate Sports Thread:
The Ultimate Philosophers Thread:
The Ultimate Creative Writing Thread:
The Ultimate Arts and Crafts Thread:

I don't know what else I'm missing. �Been too long since I was in school. �These are just seeded topic threads about subjects kids are learning. �They could be left open for lengthy discussions about all things related to the subject- how to teach it, enrichment ideas, just discussions or debates about the subject itself, links, books, curriculums and resources. �

Somebody else go and make a better list and maybe they'll add a new Subject Forum to house them. �I'm not really going to make a ton of threads like that.

Math, Science, History, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic. �What did I miss?

Sorry Clay, I know this doesn't fit the parameters of "ignoring state standards", but it still kinda goes under "what kids should really learn to succeed.".�

In answer to that though I'm trying to teach my kid two main things- how to take whatever's inside his head and create it in the real world, and how to visualize what other people are talking about. �Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic is a darn good start on those goals. �Although I guess I could pass it on by just talking to him. �I'd rather walk him through it so he gets there on his own.

I also really like Austin's Robert Heinlein quote.

I'd add Geography (both physical and political) to the list. At the elementary / middle school level, they'd be lumped with History into "Social Studies."

The political structure of our country and economics. I been known to tell people that they have no right to complain if they didn't vote.

But I have to wonder if it's not worse o vote when you don't understand what you are voting for....

Music is what leaps out at me as missing. Also, why only "early" and then "creative" writing? For most people, in most careers, persuasive writing (for example) is far more useful than, and just as difficult to learn as, creative writing.

Although it's interesting to think about what we'd have, I'm not so sure it's a good idea to have a lot of threads like this. Inevitably, some discussions will overlap several threads, while at other times, a focused discussion on one aspect of a subject might get lost among 78 pages of posts on one of these subjects. I think it is probably preferable to let threads come up as they will. (However, one thing I'd like, if this forum had it, would be the ability to tag threads and search by tags. That might serve the same purpose rather better, I think: we could agree on a set of tags, like "mathematics", "science" etc., and use those to tag relevant threads. A quick search at ubbcentral.com didn't show up that the software this BB is based on has that capability, though.)

Going back to the overall topic, I agree with those - e.g. Breakaway4 at the very beginning - who emphasised the meta-learning skills. If someone gets good at identifying what they want to learn, and at learning it, with or without interaction with other people, they're away.

Taking three years of Latin or Greek covers just about everything that has happened or will happen historically or politically. I learned more about politics reading Paradise Lost than I did any other book.

I'm sorry, are you being sarcastic here? I'm so confused...

I thought of one. They need to learn to consistently go to bed at a decent hour, wake up early, eat three healthy meals a day and only snack in moderation. I don't know this for a fact, but the rest of the world sure seems to think these habits are great.

Nope. Not at all.

Most Latin and Greek is taught by reading works from the period of Rome or Greece. By the second year, large excerpts of the major works are read and translated. In addition, English translations of major works are played in class. Astute students will begin to see parallels to modern or recent times while good instructors will point them out,

Let's consider the Iliad. Agamemnon and Achilles get in a war of words over drink and insult each other. This could be any leader and his right hand man. Remember when Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson got into it?

Paradise Lost is Milton's thinly veiled insiders account of the English Civil War. Lucifer could be any dictator in history.

It is also a meditation on marriage. Adam and Eve make a bad decision - as have many married couples - and then they blame each other...lol..

Good literature helps us to behold ourselves and our times.