Last week in our educational studies tutorial we were discussing pupil voice and pupil participation in decision making within classroom activities and at whole school level.
As you know, this is now a requirement in Scottish legislation and policy but I cannot help think that we perhaps give children too much choice too early on. For instance, at the end of second year, pupils pick the subjects they want to study for third and fourth year. When I was picking my subjects (like most people at this age), I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left school or even as a career. These early subject choices shaped my early career path, you are shoe horned into following a certain line and then by the time you have an idea of what you might of like to have done it is too late.
Maybe if these choices were slightly later then things would be different for a lot of children. I do not think at the age of fourteen that you can really make sound choices for something that could shape the rest of your life. Don't get me wrong, yes some people do know what they want to do and pick their subject choices wisely but for the rest of us we make mistakes.
When I was making my subject choices I also had the problem in that I could not do both Art and Design and Chemistry. We are made to pick one thing from each column and basically tough luck if there is something you do not get to pick.
Does anyone else have similar experiences to me or think that the age at which these subject choices occur is ok?
Be great to hear from both Primary and Secondary students on this matter.
I hadn't realised that subject choices were made at such an early age. I would agree with you that c.14 years old is far too early to be making a choice on the direction of your life, especially considering the little experience that some children may have outside the standard subjects.
ReplyDeleteWe made subject choices in school when we were 16 & that suited a lot better. By that stage I was aware of the subjects that I did not enjoy/understand. However, we had experienced a 'transition year' (15/16 years old) where we were afforded the opportunity to try certain subjects that we would not normally go for. The great benefit was the reaffirmation that I knew what I definitely did NOT want to do, while also giving me the chance to try ones that I then developed an interest in & pursued in school & later in university. I'm not sure if that (transition year) is an option in Scottish secondary education, but it was something that I (& I would imagine others) greatly benefitted from.
The argument is that, although they are making subject choices in second year, the curriculum is constructed to ensure that they still have a broad based education covering a number of disciplines. The real specialisation tends to happen in S5/S6.
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