Improvement of the High School Experience by Duane Bristow July 17, 1987 The primary problem with our educational system is that it attempts to educate without teaching the use of the mind for thinking. I suspect that this is because it is staffed by its own products. We take high school juniors and seniors at a time when their minds hunger for stimulation and teach them to memorize and parrot. The following list of subjects for essays and debate is suggested to remedy this situation. Each subject could be the basis for anything from a one hour discussion to a whole semester course. Students should be encouraged to develop creative and original ideas, logically defend their position, and use the English language effectively to communicate with others. They should know how to effectively define a problem, obtain information, do research, and think to find solutions to the problem, and communicate the results of their work to others. Consider: Assigning subjects or letting students choose. Expanding the list of possibilities. Assigning students to work in teams of 3 or 4. Assigning teams to opposite sides of a discussion in a class debate. Listing on the board the comments heard and discussing these as a class. Looking for relevant news stories in current events. Finding previous thoughts and essays on the subject. Finding relevant historical occurrences. Beware: Use of these suggestions can cause controversy. It is entirely possible that if very many students are encouraged to think, some may develop and defend a thought that is outside the constraints of the conventional wisdom. This may cause criticism of the teacher and/or the school. Possible Subjects for Short Essays (400 to 600 words) and Class Debate What is love? (How do you measure it?) (Does it exist?) What is beauty? (How do you measure it?) (Does it exist?) What is a home? In what ways can a home be described? What is a family? What are the various ways of learning? (Discuss the efficiency of each.) What is a political system? (Why is it necessary?) What is an economic system? (Why is it necessary?) What (if any) is the value of a study of history? Discuss the values and problems of personal social interaction! What is culture? Compare 17th century European with American Indian culture. Describe features of contemporary American culture. What is (are) the goal(s) of your life? What will you have to do to achieve them? Describe a lifestyle designed for optimum physical well-being! Describe a program of mental exercise! What are 20 interesting subjects for essays besides those listed here? Under what circumstances is a soldier justified in disobeying orders? Under what circumstances is a citizen justified in disobeying laws? Discuss right vs. wrong in the context of: Political laws. Religious laws. Moral laws. Did a man ever walk on the moon? How do you know? Defend the position that the story is just a public relations gimmick. If people are starving to death in Africa because there are more people than there is food available and the birth rate is such that the population is increasing, should the people of the United States help and, if so, how? Should money be spent in the exploration of space? Why or why not? Jesus said, "The poor are with you always." Why is this so? If it were possible to genetically design your children, would this be desirable? Discuss. Should those with serious inherited diseases be sterilized? Nuclear energy - Discuss the advantages and disadvantages? Barry Commoner said, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." What does this imply? Jesus said, "Take no thought of tomorrow." Huh? The thief left it behind -- the moon at the window. Discuss. It is said that God is on the side of the winner. Does this mean that right is might or does it maen that the winner gets to write the history books? Should children be separated in school classes on the basis of: Color? Sex? IQ? Family income? Religion? Language spoken? Why or why not? What is an educated man? What is an intelligent man? What is a cultured person? What is a gentleman? What is an honorable man? What is a drug? Why use them? Why not? The death penalty (yes or no)? Survival of the fittest! What does it mean? What does it imply? Thomas Jefferson said, "All men are created equal." Are they? Karl Marx said, "Religion is the opium of the masses." Agree or disagree? You are assigned to stock a bomb shelter with items necessary to rebuild civilization after a nuclear war. What are the ten things most important to save? Why? Discuss individual responsibility and predestination. Consider your present position is life. To what extent is it due to: Your own actions? Actions of your parents? Your environment? Actions of others in past history? Actions of your contemporaries? What would be the effect on your life if you knew the time and circumstances of your own death? What if your parents had married someone else? One idea discussed in the recent Iran-Contra hearings is that government by open committee is more inefficient than government run by one or a very small group of men in secret because a larger group such as Congress will be unable to agree on a course of action and decisions reached in public debate can be more easily attacked and defeated by their opponents. Discuss the idea that this is both a weakness and a strength of democracy. Should one who has no conception of democracy or our system of government and no, or very little, knowledge of the candidates and issues and doesn't pay taxes be allowed to vote? Should the laws enacted by a legislative body apply to any who were not permitted to participate in electing that body?