2008 Woodie Awards
Improving America's Education System
Infiltrating student education in its early stages is the most efficient way to dramatically improve the American education system.
Seda Terzyan
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Opinion
The human brain is an organ that is constantly changing, growing, evolving; forming new and more complex neural connections as skills are learned and memories are formed.
The mind of a child is the most impressionable because it is still in early stages of development, but it is also the most impressive.
A child's brain can become fluent in any language it is introduced to at remarkable speeds. This proves their ability to absorb and store information quickly and efficiently, much quicker than any adult could.
This fact should be taken advantage of in the educating of young children.
Why it that so much time is wasted in elementary schools giving children busy work such as directionless coloring and crafting?
Exposure to art and music has been proven to enhance a child's spatial and logic skills, making them more successful in mathematics. This is true, but it is critical before the age of 5 according to psychological research studies.
Starting is kindergarten; strong learning skills must be established because they will remain with each individual for the rest of their life in education. The education system is responsible for providing each student with the basic tools they need to make educated decisions about their lives.
Every year an additional candle is blown out and so is a window for teaching a child. The limbic system of the brain, which creates emotions, becomes fully wired at puberty. Most importantly the frontal lobes, where our higher levels of consciousness and understanding occur, are fully wired up at about the age of 16. These regions continue to develop until the end of life, but the self-determining connections are made before you exit high school.
The American public education system must be revolutionized to incorporate a true education for each child that will not only give them the necessary skills to succeed, but also inspire their interest in various subjects. For this to be successful, a strong foundation must be built for each child in science, reading, and especially math.
The mind of a child is the most impressionable because it is still in early stages of development, but it is also the most impressive.
A child's brain can become fluent in any language it is introduced to at remarkable speeds. This proves their ability to absorb and store information quickly and efficiently, much quicker than any adult could.
This fact should be taken advantage of in the educating of young children.
Why it that so much time is wasted in elementary schools giving children busy work such as directionless coloring and crafting?
Exposure to art and music has been proven to enhance a child's spatial and logic skills, making them more successful in mathematics. This is true, but it is critical before the age of 5 according to psychological research studies.
Starting is kindergarten; strong learning skills must be established because they will remain with each individual for the rest of their life in education. The education system is responsible for providing each student with the basic tools they need to make educated decisions about their lives.
Every year an additional candle is blown out and so is a window for teaching a child. The limbic system of the brain, which creates emotions, becomes fully wired at puberty. Most importantly the frontal lobes, where our higher levels of consciousness and understanding occur, are fully wired up at about the age of 16. These regions continue to develop until the end of life, but the self-determining connections are made before you exit high school.
The American public education system must be revolutionized to incorporate a true education for each child that will not only give them the necessary skills to succeed, but also inspire their interest in various subjects. For this to be successful, a strong foundation must be built for each child in science, reading, and especially math.
