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Stupid Things in Elementary School curriculum in U S A N K Srinivasan I have been a silent observer of US school curriculum since 1967 when I was a graduate student at Columbia University, New York. Though I was in the Engineering school, I had the opportunity and plenty of time to explore the prestegious Teachers College, right across the street in 120th Street . I had a few friends who were students at that college too. I have always admired the excellent teaching methods regularly developed at that institution. For instance, as I recall, the 'Sesame Street' cartoon program was developed by a graduate student at Teacher's College who later became well-known. I have interacted with school children at middle school and high school levels, with math/science teaching in the last ten years. While much improvements can be made at these levels ,this article is about the stupid things that are being insisted upon at the elementary school level. 1 Students are made to recite and remember the names of US presidents, right from the first one ,George Washington in
chronological order. This is unnnecessary and excessive burden on the little minds.This only encourages rote learning which almost all educators would like to discourage. Instead if the students know the names of a few presidents and their acheivements,say Washington,Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and a few others, that would be more in keeping with the spirit of functional learning. They can hear some anecdotes about these men in their formative years. Why memorize the names of all the Presidents? 2 Students are taught to remember the names of all the 50 states and their capitals. What earthly use for a small kid to know that the state capital of California is in Sacromento.? Instead they can just learn the names of 50 states and their locations in a map. In fact they should learn the special features of each state like the peanut farms in Georgia ,orange farms in California and potatos of Idaho. 3 Again the students are made to memorize the multiplication tables. I am sure more that 50 % of young students are put off by math by this drill. It is enough if they have seen and used these tables for multiplication work. Every one uses the calculators and calculators are found in many devices including some mobile phones, key chains and watches. Why burden the
children with these recitations? 4 Much of geographical information taught is not necessary.Instead they may be taught to appreciate different climatic zones, environmental factors and about the solar energy which gives everything to us. I have listed here a few of the things that come to my mind with emphasis. There are many other things that can be weeded out of elementary school curricululm. In their place , more potent information and knowledge can be imparted. For instance, a little bit more about different religions and lives of great men and women through simple tales. I hope that the educators in this country take this note with some seriousness to improve the quality of elementary education and to lessen the burden on young children. [The author is a retired engineer/scientist , Ph D from Columbia University [1972] and closely interacts with a few schools in California.]