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Comment by AstralStorm | Hacker News Reader

The problem is, that unlike vocational school, students cannot really be trusted they know what they want or need. Additionally some level of general knowledge is needed as a fallback.

The solution is to fast forward through the easy parts, do not block it. The trouble then becomes managing mixed age classes.

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> The problem is, that unlike vocational school, students cannot really be trusted they know what they want or need.

Neither can anyone else be trusted to know what the students want or need.

At least it looks like that these days.

This may be a cop out but I would say I agree with both of you. Students may not know for sure, but nor does the education bureaucracy. For my part I'd far rather student choice!

I wouldn't, any more than I'd let my 6 & 8 year olds choose their food entirely. I'm fiercely independent and libertarian, but I believe that a basic level of education is sufficiently important to a free society that it's worth curtailing that freedom to mandate certain things (or mandate by default with an opt-out process, which is pretty close to the condition today).

Interesting those ages and I agree. That is why I said in my op comment these things should be ironed out in grade school ie 6-11 not even really in middle school and certainly not in high school where we decide what children need to function in society. I assume, and admittedly I'm 20, that with your young children you have much control over what they eat. But as the years go by you will have less and less. I really think students by middle school should be allowed to have far more self directed learning then the shite shoved down their throats.

Problem with a school system choosing the curriculum, is that they can filter the truth or focus on what to teach. Forget REAL history. Why did the American Civil War really start? How about Henry Ford getting an Iron Cross from Hitler in the 30's? Why did he receive it? I didn't learn this stuff in the 70's and 80's either, but stumbled upon it as I read outside of the official curriculum.

Kids nowadays have even a more PC curriculum. Lord help them. My 15 year old niece who we are raising comes home with some pretty crazy stuff that is required.

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