We Need to Do Better at Prioritizing Important Topics in Primary Education

I was helping with my son’s 6th-grade social studies homework yesterday, where, for this semester, they’re studying India’s history.  It’s mildly interesting, but in the back of my mind, I can’t help but think: “Why the hell is he learning this?”

Don’t get me wrong, I think being exposed to a variety of topics and subjects is good on some level, but that “some level”, is probably at most an hour or two for things that aren’t really relevant to his existence, or help him prepare for the future, or maybe most importantly, aren’t really making for a better future for all of us.

I guess I would be fine with this little diversion into history if we weren’t failing in the education game in so many other ways.  I’m sure he’ll make it through his primary education without touching on formal logical fallacies, or some basic economics principles, or how the US calculates his taxes.  He won’t be exposed to ideas for how to think in ways that perhaps don’t come naturally, or how to push deeper into thoughts, going beyond those initial inhibitions that allow you to arrive in some really interesting places if you can think  beyond them.

Again, I think it’s good to touch on random topics, like the history of India.  Perhaps it will speak to some students, and spur some fascination or passion that will serve them well through life.  But we can undoubtedly do a better job of prioritizing some things that will have a higher chance of creating better people, and a better country.  And we desperately need to do so.