Improving Education: Creating Different Paths for Junior High and High School Students

Everyone needs a goal to work towards. As adults, we have set many types of goals ranging from paying off our mortgage to starting a family. It provides an idea and an incentive about what we are working towards. It inspires us and gives us the motivation to go on each day to fulfill these essential objectives. And it never stops. One of our final goals for most of us is to retire with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of our days.

Setting Goals Earlier in Education
We must take what we do as adults with setting goals and apply it directly to education. While students in primary grades may not know what they would like to do with the rest of their lives when they reach adulthood, there is a good chance of junior high and high school students do. Or at the very least, if they don’t, we need to get them to start thinking about the future. 

Changing the Way Education Is Currently Presented in the United States
As stated above, when working towards a goal, it provides an objective. We need students to set goals early on. Some of these goals may be short-term, such as getting on the basketball team or earning a better math grade. The long-term goals should be set towards the career path they would like to follow in the future. 

Students Need to Be Led Towards Setting These Goals
As someone that has taught both at the high school and college levels, I have encountered countless students that had no idea what they would like to do in the future. They were going through the motions with barely a care in the world. 

But don’t you think they would be studying harder and earning better grades if they knew they wanted to be engineers, lawyers, mechanics, doctors, or nurses? Their focus would be so much stronger in their classes because it would be tied to their future. Especially if more of their studies would relate to the field they want to enter. 

Setting Curriculum and Classes Toward Specific Careers
General education classes are the common theme and curriculum for junior high and high school students. While they do hold importance so that the student gains a well-rounded education, there could be changes to the curriculum enabling students to enroll in courses focused more on their future career goals. 

As an example, more science courses for those interested in the medical field. More advanced courses in technology for those who are wanting to become programmers or the next Steve Jobs. Not only would this make the students more excited, but it would better prepare them for the future. 

Money, Money, Money
Many of you are probably thinking that is a great idea, but schools do not have the ability to provide extra educators for these specific classes. And the educators that are already at the school may not be qualified to teach such courses. All schools are closely monitoring their budget, so adding these extras is probably not doable. Unless… 

Remote Learning
If there is one thing that COVID has taught us, some students can thrive with remote learning. Learning online from educators that could be on the opposite side of the world should be looked at more closely by all administrators. 

Wouldn’t it be perfect to offer courses to students, both junior high and high school students, that they would be interested in taking through remote learning? The educator could be instructing 15 to 20 students through video conferencing and email, while all of these students could be located in various places around the globe.

Something similar may be around the corner as there has been a cry from the public for changing how we all approach education.

Don’t Wait
If you want to ensure that your children or students have the best chance at later success in life by setting goals now, iAchieve can definitely help. We offer free high school and college planning, among other things, that will give the students a better chance at achieving their goals and putting plans in place for the future. 

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