Totally agree with you that ethics and morality need to be part of a well rounded educative process. It should in my opinion not be restricted to Christian ethics, which I believe hold too narrow a view of the modern world, but include reference to the great ethical thinkers of all time; truly worldwide.

Hm. I always considered that the teaching of morals and ethics came from the church and parents. But if they can't keep up anymore, then they should just go away or turn their children over to the state.

Critical thinking, civics, and ethics are horribly lacking (and generally absent) in the US. I think comparative religion as at least a unit of history if not a separate course, would also be both good -- and unthinkable -- in US secondary and primary education.

The reason, if we're honest, is that fundamentalist Christians (enabled in part by liberal Christians who do not speak out against it in part as a misguided form of deference / inclusiveness / respect for differences) are an outsize influence in US political life. As such they scream and holler every time a school district tries to do something that might possibly conflict with their dogma, and the districts get tired of dealing with it and quit even trying to propose anything remotely threatening to parents of the children they are (attempting to) educate.

A stellar example is that a totally innocuous calligraphy class somewhere out East last year or the year before, included an example of Arabic that was a passage from the Quran. In parent's minds this was all sorts of insane things that it was not: an endorsement of Sharia Law, providing an opening for the demonic in the young, proselytizing for Islam, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum. All over a toss-off example in a friggin' calligraphy class. No wonder school districts don't even try anymore.

What is the high road? I agree with everything you have said but I also believe that sometimes w

What is the high road? I agree with everything you have said but I also believe that sometimes w

Well, while I agree with you about some of the subjects for coursework you suggest, there are a LOT of different things that primary and secondary education do not address that I think are bad omissions. Some places have limited vocational training, for example, but others lack it completely. I always thought teaching things like balancing a checkbook, developing a menu, fixing a car, and growing a garden, among many other things, would be a great idea. Some basic logic and rudimentary analytics would be icing on the cake, especially combined with your list.

I was raised Catholic too, reduggan. What I am most grateful for is being taught to "use the mind that God gave me. Think for yourself, John. Don't just follow along." Little did the nuns know that this sound advice would lead me to eventually leave the faith altogether through using reason. Still, I'm grateful for that advice from the nice sisters who patiently drummed it into me.