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3 Things That Could Be Different in Schools — And It’s Not About Money

Schuster Borka3 min read
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3 Things That Could Be Different in Schools — And It’s Not About Money — Family
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Communication

Communication
Parent-teacher meetings held just because they have to are about as useful as a carrot slice packed for a snack: sure, someone must have appreciated it once, but I’ve yet to meet that person.

Most of these meetings could easily be replaced by an email, especially if all they cover is the schedule for non-instructional days and the monthly fees for after-school activities. Everyday communication, however, could definitely step into the 21st century. While some teachers do a great job using online platforms to keep parents updated on important, urgent events, it still happens that a parent gets told at drop-off that they need to pick up their child early because the sandbox will be disinfected that afternoon. (Based on real events.)

Of course, in the spirit of fairness, I have to add that some parents could also use a communication refresher—like learning basic rules such as not contacting teachers on social media unless explicitly allowed. And definitely not at 11 p.m. on a Saturday. Or on Christmas Day. Just saying.

Arts Education

Arts Education
I clearly remember preparing for my final exams, aiming for a top university, coming from a small town’s high school that was, generously speaking, average. Every free minute was scheduled. Back then, I was really frustrated having to attend art classes, which felt like a huge waste of time drawing autumn, winter, or spring landscapes—especially since it was obvious I just wasn’t good at it. To put it in perspective, my 5-year-old daughter now outperforms me effortlessly.

Everything changed when we got an art teacher who taught me that drawing is something you can actually LEARN. Sure, I probably wouldn’t have become the next Monet even if I’d met the concept of perspective at age 7, but maybe I could have moved beyond the flat, two-dimensional style you see in Egyptian pyramid murals. We’ll never know.

What I do know is that this teacher also taught art history alongside technique, which enriched my general knowledge and finally made art classes feel worthwhile. I believe artistic self-expression is important for kids, especially teens, but I also think it can be done better than leaving kids alone with a substitute teacher for 45 minutes under the guise of art class.

Physical Education

Physical Education
I’ve rarely met anyone who doesn’t have some kind of traumatic memory from school gym class.

I belong to the generation that had gym only twice a week, but even so, it says a lot that in Hungary, people theoretically exercised at least twice a week for 12 years, yet most left school never voluntarily exercising again.

I truly believe that if gym class focused on the joy of movement—helping every child find a sport they can succeed in or at least enjoy—then over 12 years, exercise could become a lifelong habit. That would be one of the greatest gifts public education could give us.

Photos: istockphoto.com
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