In the US, I would make history part of the standardized testing done by states and make it part of SAT/ACT tests. Too often it’s a neglected subject even though there are many valuable lessons from it.

Same with government class. People need to understand how government works, how to get involved, how to vote. Make high school students attend a court trial one week as part of their class. Make them vote in a mock election using the actual voting equipment used in elections.

I think it helps to stop thinking of the subjects as silos. I teach science in a way that calls on writing skills (and I throw in lots of history of science references).

I’ve worked with students on all subjects and grades. In my teaching, the best experiences I have had have had two features:

1. small group size (working with a kid one on one is god tier - today me and student ended up chatting about video games, and I got to talk about the historical context of the Assassin’s Creed series/how Dragon Ball is inspired by the Journey to the West)

2. teacher autonomy - being able to pivot from curriculum that doesn’t work, being able to work with students to accept multiple forms of representation

I think both of these factors are the root problems. It’s not about “what” we are teaching them, it is that we are herding them through school buildings like cattle and flashing “educational content” at them through laptop screens. Switching the videos they are watching isn’t going to fix the problem.

Like, when it comes to learning to read - it does not matter what the kid likes to read. All reading is good reading. You build your curriculum around books they like and engage with. If you build reading skills, so much of the rest can follow.

I would add communication, business writing and problem solving to the existing curriculum. They are the biggest deficits I see in new grads (even liberal arts).

If religion is going to be involved, they all need to be included equally

More art classes

Based on my experience and that of my own kids, what worked and didn’t:

Kids are all different so there is not one plan that will suit them all! In general though - K-6 should be half day of academics, half day of electives and free time, they just need to learn to read and do math comfortably, understand the idea of variables and some basic science about the physical world. Grades 7-12 should have science, literature, maths, art of some sort (kid choice - dance, music, visual art, creative writing, something that makes them think in a different way) and some learning about the world in a cultural sense - political geography, history, government styles. Some sort of physical education too - dance or sport for those able, health and gentle movement education for those who are not able, everyone should learn to maintain their bodies not just their mind, they are connected.

The kids of mine who went through the “IB” here got by far the best education of my offspring, but they were also the most naturally academic of the lot so it suited them, understand? The others would just collapse in the face of a program like that! You can’t just force everyone into the same shape.

I’ve been done with education for longer than I’ve been in education.

I hope kids nowdays get a well rounded education that is not just the bare necessities of read/write/count but if I had to make a choice I’d prioritize STEM over humanities.

I’d rather live in a boring world with too little music, literature and art where my car works and I’ve got water in the tap than the opposite.

I think I’d keep a lot of the core stuff, esspecially at lower levels, but at mid levels, I’d try and put a lot less emphasis on academic work, and more on practical implementation of those skills. For example, in place of a study of shakesphere, I might put a lesson on how ads are written. The point would still be to encourage better media literacy, but ads are something we see constantly in the modern world, and require an emphasis on critical thinking most literature analysis ignores. Another example might be a reduction in the amount of math classes, but requiring a skill that uses math practically, such as woodworking or 3D modeling, to try and practice logic and problem solving off-the-page.

Ideally, this would help cover a lot more real-world skills, and give students a chance to try a broader range of fields earlier, as well and encouraging a deeper and more applicable understanding of the underlying skills meant to be taught.

Most core subjects are about what is possible in the world and give a great rounded understanding of different skills and disciplines available around our planet.

I think food awareness is essential for all young people.

In primary/elementary school, children should have exposure to planting, growing, harvesting, and cooking their own vegetable produce and meals.

In high school, students should be able to kill, prepare, and cook their own animal foodstuffs. Able to opt out of this of course.

Understanding whole foods, cultivation, and livestock for food, would go a long way towards educating people about what quality, healthful food is.

…and that high fructose corn syrup is not food.

Life skills in a strongly interconnected society.

Society skills:
Life
Problem solving
Knowledge building
Long term work
Collaboration
Community keeping
Community protection
Systems

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-things-schools-should-teach-but-dont/answer/Harri-K-Hiltunen