The
of how to optimise school curriculum comes up frequently, where certain people feel that students should
a broad curriculum, whereas others maintain that students are better served by focusing their efforts on subjects in which they perform best or are most interested in. The benefits and downsides of both viewpoints, as well as my own opinion, are discussed below.
, those who believe that teenagers should focus on subjects they are best at or most interested in have valid points. One strong supporting argument is that if young academics focus on subjects they perform well in, they can focus on and deepen their knowledge in a specific
, and be better prepared for a future career in that discipline.
, if a
excels at and loves woodworking,
focussing on attaining woodworking excellence will provide them with a significant advantage over generalist students upon entry into the workforce.
, focus on subjects of interest can allow for an earlier graduation and provide a head start into
or the workforce.
, if students
subjects they truly enjoy, they may be generally happier and less stressed, thereby improving their overall educational experience.
, there are those who believe there are benefits to a broader curriculum.
to supporting a focussed approach, there are those who believe the best approach is for students to
a wider range of subjects. The rationale for students attaining a broader
is based on providing teenagers with potential to switch from one potential life path to another. An example of
is where a
may be very interested in painting early on in their
,
the end of middle school, their interest shifts to biochemistry. Without having laid the basic groundwork in both biology and chemistry, that
will find it difficult to change direction and pursue a tertiary
in their new favourite
.
switch in future direction is a likely scenario, as young adults tend to change their minds quite often.
, a broader
can make it easier for students to become more integrated members of society, in being able to understand the context of a broad range of occurrences, from science to the arts.
, my opinion is a combination of both views. I believe that while teenagers should have the opportunity to deepen their understanding in the subjects they naturally gravitate towards, they should
gain a base understanding of a broader range of subjects. While following your passion can ultimately lead to better focus and potentially better results in school and in the workforce, having at least a base understanding of other subjects will allow teenagers to function more effectively as a member of our sophisticated and multi-faceted society.
In summary, there are good arguments to support a young person's pursuit of either an
based on their interests, or a broader spectrum, more general learning path. Supporters of the selected educational approach believe that when a
focusses on what they love, they will achieve superior results, whereas those in favour of a generalist
believing students have better options for future career changes. I believe that students should focus on what they love, but should
supplement their most loved
with a basic understanding of other areas.