Curriculum redesign: what do the children think?

Whenever I think about what teachers and educators are doing in shaping educational futures, I always wonder what children think about that shaping. There are some interesting phenomenological stances about education. One is that when it comes to planning, the paradigm seems to be that teachers and educators, along with other experts plan changes that will impact upon children without ever taking into account the viewpoints and the opinions of children and students. It is a rare profession that excludes one of the major ‘stake and interest’ groups from the dialogue that will impact on outcomes.

Background to this paper

When considering this topic, I felt it important to take into account the opinions of children in my school. Leanyer Primary School has a population of over 500 students. I decided to consult the year 5 and 6 students who attend Leanyer. Firstly, I talked with the children in each class about the way in which change and development usually occurs and asked if I might offer them a document containing a number of questions about which I would seek their opinions. Before talking with the children, I discussed the matter with their teachers and made our leadership group aware of my intentions. I also asked children to discuss the questionnaire with their parents/carers and gave them a letter (addressed to them as children participating in the survey) to take home and discuss. The survey involved 140 children. The letter I wrote, and individualised, to children, follows.

To: Children in our year 5/6 classes From: Henry Gray Curriculum and what is taught at school One of the things that teachers often talk about is curriculum. What is taught, how it is taught, what should be kept, what should be changed, and so on. At the moment, I am writing a paper for a conference and the subject is ‘curriculum redesign. That really is all about, what is taught, how it is taught, what should be kept and what should be changed. In this paper, I want to include the thoughts of children. Our year 5/6 classes are full of children with great ideas and I'm asking you to share these. I am asking you to think about the following questions and share your thoughts. When I write the paper, I will share copies with you. If your thoughts are used, your words will be quoted, and your first name will be included in brackets as the person whose words I am quoting. The reason I wanted ideas and thoughts from children is because we often talk about and plan education, without taking into account what children think and feel. Thank you very much for taking part in this survey. Your thoughts and opinions are very valuable. Regards Henry Gray 25 March 2008

 

The questions

1. What do you think are the most important things children should be taught at school?

2. If you are planning the things to be taught in school, What would you drop as being ‘less important’ or ‘not as important’ as other things?

3. What are the most important school subjects, and why?

4. Should children be able to use calculators and spell checkers, to help when doing maths and language assignments?

5. Should computers be used more or less than they are in schools, and why?

6. What do you think is the most important thing about school? Why?

7. What do you think is the least important thing about school? Why?

8. If you were my chief education adviser or my boss, what would you advise me to do to make Leanyer School a better place?

Time and administration

Over a period of two days, I visited each class in turn, talked with the children about the exercise and gave them the time necessary to work through the questions. Several children were absent on the days and were able to contribute by completing the questionnaire in their own time. Others had to leave the room from time to time for music lessons and other pre-programmed activities. Similarly, they were able to complete the questionnaire in their own time.

1. What do you think are the most important things children should be taught at school?

(Amelia)
‘How to keep physically active so you don't get unfit.’ (Anika)
‘I think the most important things children should be taught at school are to study hard and improve subject they are weak in.’ (Jasveen)
‘Reading because other people can discover new words and develop the spelling of those words.’ (Yianni)
‘Maths, spelling, reading, physical education and writing are all in important to learning.’ (Luiz)
‘Spelling and maths because when you get older and get a job you need to add and spell things out.’ (Natalie)
‘Cooking so you can cook different foods.’ (Musa)
‘I think spelling is most important, because everybody needs to know how the spell. As they get older, they will learn more words and need to know those words.’ (Erin)
‘Your values, because you must learn to care, to love, to be thankful and helpful. We should accept to always be responsible and to be determined to be good, to learn to make friends and listen to teachers.’ (Vicki)
‘Physical education, because children need to know the difference between good and bad sportsmanship.’ (Brent)
‘Library to learn to read more difficult words and to like to read books.’ (Mia)’
‘I think that children should be taught to use more respect, because it is important to us all.’ (Harrison)
‘Drama for children from year 4 to year 6. More religious instruction to teach children about belief. More drama, because children might want to be actors.’ (Lucas)
‘Languages (other than English), because if our parents take its overseas we will need to know what they (other people) are saying.’ (Cameron)
‘I think that spelling is an important thing to be taught at school because if you can't spell that well people may think that you are [unknowledgeable].’ (Hugh)

2. If you are planning the things to be taught in school, what would you drop as being ‘less important’ or ‘not as important’ as other things?

‘Religious instruction, because people can go to their own church.’ (Rhiannon)
‘We should not drop anything that is important, like maths or handwriting.’ (Jamie)
‘I would drop music because it doesn't really make students learn and it can waste their time.’ (Joannah)
‘Art because not many people will get a job as an artist.’ (Cooper)
‘Everything is important to learn at school because different subjects teach different things.’ (Vicki)
‘Homework, because when you get home you want to be able to spend time with your family and relax.’ (Mia)
‘Computer classes, because children might be too computer obsessed and not (physically) fit.’ (Lucas)
‘School uniforms, because everyone looks the same and so can't show their individuality.’ (Keely)

3. What are the most important school subjects, and why?

‘Everything is very important.’ (John)
‘The most important school subjects include maths, spelling, grammar and science because they are the ones that are going to help us in future.’ (Ashwin)
‘Maths and spelling. Maths needs to be taught a lot, because it is an important subject to help us in the future.’ (Joannah)
‘I think the most important school subjects are our projects that we do at home, because it gets out parents involved in our work.’ (Jack)
‘Maths and grammar. You use numbers all the time and grammar, because it helps you to talk a lot more positively and clearly.’ (Maddison)
‘I think that three most important things are maths, spelling and physical education. Maths, because if you listen, you can have big things happen in the future. Spelling, because it can help you with a lot of different things (in word learning) and physical education, because it helps us keep fit.’ (Hugh)

4. Should children be able to use calculators and spell checkers, to help when doing maths and language assignments?

‘Yes, to help them, but not during maths or spelling tests.’ (Te Ngaro)
‘Children should be able to use calculators for maths and language assignments, because you can check to see if your work is wrong.’ (Jamie)
‘I don't think they should use them, because with spelling, you need to think of what goes next: otherwise, words won't be stuck in your head, and they should be. With maths, calculators shouldn't be used because you should work sums out in your head.’ (Erin)
‘No, because you need to use your brain.’ (Casey)
‘Yes, because if we get stuck, we will be able to catch up.’ (Daly)
‘Children should be trusted to mark their work using these things while not using them for doing their actual work.’ (Sarah)

5. Should computers be used more or less than they are in schools, and why?

‘Less, because they are not good for your eyes.’  (Jackson)
‘Less time, otherwise they will be addicted to the computer.’ (Joshua)
‘Computers should be used more at school, because it is good to look for lots of information.’ (Jamie)
‘I think computers should be used less because heaps of people would rely on them for the rest of their lives if they use computers a lot.’ (Caitlin)
‘More because we can learn things in a fun and unique way and sometimes. No one knows what you mean that you can check out cancers on the computer.’ (Shianne)
‘No, because we don't come to school to get square eyes.’ (Jack)
‘They should be used, because a lot of people still can't use a computer and computer illiterate.’ (Toby)
‘More used because it is good to learn how to type faster.’ (Nick)
‘Less because people don't really do their work by just playing with the games on the computer.’ (Samuel)
‘They should be used more because the world is getting to be more and more high tech. By the time we are older, we are going to need these skills.’ (Sarah)

6. What do you think is the most important thing about school? Why?

‘Writing, for people like me, so I can learn to spell properly.’ (Liam)
‘Teachers, because if we don't have a teacher we can't learn and if we don't learn that we become nothing.’ (Abram)
‘I think the most important thing about school is to have a roof over our heads.’ (Mathew)
‘Socialising and making friends.’ (Jordyn)
‘I think learning new things is important.’ (Natalie)
‘Making sure we get rid of rubbish properly, to keep flies away and to prevent our place becoming smelly.’ (Shianne)
‘I think we need to be friendly to people at school - we don't need bullies.’ (Erin)
‘Having fun while learning things because having fun, as well as learning, is what school is all about.’ (Alicia)
‘Getting on to the student representative council, learning and seeing my friends.’ (Cooper)
‘That children should always have a say, because then they will be more comfortable and happy.’ (Kaitlin)
‘I think it is the fact that the children get to have a say and help the school through the student representative council, and [the work] of house officials. So we learn and work and also help to run the school.’ (Charlotte)
‘I think the most important thing is recess and lunch, because it gets you fit through play, and you get to learn more sports.’ (Jack)
‘All things are important but if I had to pick I would pick physical education and maths. They are just so important. If you didn't have PE and you are not fit you could die early.’ (Nadia)
‘Health education and caring. Health needs to improve and caring shows generosity and kindness.’ (Lucas)
‘Learning because that is why you go to school.’ (Maddison)
‘Learning is very important. Old or young, you never stop learning. For example, my little sister knows how to sit and she is only a few weeks old. My Pop learned how to fix a truck, with only his hands.’ (Hayley)
‘School . . . helps people to learn to have a future.’ (Carly)
‘Recess and lunch, because you need a break during the day to let your brain rest.’ (Ashton)
‘Learning is most important, because that helps children to grow up and be smart.’ (Cassie)
‘Health and safety. Without these parents won't send their children to this school.’ (Cee Jay)

7. What do you think is the least important thing about school? Why?

‘Religious instruction, because we can go to church by ourselves.’ (Niki)
‘I think playtime is least important because we don't learn anything. We should have at least 15 minutes of playtime and eating time (but not as much as now).’ (Caitlin)
‘ICT, because you don't want to be on computer for too long.’ (Jack)
‘I think the least important subject at school is religious instruction.’ (Harrison)
‘Art, as you don't need high art marks to get a good job.’ (Skye)
‘Art, because in most jobs or careers you don't need Art unless you want to be an artist.’ (Siobhan)
‘Nothing is unimportant, because we need to learn it all.’ (Alexandra)
‘Reading because you can read at home with Mum and Dad.’ (Kyle)

8. If you were my chief education adviser or my boss, what would you advise me to do to make Leanyer School a better place?

‘Having more fun days, and using them as fundraisers.’ (Gloria)
‘I would like you to be tougher on people dumping rubbish in the yard.’ (Rachael)
‘If I was the chief adviser I would ask all the children to stop bullying and ask them to pick up all the rubbish in Leanyer Primary School.’ (Jasveen)
‘We must stop bullying because it hurts other children. The other thing is that students must wear proper uniforms every day. We also need smiles on every single teachers and students faces to make a better place in Leanyer Primary School.’ (Ashwin)
‘Give people computers on their desks.’ (Musa)
‘More equipment and more places to park cars.’ (Alan)
‘You shouldn't keep changing uniform policies, because some families are poor and can't afford it.’ (Gemma)
‘Get something (drainage) that keeps water off the basketball courts when it is raining.’ (Cooper)
‘We do need a new (mat), cricket pitch, more fundraising, and we need to stop.’ (Jack)
‘If I was your boss, I would ask you not to be so hard about school policies, uniforms, hats and pants [colour].’ (Ben)
‘That children should learn how to type without looking.’ (Nadia)
‘I would like us to add more dance and drama.’ (Harrison)
‘That children be asked not to hurt the wildlife and to be less depressed and angry about things at times.’ (Lucas)
‘The aim should be for children to learn, have fun and be disciplined.’ (Floyd)
‘Provide more seats and playground equipment, because there is not enough equipment for the older students.’ (Skye)
‘I would change the food at the canteen and make it healthier.’ (Carly)
‘Hard work needs to be made fun so we can enjoy it.’ (Ashton)
‘Have more shade covers around outside areas so that children that don't get sunburnt.’ (Cassie)
‘Put it on children to read good, do the right thing and not get into trouble.’ (Scott)
‘Change school uniform bucket hats to caps.’ (Aden)

Overall responses

Overall, children upheld the need for maths, spelling, language (grammar and reading) and physical education to be given a very high priority in terms of importance. There were some interesting comments made about the importance of history and geography as being necessary for world understanding. Religious instruction, along with music and art, were indicated as being ‘less important’ than other subjects.

Children were evenly divided in terms of their thinking about calculators and spell checkers, pointing out the pros and cons of these devices. Interestingly, children felt that development of ‘brain power’ was important and I got the feeling from reading responses that ‘setting the brain box to work’ should be paramount.

There were mixed feelings about computer use, with children fleshing out the pros and cons across the spectrum of their responses.

Children had various thoughts about what the most important things were for schooling and education to achieve. A good number declined to raise issues of what they felt to be ‘least important’. (I realise that thoughts in these questions were a little embedded within each other.)

As our school’s principal, I received some interesting advice and will take children's comments on board as we plan our way toward the future.

Pearls of wisdom

Children offer wise words and I've always appreciate the unrequited honesty of young people.

On the importance of schooling, Sarah said. ‘Teachers need to create a bond with students so they enjoy going to school.  Also, it makes it easier to communicate’. On the wider world, Holly identified these important subjects: ‘History, because it is important that students understand happenings in time. Geography because we need to learn about people and places’. Emily said ‘I think the most important thing for us to learn is respect’. Candida had this to say about the most important aspects of schooling: ‘All teachers should communicate more with children . . . if we use communication . . . we would like school better’.

Another Sarah offered the following comment about what she felt to be the most important thing about school. I think it makes a good summary point for this paper. If education is about preparing people for the whole of life, the following encapsulates what education should be all about. ‘If you want an excellent future and want a good job. You must go to school to learn. It's like the ‘5 why’s’:

• why do I have to go to school? . . . to learn
• why do I need to learn? . . . to have a bright future
• why do I need a bright future? . . . to get a job
• why do I need a job? . . . to have a family
• why do I need a family? . . . to love and be loved.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank those students who participated in the survey and would acknowledge those quoted in this paper.  My thanks to key members of staff, whose children I surveyed, including Mrs L Linton, Miss J Northcott, Ms F Breuer, Mrs L Maddock, Mr C Nieminski and Mrs M O’Gallagher.

I appreciate all those who help me think.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr Henry Gray is Principal of Leanyer School, in Darwin, Northern territory, Australia.

 

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