Careers Advice for 7 Year Olds

[PatchGirl]

The BBC reports today that children as young as seven are to be offered careers guidance under a government scheme in England.

Universities and firms will give pupils a glimpse of what it is like working and learning in adulthood, as part of a broader new careers strategy.

It is being trialled in 38 primary schools in seven local authority areas: Bristol, Coventry, Gateshead, Manchester, Plymouth, Reading and York.

It is hoped this will lay the foundations for them to make good subject choices in secondary schools and inspire them to do well.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families stresses the scheme is not about helping children decide what job they want to do, but showing them what can be possible so they fulfil their potential.

Encouraging children to make good subject choices in secondary schools is definitely necessary especially considering the lack of students taking maths and science subjects. But isn't 7 a bit young?

[The SMG]

Good find

SMG's view is really quite simple....

Screw CDT, History, Geography and all the other totally irrelevant subjects.

Children need a solid grasp of maths and English. Then they need to be taught the fine art of soft skills and relationship management. After that they need to understand the basics of business and how to start one.

And while we're on the subject, why is it that most schools teach pupils how to be good employees and not how to be a freelancer or self employed? I can't stand sh1te games like "follow my leader" and "simon says". It really gets right under my skin....

Who's with me?

G

[Azazel]

Completely misreported in the media. This isn't kids deciding they want to go into insurance or building. This is exploring the types of jobs they could do and how what they do at school affects their future choices.

All for it.

[PatchGirl]

Originally Posted by The SMG

Good find

Children need a solid grasp of maths and English.

G

I couldn't agree more. The standard in both these subjects has declined dramatically. It never ceases to amaze me how many people can't do simple arithmetic without a calculator.

Maybe we should do away with the GCSE exams and introduce the International Baccalaureate® into our schools. That is reputed to be a much tougher test of student's abilities.

[FoxTopper]

Wow. Apparently it's not a 'dog eat dog' world anymore. It's a 'kid eat kid.' :P

Yeah, it is quite young. But I've encountered 'worse.' When my cousin was around 7, he was being prepped by his parents for collegiate studies. Really. Seriously.

Let kids be kids. They have an excuse to act stupid now - unlike most adults who are supposed to know better.

[The SMG]

Originally Posted by Azazel

All for it.

What, all for teaching our kids what great "employees" they could be? Why not teach them what great leaders they could be or what great businesses they could create?

G