Life without school
Aim:
To discuss how life would be different if you did not go to school
You will need:
A group of people
Duration:
30 - 45 minutes
Can you imagine life without school? Some people may think it would be fun if you did not have to go to school, but try to imagine how your life would be different. Think about all the different skills and knowledge we learn at school.
As a group discuss how your life would be different if:
- You can't read. E.g. you can't read books or magazines, you can't read the list of films on at the cinema, you can't read the instructions for your new game
- You can't do sums. E.g. you can't work out how much things in the shop cost, you don't know if you have enough money to afford a new toy, you can't tell if you have been given the correct amount of change
- You can't write. E.g. you can't write a note to your friend, you can't make a list of things you need to buy, you can't write a sign saying your bike is for sale
Many people in the world cannot read, write or do sums. That does not mean they are stupid - it means they have not had the opportunity to go to school to learn these skills.
There are also many more things we learn to do at school that are about developing as a person, not just learning how to do things. What can you think of? Here are some ideas:
Experiencing new opportunities
Making friends
Growing in confidence
Becoming more independent
Taking pride in our work
Developing our own opinions
After your discussion you will realise how important school is in our lives, and why it is essential that all children in the world have the opportunity to go to school.