WITH the demise of social agencies, parental responsibility and common sense, and the increase of Government departments instructing us in the obvious, the use of litigation as a tool of spite and the rights of children being paramount, no matter what, I agree with social media commentators and therefore urge the nation's schools to now include the following in the curriculum as compulsory subjects (if the students agree, of course):
-Respect for the rights, property and feelings of others. It's obvious that the schools are now the source of such instruction as parents and students, in their haste to make schools responsible for everything, have declared that teachers' failure to teach it is an indictment on their profession. Naturally, the subject of respect must not clash with the students' sense of entitlement which supersedes all else.
-All subjects relevant to the preparation of students for life after school. This could (and should) include everything relating to budgeting, job seeking, interview skills, how to operate a washing machine, where to source cleaning products and who to blame when life disappoints.
-Basic subjects such as reading, writing, maths, science etc should only be taught if they do not encroach on more essential subjects.
-The use of lawyers to override any decision made by the school or its board. Litigation as a right - if the students' parents can afford it - to ensure the student is chosen for sports teams and performing arts roles and as a permanent threat should any teacher assume that age, experience, qualifications and skill are more important than the rights of students to refuse, disagree, protest or sulk.
