[jvvlimme]

There is very little good about the current education system:

1/ Dividing kids in age based groups is very poor. They only learn negative behaviour from each other. Skill based would be more interesting as the younger kids would learn from the older students and the older ones learn some responsibility towards the older students

2/ Scientific research has proven teacher based education to be sub-optimal. You take away the inquisitive nature of the kids. They will take what the adult says as true and fail to look for different ways to reach the same goal.

3/ School just isn't fun. Information is pumped into children which they forget once it has been tested. Let them discover things in a playful way and they will remember it much longer.

4/ Exams really only test how well one can game exams and tests, not how well one understood the matter. Test should be used as a personal measure to check if you understood everything and if you are ready to move on to more complex issues, not as a benchmark compared to others.

And so much more.

[_kyran]

My high school had a vertical curriculum. From the age of 12 to 18, every student got to select 7 different subjects (plus sport) each semester. Most students would accelerate a level in one subject they were proficient at, although due to the 'levels' of classes it would usually end up with each level being 95% a certain age.

There were exceptions, like one student (may have been a savant) finished his high school certificate in four subject areas 5 years early.

This curriculum had its weaknesses. I accelerated in Math at the age of 13 after starting high school. I was then in a class with no friends, and without much social interaction, I'd zone out and spend the lesson trawling the internet.

Since that class, I've struggled with maths ever since and ended up eventually returning down to a standard level for my final two years of high school.

Happy to answer any other questions about having a vertical curriculum for those that are curious.