What are the advantage and disadvantages of centralised curriculum?

Answer 1

Hi.

Since individuals are luckily very different shy should everybody learn the same? Why should we waste the time of the art types with lots of math and vice versa?

It is very easy to find some justification for all the subjects taught but they simply don´t hold water because it is so easy to come up with new and new subjects that are somewhat useful.

If one looks back one can see that people completed their education much sooner than now? Today´s societies may very well be more complicated but there is a limit to how much people can absorb and how much money societies can pour into their education systems. Let´s not forget that some individuals suffer their whole time in school? Do they learn anything of real value while they are bored out of their minds?

Is a longer education better than a short one? If we answer that question with a yes then we are in a world of trouble. Let´s say a doctor needs 5 years to complete his/her MD. If more education is better than less then logically we should increase the study time to, let´s say, 7 years. 9 years is better than 7 years ad infinitum. The lengt of sudy is always an arbitrary decision.

Perhaps the best thing is to allow everybody more choice. You want plenty of math? Fine, here it is. You want plenty of woodworking in school? Fine, then you do this and this.

I don´t really see the advantages :-)