Schools in American society hold many opposing values. From focusing on science and technology, writing, and even the arts, every school specializes in a few of fields, choosing to educate their students on topics they deem important. The government has tried to standardize the curriculum, implementing the committee of ten’s recommendations for the meaningful courses of study towards the end of the 1800s, and more recently, creating the Common Core in the early 2000s. However, none of these standardized curriculums have ever encouraged social skills, something extremely important for students at all levels. Social skills help facilitate conversations between people everywhere. Without these important skills, conflicts would increase, and people would have difficulties holding conversations with others. Being socially conscious, and able to communicate with others is absolutely essential in our world. Along with communicating effectively, social skills play an important role in using manners. Behaving politely in public shows respect, and without manners, we would live in a harmful, offensive world. Effective communication and manners are vital skills in becoming a leader, which we need to help function as a society (Lawson). The main purpose for children in American schools should be…show more content… Learning is only a MEANS to the real goal of education, which is ‘BECOMING’- becoming a good, competent, and flexible person, who will help make the world a better place (Prensky 25).” Prensky is arguing that through education, students should learn to become a person who will change the world, something an effective leader would also strive to achieve. The adjectives good, competent, and flexible are important skills for being a leader; without these skills, a leader would be unable to work with others, and would not achieve any of their
