One concern I have noticed from students graduating from high school is the deficit of certain important skills that they could have acquired while schooling if the school curriculum of the school they attended was all-inclusive. Undoubtedly, students should be well conversant with the most basic daily life practical skills before leaving high school. The importance of possessing such skills is to aid their smooth transition to life out of high school. Equally, it is important to note that the modern global dynamic society demands competency for one to remain competitive. Unfortunately, not all high school graduates get the chance to advance their studies implying that if some of the important skills are not taught to them while in high school; they will not get a chance to learn them in their entire life. In the society today, computer, business, and personal law competencies are some of the basic skills that an individual should possess. This being the case, it is important to incorporate business and personal law and computer applications classes to the current school curriculum.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this research proposal is to outline the importance of including the two new classes in your school curriculum – business and personal law and computer applications. The specific research that will be conducted will aim to determine the benefits of students studying these two classes while in high school. Equally, the benefits of the skills acquired from these classes once the students are out of school or in other terms, the applicability of the skills gained in day life.

Significance of the study

The implementation of the proposed measures will be of benefit to the school and the student. The school will have a reputable name for having an all-inclusive school curriculum, which is a sign that it is committed to producing future wholesome individuals. On the hand, the student will gain invaluable skills that they will utilize throughout their lives.

Literature review

Schooling requirements and completing school are the major issues that have faced the learning process. The conventional belief was that the bases of education should ground on subjects such as sciences, mathematics, languages and social studies. Furthermore, some individuals still believe that the requirements for graduating in high school are the aforementioned subjects. Undoubtedly, the major objective of high school education is to prepare grandaunts to lead a successful life after completing their studies – regardless of whether they decide to join the workforce or advance their studies. However, one would wonder whether some school curriculums are achieving this objective by teaching students the basic subjects that have been taught for years. The world has rapidly changed and the society has become technological in all aspects. Arguably, to remain competitive and meet the demands of the ever-dynamic global society, there is need to teach students skills that will assist them remain upbeat throughout their lives.

According to Stone (2001), “… the Business community wants seniors to graduate with the technological skills needed to perform in today’s Business World” (1). Stone continues to outline that studies have showed that students who choose to advance their studies having attended computer classes while at high school have an advantage in that they are able to use computers to prepare documents, reports, and conduct their researches quite easily with the use of internet. On the other hand, those high school grandaunts who fail to advance in education equally benefit from the computer classes they undertook. In fact, according to Harel (2004), computers are without disbelief an essential innovation of the twentieth century, for having irreversibly transformed the way human beings live.

For instance, According to Stone (2001), eighty-nine percent of teenagers use a computer at least three times a week” (2). This is a clear indication that computers have become part of our daily life. Additionally, Stone continues to outline “… most students have access to a computer at their home” (2). Nonetheless, this does not imply that they are computer literate, as such; they need to be taught how to use them as a resource and a tool in their daily activities. However, Stone also continues to outline that computer are of negative impacts to students when they are introduced to the internet (3). Remarkably, students can use the internet to access unsuitable websites.

Additionally, business and personal law is a class that should be taught to high school students. This is because its classes familiarize students to soft skills they will utilize throughout their lives. For instance, its classes entail the court systems procedures, civil laws, and criminal laws. Additionally, students are also introduced to contract elements such as breach, forms, and the negotiation process. Other important skills acquired in these classes are on consumer protection, corporate law, and employment law. According to Adamson and Norbert (2000), the students get a chance of to study the exact “situations that show how business and personal law impact not only business, but also the lives of young people and adults” (2). Undeniably, this subject coverage will familiarize the students with the legal procedures they will find helpful thereafter school life.

Methodology

Participants

The study participant will be selected bearing in mind demographic composition of the society – factors such as socioeconomic status, the level of education, gender, and the race will be taken into consideration. The aim here will be to ensure equal representation. The study will essentially rely on participants selected randomly. The participants will be selected from three high schools in which the two subject identified are part of their curriculum. In each school, five students and two teachers will be selected to participate. Other participants will be obtained from higher learning institutions, where at least five students and two instructors will be selected to participate in the study. Equally, the study will involve other participants who did not pursue their studies beyond highschool; at least ten participants will be involved in this case.

Procedures

The survey will be a one-month research beginning from the start of July 2015. The study will rely on questionnaires that will be prepared and printed. After selecting the participant, they will be issued with the survey questionnaires that they will be expected to fill during their free time. The questionnaires will be collected two after being issued.

Data Analysis

After collecting the filled survey questionnaires, the researchers will meet to analyze the collected data. The collected data will be analyzed depending on the source of that data. This implies that data, say, that from students will be treated differently from that of the teacher, instructors, and that from those participants who never advanced their studies beyond high school. The analyzed data will be used to document the study recommendations.

References

Adamson, John E., and Norbert J. Mietus. 2000. Law for business and personal use. Cincinnati,   Ohio: South-Western Pub. Co.

Stone, Keith. 2001. ‘COMPUTER APPLICATIONS AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION             REQUIREMENT’. Masters, University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Harel, David. 2004. Computers Ltd.: what they really can’t do. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.