School: How much do we really learn?

It's a debatable subject, how much do we really learn in school?

Now I know school is important for future careers etc.. But think about it, when are we ever going to have to "find the value of x if 5=70e - the mass of the moon?"

Discuss.

 

Well first of all I was taught how to properly spell learn XD

But other than that you are taught academics that you rarely need and that aren't applicable to most jobs. Personally I despise the current schooling system (well at least the one in America) because I believe it doesn't do its job is preparing you for the real world.

 

It was a pun. xD

 

As an engineering student, I can safely say I need the kind of math you're describing. Perhaps not in regards to the moon however conceptually we need to be able to formulate and solve those kinds of problems on our own or in teams. I think school teaches more methods than application in that regard.

However considering it equipped me well enough that I haven't gotten below a distinction at university to date, I'd say I learned quite a lot, at least.

 

I respect this reply, but don't you think some of the things you get taught in school is a tad bit "ridiculous?"

 

considering i spend the day on my laptop and pulling above average marks, its not much

 

that means they do teach you enough...

 

This. In the exact same boat and while it may be pointless to some the math you learn it is very applicable for engineers.

 

its the opposite. i literally do nothing. i take university level courses and breeze through without wasting a second on doing homework, studying, or paying attention in class

 

You mean how useful are the things we are taught in school. School teaches us from every angle on various subjects, obviously you learn a lot if you pay attention. But how much of it is useful in the real world?

It's more like this. When we are too young to decide what course we will take for college, the school teaches us most of the subjects that would be used for certain courses. By doing this you have little knowledge on what to expect when you choose your college course. Instead of none. Could you suggest a better alternative? I mean whats the point of this being in the sfa if you cannot.

Bare in mind that I am going based on the assumption that school = pre - highschool. You are really vague about this topic. If you aren't going to give more than a 3 line post, then you should get this thread moved to the general discussion.

My uni doesn't teach you science if you take up finance. They give you useful subjects that will prepare you for the real world that is related to your course. Such as managing financial resources, english for business (a must need for any business course), research methods and more.

 

I think the main purpose of public school is to keep kids structured/off the streets, and it's useful because if kids were left to unstructured time while their parents worked they would all become bums. Apart from that, I think much of the theoretical knowledge learned at school is helpful in the pursuit of understanding ethical and universal truths, but I think certain parts of school could definitely be restructured. For example, I think collaborative/social learning is much more effective than the competitive/individualized learning we focus on today.

 

Honestly, 50% of the crap we "need to learn" in high school is unnecessary. I personally believe If you know what you want to do in your life you should be able to choose how heavy you want your credits to be. I wan't to be an accountant so having me get 2 years of a foreign language and 2 years of the arts is unnecessary IMO. Plus I should be able to sub some of my English for math.

 

Perhaps some of it, however for a lot of it even if you never use it you may find it helps you decide what you actually want to do with yourself. Even though I won't be like to use a lot of the stuff I learned in physics (such as relativity), for example, I don't regret learning it.

The more "ridiculous" subjects at my school for me were Religion and Ethics, and Physical Education for the most part; RE was a bore that tried to mask itself as agnostic but Christian schools generally suck at doing that. PE was just a waste of time because I dislike playing or watching sport. The only useful stuff I learned from it was first aid.

I did rather appreciate most else that I was studying at school though. I mightn't use all of it, but it's certainly well equipped me.

 

To me, most everything taught in school is useless. I know what career path I plan to take and need to learn more in that field then in Calculus. That being said, things taught in school help in certain jobs. Most high school students have no idea what they want to do in life. Learning everything helps in jobs they may want.

Other then that, really most of everything taught in high school is just basic knowledge that is useful in life. Even if it's not everyday stuff.

 

Basic calculus is essentially every day knowledge. You see it employed on your car's speedometer, for example. Basically anything to do with rates is employed calculus, so while you may be right it's actually not that hard to apply it in real life to more advanced situations once you get it.

 

Honestly half the shit you learn isn't applicable to your everyday life.

The most valuable thing you learn at school is the ability to learn. The routines that you get into and also figuring out how best you learn which is important for university. Also the time management that it teaches so you can complete your homework while still managing to work, socialize, etc.

 

It may not come in handy in every day life, but some time down the road it may come in handy, and you'll thank yourself/teacher for teaching you that.

Also, not everyone is going to work the same job (clearly) so they try and teach a whole variety of things, you shouldn't be complaining about something you're learning just because you won't use it today, tomorrow or even in 5 days time but you might in a years time.

There's no harm in it.

 

I think everything before a college level is completely worthless.

All you have to do is show up like once a week and you'll still probably get decent grade out of the courses.

 

Sure, calculus is useful in life, but I wouldn't take it if I didn't have too. (Still need my math credits) My first two years of highschool have literally been review/things I already know. (Other then my foreign language) It's annoying how much time through K-12 you do review. Jack Goff probably made the best point, you learn the ability to learn. That's probably the best thing about school.

 

I do think that a lot of what they teach in public schools is pretty unnecessary. That is why I personally chose to homeschool for a couple of years (To advance through grades more efficiently and study topics that I was actually interested in/felt were important) before starting college two years early.


Public schools have to teach to the lowest common denominator, which can really be a pain. If it bothers you there is always what I did.