My friend said the funniest (or thought-provoking, if you prefer) thing the other day...

[johnjohn320]

So a friend of mine is talking to his dad about a biochem project that we had to work on. He was explaining how he was going about doing the research for it or something, and his dad said "well, you'd probably learn more about it, and get a clearer picture if you looked up in [such and such source]". My friend, turned to his dad and said:

"Dad, it's not about learning, it's about school."

I was rolling on the floor. It's funny, but in a way it's also sort of disheartening because it's so true. So little of what we do in school everyday actually has to do with furthering our own learning, it's about making our teacher happy and "earning" the grade we want. It's like, we do all this useless crap now because it supposedly earns us the right to hopefully one day down the line do what we want to do with our lives.

I liked it so much, I added it to my sig.

edited the title since everyone seems appalled at it rather than humored by it...

 

[worth]

It's not funny.

 

[tweakmm]

yeah, i think that its pretty sad, but its what its come down to...

 

[RSI]

If you're too immature to understand why school is essential, maybe you shouldn't be there.

-RSI

 

[xirtam]

I'm not sure it's funny, but I think it's nevertheless true. School seems like a bunch of hoops to jump through so they can hand you a doggie treat at the end that will get you into that magic career. Hey, worth, how long have you had that sig?

 

[jobberd]

Wasn't it Mark Twain that said "Never let school interfere with your education."? In any case, it's true. School often forces you to learn things you wouldn't bother learning in the first place simply because it's needed to get into university. I've had less time to study my interest in computers because of school

 

[johnjohn320]

<< If you're too immature to understand why school is essential, maybe you shouldn't be there. >>



Uh...first off that doesn't make any sense. That's like saying, "well if you don't understand, maybe you shouldn't learn.[/i] >>

Second, it's not me saying this. I have substitute teachers, older siblings, sh!t my parents admitting to me that I'm never gonna use 90% of this crap. These people come from all different professions and backgrounds.

Maybe you're the one who's immature, cause you can't think for yourself. You accept what your told, that school is important for your actual knowledge.

 

[geno]

<< It's not funny. >>

 

[worth]

<< that school is important for your actual knowledge. >>



You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society?

 

[johnjohn320]

<< You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society? >>



Huh???? Dude, you're on a totally different topic. I'm talking about the material that we are taught in school, not the actual experience of being there.

 

[tweakmm]

<<

<< You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society? >>



Huh???? Dude, you're on a totally different topic. I'm talking about the material that we are taught in school, not the actual experience of being there. >>


give him a break, maybe he was home-schooled

 

[kami]

<< Wasn't it Mark Twain that said "Never let school interfere with your education."? In any case, it's true. School often forces you to learn things you wouldn't bother learning in the first place simply because it's needed to get into university. I've had less time to study my interest in computers because of school >>


Actually it's "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

I love that quote. Anything that I have learned that has bettered me as a person or actually made me more intelligent (I'm not talking about being able to memorize a text book here folks) has been learned from real life experiences, not going to school. Sadly I got nothing, absolutely nothing of value out of school except the basics of reading, writing, math & science. Beyond that it was a waste of time for me. Topics which I am most knowledgeable about were 100% self-taught.

 

[worth]

<< give him a break, maybe he was home-schooled >>



The whole damn government!

 

[tweakmm]

<<

<< give him a break, maybe he was home-schooled >>



The whole damn government! >>


WTF?

 

[gogeeta13]

That is so not funny.

Never post something that not funny again, seriously

:Q

 

[tweakmm]

<< That is so not funny.

Never post something that not funny again, seriously

:Q >>


i would think that you would find lots of stuff funny bowling man

 

[element]

<< You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society? >>



No, I've never wondered this. To me it was always obviously a lack of social interaction with their peers. A lack of exposure to different points of view, opinions, ideas, cultures.

You may think what you learn is useless, but that just shows your lack of understanding of education. If you narrow yourself to learning only certain topics, you'll not be well rounded in your education and it will show. As an example those that are bad at geography but good at math or vice versa. It shows if someone were to ask you a simple question in a field of study you are weak in, and you fail to answer it. In certain circles you'll be considered an idiot even though you're not.

Some math for example, although you may or may not ever use it, helps develop your mind to think more logically. Some of the menial excercises you go through may seem pointless, but they are meant to make you learn to learn, not necessarily gain knowledge.

 

[RGN]

<<
Actually it's "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

I love that quote. Anything that I have learned that has bettered me as a person or actually made me more intelligent (I'm not talking about being able to memorize a text book here folks) has been learned from real life experiences, not going to school. Sadly I got nothing, absolutely nothing of value out of school except the basics of reading, writing, math & science. Beyond that it was a waste of time for me. Topics which I am most knowledgeable about were 100% self-taught. >>



Exactly.

BTW, I was home schooled. I guess tweakmm and others are right. I haven't learned to adapt to 'real life'











I'm on ATOT after all...

 

[wyvrn]

I think you can take a lot of lessons from school. Most of it would be R-R-R basics and people skills <-- mucho importante! I don't think I remember half of the actual lessons we did, but I can see why they are important in tuning your intelligence. I mean, it would be hard to read an engineering book if you hadn't had advanced math classes. English classess will prepare you for the workplace in a lot of ways.

Problems I see with education in my state:

1) Too much emphasis on standardized tests instead of actual learning, just to please some government office.
2) inmates (students) are running the asylum. Teachers don't have control of their class rooms anymore.
3) Apathetic teachers and students, neither of whom could care less about learning anything. Students want to learn without hard work, and teachers wanting to teach without getting to know their students.



<< You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society?

>>



Nice generalization. I know lots of home schooled kids that do fine in society. Home schooling does not mean you have to be locked away in a cave. Most cities now have HS associations, where lots of kids get together and interact in sports and stuff. Plus these kids do have neighbors, they don't all live in the antarctic you know!

 

[johnjohn320]

<< You may think what you learn is useless, but that just shows your lack of understanding of education. If you narrow yourself to learning only certain topics, you'll not be well rounded in your education and it will show. As an example those that are bad at geography but good at math or vice versa. It shows if someone were to ask you a simple question in a field of study you are weak in, and you fail to answer it. In certain circles you'll be considered an idiot even though you're not. >>



Well, guess what? There are a lot of people who went through school, and are STILL bad at geography, STILL bad at math, whatever. It doesn't change anything if you ask me.

 

[EpsiIon]

<<

<< that school is important for your actual knowledge. >>



You'll probably soon realize that is true. Ever wonder why home-schooled children, even if they may know a whole lot more than the average public high school graduate are not able to adapt in society? >>



Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about. Most of the homeschoolers I know are also the most fun, outgoing people I've ever met.

 

[McPhreak]

<< Sadly I got nothing, absolutely nothing of value out of school except the basics of reading, writing, math & science. Beyond that it was a waste of time for me. Topics which I am most knowledgeable about were 100% self-taught. >>



Isn't learning the basics what school is for? I work as a molecular biologist and I probably only apply about 10% of what I learned in college toward my work. But I feel that school was never meant to teach us EVERYTHING we're interested in, but rather, to provide us with not only the basics in reading, writing, (in my case) biology, etc., but also to train us with a work ethic, social skills, etc. When you get out of college, it's up to you to figure out what you want to do and which avenues of knowledge you want to pursue.

edit: but yeah, I still think what your friend said is pretty sad.

 

[jobberd]

<< Actually it's "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." >>

Ah yes, that's the one.

<< I love that quote. Anything that I have learned that has bettered me as a person or actually made me more intelligent (I'm not talking about being able to memorize a text book here folks) has been learned from real life experiences, not going to school. Sadly I got nothing, absolutely nothing of value out of school except the basics of reading, writing, math & science. Beyond that it was a waste of time for me. Topics which I am most knowledgeable about were 100% self-taught. >>

I rest my case

 

[wyvrn]

<< Well, guess what? There are a lot of people who went through school, and are STILL bad at geography, STILL bad at math, whatever. It doesn't change anything if you ask me.

>>



They either had a learning disability or simply didn't try. Basic geography and math aren't that hard. Lots of people get out of school and make excuses for whey they didn't learn anything, when the truth is they simply didn't try that hard. 50% of the work has to come from the student.

 

[element]

<< Well, guess what? There are a lot of people who went through school, and are STILL bad at geography, STILL bad at math, whatever. It doesn't change anything if you ask me. >>



The education system isn't going to turn those who don't want to learn anything into good students. You do have free will after all.

Some people want to be gang bangers, some want to be terrorists, some want to blow up buildings in Oklahoma city. Others want to start a religious cult. Yet still others want to scam people. Don't even get me started on how many people are in our overcrowded jails and all the millions of paths they took to end up there.

And yet others want to be singers, like Britney Spears, NSync, BSB, yadda yadda. They don't need but an ounce of education to be successful, just talent. Same goes for athletes.

edit: what am I saying? Those singers I mentioned have no talent