Poll: So, why do you do it!?

[Angry Caterpillar]

-snip-

I see what you're getting at, and to a point I agree. But currently there really is just too much crap floating around; classes would be just as effective if they took ones that are alike and distilling them to their important elements and merging them, allowing people who are interested to take other classes going further in depth, and those who aren't to choose a different class.

 

[Kortney]

Just because a high school student says he will become an engineer doesn't mean he will. If you allow the students to take only the courses they are interested in for their career choice, then they will be robbed of an education because they will most likely change what they want to do in six months.

It would be such a messy system.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

I choose option number 4: option number 3, but with HS replaced with PS and college replaced with HS.

 

[kronoset]

I couldn't vote in the poll because I refuse to read your wallofwordsinwhichyoudescribesomethingaboutschool. Summarize please.

No can do. You can still vote in poll though if you just read the few sentences above it. The top is background, exposition, and detail. Still, I have no capacity to cater to short attention spans.

 

[electric_warrior]

lot's of subjects are interconnected, and english (if not english literature) is always useful because no one can write a good letter of application without a solid grasp of the language. Hell, great use of english can get you in anywhere!
something like social studies i can understand, but i do think that all subjects should be taught up to a certain age. Then, and only then, can you come to an informed decision as to what you want to do.

 

[benoitowns]

If it wasn't for people not caring about their education who would serve you at burger king? Clean your table? Clean your toilet? All those jobs... Society needs people like this.

Also you want to compete against EVERYONE to get a good job... No? Didn't think so.

Fortunately there is a difference from lazy and stupid. The stupid ones or the poor ones or the ones who werent able to get an education are usually the ones working at these places. The lazy ones who drop out or fail every class without a care are the ones who live with their parents, leech off of others or are the homeless ones that beg for money instead of doing something for it.

 

[kronoset]

I choose option number 4: option number 3, but with HS replaced with PS and college replaced with HS.

was gonna put that in there, but, the parts of the last option can be interchangeable. I just think that it's the most important to hit students with different perspectives, though I think preschool, might be a bit too early--I'd argue that they can't specialize at that age. I'll meet you halfway and say elementary school though.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

I choose option number 4: option number 3, but with HS replaced with PS and college replaced with HS.

was gonna put that in there, but, the parts of the last option can be interchangeable. I just think that it's the most important to hit students with different perspectives, though I think preschool, might be a bit too early--I'd argue that they can't specialize at that age. I'll meet you halfway and say elementary school though.

Well dude, being English, that's exactly what I meant....

Thanks.

 

[Abedeus]

Screw variety.

Why the hell do I need Geography if I'm going to an IT university? Or Chemistry? Or History? Seriously.

Or why would a nuclear scientist want to know about the Renaissance? How does it help him in his job?

Some teachers don't understand it and treat their subject as the most important of them all. I've met only ONE teacher, my current Physics teacher, who has a simple rule:

"Exams are easy to pass with a C, but if you want a higher grade, you have to put some effort". So basically if you care about the subject, you must work for it. If you don't, don't worry, you'll pass anyway.

 

[Hollock]

I think people just like to *****. I've heard the same 3 people complain on the merit of learning history at all, for about 6 years.
Yeah I would have to say people need to learn about everything in high school, but should really start focusing in by the time they get to colleage

 

[kronoset]

I have to second that. I have plenty of friends who are more open-minded and more learned on a variety of topics than my other peers who got in U-Penn and other Ivy-Leagues. In my HS class, most of the few (although not all) who got into Ivy schools had the highest grades in the class, but had virtually no capacity to carry on an intellectual discussion. Their GPA tended to reflect their ability to memorize and regurgitate. Interestingly enough, their weakest classes were the English and Social Science classes. The point I'm trying to make is that it's a dangerous notion to equate somebody's financial success with their level of intellect.

If it wasn't for people not caring about their education who would serve you at burger king? Clean your table? Clean your toilet? All those jobs... Society needs people like this.

Also you want to compete against EVERYONE to get a good job... No? Didn't think so.

Fortunately there is a difference from lazy and stupid. The stupid ones or the poor ones or the ones who werent able to get an education are usually the ones working at these places. The lazy ones who drop out or fail every class without a care are the ones who live with their parents, leech off of others or are the homeless ones that beg for money instead of doing something for it.

 

[kronoset]

I choose option number 4: option number 3, but with HS replaced with PS and college replaced with HS.

was gonna put that in there, but, the parts of the last option can be interchangeable. I just think that it's the most important to hit students with different perspectives, though I think preschool, might be a bit too early--I'd argue that they can't specialize at that age. I'll meet you halfway and say elementary school though.

Well dude, being English, that's exactly what I meant....

Thanks.

LOL, wow shows my ignorance :/
I should probably know that too...through discourse I learned something new today

 

[Denizen]

My biggest peeve is taking basics in college. I can understand introductory courses but retaking almost everything you did if you sought higher level courses in High School is a huge waste of time. This means that you are now having to wait until late sophomore year or junior year to just start on what you originally wanted to major in. This causes many people like me to develop study habits geared toward just getting the class over with and then having to readjust when you finally get to the things you wanted to do well in.

Bottom Line: Basics are detrimental to those who have already taken the same material in High School and should not have to be "gotten over with" or spent money on. Let our college scholars specialize in the fields. Plus if you have generated interests in another field or class in the past, you will have more time to enrich that interest. People passionate of learning and the craft behind it should be allowed to pursue it because the waiting can eventually kill the whole reason for being there.

Side Note: Some teachers just did a horrible job stirring enthusiasm to a subject. The way you are introduced to a subject can make or break the interest and love of learning in that field.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

I choose option number 4: option number 3, but with HS replaced with PS and college replaced with HS.

was gonna put that in there, but, the parts of the last option can be interchangeable. I just think that it's the most important to hit students with different perspectives, though I think preschool, might be a bit too early--I'd argue that they can't specialize at that age. I'll meet you halfway and say elementary school though.

Well dude, being English, that's exactly what I meant....

Thanks.

LOL, wow shows my ignorance :/
I should probably know that too...through discourse I learned something new today

To be fair, there is no real reason to assume I'm British (unless you here me speak), so it's not that stupid, especially as I used American phrases.

 

[Gruchul]

I'm sorry, but I don't really understand what your point is here. Could you briefly explain it again in the simplest of terms?

 

[kronoset]

Screw variety.

Why the hell do I need Geography if I'm going to an IT university? Or Chemistry? Or History? Seriously.

Or why would a nuclear scientist want to know about the Renaissance? How does it help him in his job?

Some teachers don't understand it and treat their subject as the most important of them all. I've met only ONE teacher, my current Physics teacher, who has a simple rule:

"Exams are easy to pass with a C, but if you want a higher grade, you have to put some effort". So basically if you care about the subject, you must work for it. If you don't, don't worry, you'll pass anyway.

You are missing the purpose to my argument which pertains to the nature public discourse as whole. My argument is not that every piece of evidence is relevant to every single topic. It is that a well-informed public is better able to come together and have meaningful debate. I believe one should NOT only pursue knowledge that is applicable to their own profession; this breeds narrow-mindedness.

However, The Renaissance isn't a good example for you to use in your aforementioned example. Science was extremely relevant in that era, and paved the way for most of the scientific discourse of today.

 

[kronoset]

I'm in the same boat in a way, and I don't believe that you should have to retread on subjects you've already studied. I took two years of calculus and I'm going to have to take it, yet again, for a dispersion credit, b/c I don't take an AP. There are plenty of flaws in the education system--whether public or private.

 

[Uszi]

Well I think one should really try to know as much as possible, because... I can't really explain. I just think it's important.

I agree.

However, the way schooling is set up now, it's not really possible. I've had a pretty broad exposure, but I've also delayed my graduation, and put up with the bunch of bullshit that constitutes how we currently go about teaching and assessing the knowledge of our students in the states.

All you are encouraged to do is cram as many specific details about the teacher's favorite pet topic into your skull, to regurgitate on a test, and forget forever thence.