I was having a conversation with somebody the other day and gain today
with a different person about the school systems. Part of me feels that
the a lot of what is taught in school is really irrelevant in todays
everyday living. I mean how many of you find that knowing who died like
a 1000 years ago useful today? I mean I am sure when I die I am not
going to make no history book. But really how does learning about the
past going to help our future?

The world is changing...fast, and I think the schools need to start
adjusting accordingly. I struggled in school. Math was the worst. I
hated learning my multiple times tables. It took until I was out of
school before I ever learned that concept. And all that other math they
tried to force down me. I NEVER use. So really what is the point of even
teaching it? Just like I am sure there are other areas that are in a way
sorta pointless. A friend asked me a question the other day that really
made me think. And thought I would pass it along to you......

What are some things that you have learned in school that you still use
today?

For me it is my hand writing and multiple tables. But other then that I
really can't think of anything else. The rest of my knowledge is
basically everyday living knowledge. So what about you?

What are the things that you have learned during the time you were in
school that you still learn today? And I am not talking about collage
but but from kindergarten up to grade 12.

I do know that history repeats itself so knowing what happened 1000
years ago is beneficial so we can learn from our past mistakes.

The public schools I've dealt with (Chicago suburban area) really aren't
even in the education business anymore -- they're institutionalized
babysitters, intended to instill a conformist and unquestioning mindset
-- it's all about socialization and following orders, not learning.

For instance -- the last things I learned in school that I still use
today are from 3rd grade -- multiplication and division in math, and
cursive handwriting, which I only use when I'm signing something.
Everything I learned after that (in a school setting) was a complete
waste of time. Certain parts of it may be useful if I ever go on
"Jeopardy," but from a practical, day-to-day standpoint, I could have
learned more on my own.

And I was in a school system that was, at the time, considered among the
best in the state.

So you think that learning about fur trades or even the Boston tea Party
is really going to help in this day in age?

If you do not know the past, you are dommed to repeat it.

I agree on some level here. I went to a very small school (graduating
class was 25 people) Most of the kids there learned alot about things
they would never use cause alot of them ended up being farmers or
loggers.

But Also alot of them went off to bigger and better things because of
the education.

I think alot of it is in who we have as a mentor or if our dreams are
bigger than what our families are used to.

I am not sure I am making any since here.
T

True, I'm sure we could have done without a few history details, but
most of the wars have been repeated in one form or another since then
and we have learned from them. You do have a point, I'm just saying not
all of it was bogus.

Girl if it was not for those times tables you had to learn that you
don't think did you any good. Hummmm think about that one a bit more if
you had not learned to count who would count your money for you to buy
things adding and subtacting and your times tables are used in everyday
life on a daily basis. And if the schools did not teach the history of
this world and writers did not write there thoughts down how would we
learn from the past if there was no past to learn from. There must be
past in order to make a better future.

See that is what I am talking about Lex. When I was in high school I had
to take a parenting course as one of my credits. I looked back on that
course today. And it was POINTLESS. I mean parenting is NOT something
that you can really teach a bunch of high school kids and expect them to
remember. That to me is something that you need to learn as you go
along. Not teach it to kids they may not have children for another 10 to
15 years or whatever.

all the knowledge I learned in school I am glad I did. I love knowing
things when asked whether it's in trivia rooms or whatever. I know it's
not much for the everyday life situations but it's nice to know.

Right, hopefully they're not already parents at that point! Or won't be
right away, anyway. There might be a few students who could benefit
from something like that, but I'm guessing most of them will have
forgotten everything they were told by the time they actually have kids.

I took some advanced math classes, most of which I still remember but
why? When am I ever going to use that? Looking back on it, I wish my
schools would have spent a little more time on things that would
actually come into play in the real world. Oh, driver's ed, OK, there's
one. I picked up some fundamentals about not going through red lights
and stuff (which I had already figured out from my mom driving me
around) --

My grandmother taught me to read before I ever started school, so that
wasn't something they could teach me there, either. But the sad part is
how many people graduated high school in my town, without even being
able to read and write at a third grade level. And that's where I think
the biggest failure is --teach kids HOW to read, and they do a whole lot
of self-educating, if they're so inclined. But if they know that can
graduate without even knowing how to read, where's the incentive to
learn?

I was talking to someone who works in the Chicago public school system a
few weeks ago, and she told me they're not even allowed to hold the kids
back a year anymore if they fail. The advancement is automatic, whether
it's earned or not. And at least once a week, there's a report on the
news about how Chicago has fallen even farther behind everybody else's
system.

I can see why home schooling is becoming so popular....

Fedman -- I agree, knowledge for knowledge's sake is a worthwhile
pursuit. Half of the books I read have no practical application to
anything I'm doing in real life.

I just think the schools should do a better job of preparing the kids
for the post-school world, that's all.

We live in a culture where many colleges are better known for their
sports teams than for the quality of their education. That says a lot
about the problem....

Don't get me wrong I am not knocking the school systems totally. And yes
the SIMPLE math was one thing that I can say that I brought with me. I
mean I failed miserably in school but I am still going to collage to
learn a new skill. And I can tell you one thing almost everything that I
learned in high school I will not be bring with me when I go (not like
really remember most of it anyways). But I know I will do just fine.
Because when I go back I am going back on my own with the will and the
want to achieve. And when I am done. So I am not in anyway putting down
collage. Cause I have to admit that is the one place were they will
teach you skills about making yourself better.

And ok I agree that history repeats it's self. But things like war I
have no control over. If it is going to happen then it is going to
happen. Things like that are really left for the Government really. The
people that do have control over it. So let them learn it. Cause you
know it is not doing me any good knowing about it.

I think the schools are stepping up.When I went to school we didnt even
have computers.Thats why I am slow now.Learning as I go.All mathematics
taught is nessary.Think some subjects could be down played.

I think we should go back to Reading Writing SPELLING and math. THEN
work towards the EXTRA stuff.

My 12 yr old son and 15 year old daughter still can't spell worth crap.
I am talking the easy stuff. Not the hard words (like i have problems
with) And yet they keep going up in grade and there english grades show
high marks.

Maybe we should be looking at the teachers????

You might not realize it now, but you might actually be happy that you
learned some of the stuff that you did. I hated history and government
in school, but knowing about our government and how our country was
founded has actually proved to be useful.

Math was a subject that I struggled with all through highschool and
college (I HATE math!). I never thought I'd need algebra or geometry,
but I actually use some of those skills that I learned with my business.

Tneal,

I totally agree with you there. Back to basics! My friend's daughter is
about to graduate from high-school and she can't spell to save her life.
Her reading skills aren't very well either for a senior in high-school,
yet this is a girl who has a B average. I don't get it. Maybe this is
what we get for cutting budgets for education. Some of the school
districts where I live are just horrible.

Now Bill that is were I am going to have to disagree. Not all math is
relevant. I mean really how often do you use algebra? Or even long
division? I mean yes I use division but I do not sit there and write it
all out and make that little division symble thing (sorry do not know
the name of it) and I now I am never really going to care if there is a
remainder left over or not.

Not to belabor the point, but when Fox can come up with a show called
"Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" -- and the fifth graders are
always smarter than the adults (at least in the two shows I saw) --
something is wrong somewhere! I mean, sure, they picked above average
fifth graders, but I really don't think they picked below average
adults, I think they're actually very typical. Those fifth graders are
smarter than most of the adults I deal with on a daily basis.

I'm still reeling over the fact that school systems don't even seem to
care anymore whether or not their students can spell or construct a
grammatically correct sentence. You can be the "smartest" person in the
world with regard to various subjects, but if you can't correctly
express yourself on "paper," then your errors are just going to make you
look like an "idiot."

Agree with you Jeanc.Thats my biggest down fall too.Hate English with a
serious Passion.So I do the best I can.Atleast ppl understand me.Think
ppl rag on others here about it to much.Wont change how good they are at
it but dose a fine job of being rude and causing trouble.This sight is
for dating and entertainment.Having proper grammar not as important.