School is absolutely useless!

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

The purpose of a school is this: To prepare you for life. The current system does not do this. That has always been my opinion of the way schools are run. Half of the stuff that is taught is pointless and irrelevant, and when you're released into the big scary world, you then have to try to learn all the stuff you really needed all along. Not even job specific stuff, I mean everyday life stuff.

[b]Subjects that are a complete waste of time as they are[/b]: Geography, RE, Latin (if you're that unfortunate) Art, Music, Drama, DT

[b]Subjects I find a grey area, and could use re-modelling[/b]: Maths, Science, Languages

[b]Subjects that I have no problem with[/b]: English, History, PE, ICT(computers), Business

I got pretty much straight A's at GCSEs, but I do not regard myself as intelligent. This is because the stuff I got high marks in, I have no application for in real life. Whereas the everyday stuff I need to know, I'm not very good at.

Like fixing things around the house. This is why I rage at DT. Rather than making little metal trowels and wooden models, why can't we be given a basic course in something useful, like plumbing, or wiring, or car mechanics?

Forms. I HATE FILLING OUT FORMS!!! Thankfully one aspect I'm good at is accounts and book-keeping, although a lot of people aren't good at money-management. This is something I think maths teachs should deal with, rather than blathring on about sin, cos and tan. I was forever asking "Sir, why do we need to know this?" the answer was always "Because it's on the test." And after that?

Some may say that I'm ripping into all the fun subjects. With these there is a divide in the classroom; the kids who aren't very good and find it a waste of time, and those who love the stuff and become disinterested by doing things that don't push them, or are held back by the former. My answer is this: If you're interested in arts and drama, get an after school club going for like minded people. You'd get a lot more from it than you would fighting with a forced class of bored kids, plus you'd learn from the responsibility of being in a club, and the social aspects of it. If you're musically talented, get a band together, it would be way more fun and productive.

Physical Education is an exception, as keeping fit is important, as is teamworking skills. And you don't want to be in a classroom all day.

I also think there should be a twice weekly, if not daily discussion about world topics, or general news. There is a half-arsed attempt at this at A-Level called 'General Studies' but it is disengaging. Teachers should sit down with their form class at registration and getting a good old discussion, or better yet a debate on whats going on in the world. This is where I think RE would be most effectively discussed.

Discuss the education system.

Matt (Bahamut Zero)

[War Chess]

You're so dumb, you are really dumb.
School makes us who we are, a bunch of rude trolls that cheat and hate each other.
Depends on where you live. If you live in a place where no one cares to education, you're screwd. If you live in a place where the GOVERNMENT and the STUDENTS themselves care about learning, great !

But why in hell arts and Physical Education exist ?! The're crap and blood all together to give jobs to the people that didn't find any.
All we need to learn is : Languages, ALL Languages ! Math, Science and Computer Stuff.

I want to learn, not do crap all day ! PE and Arts must go to hell ! 10 times more Languages and math, phisics, chemics and computer stuff, 10 TIMES !
That's my opinion.

[Kelp']

I disagree with Bahamut Zero's first statement. [i]In my opinion,[/i] school prepares you for employment. *Life skills, and those classes are exceptions. Primary and secondary school prepare you for college, which thus helps you get a job. It does not primarily deal with how to live in the big world. Your parents are actually supposed to teach you all the skills you need to survive on your own. From your everyday experiences outside of school, you should obtain the knowledge of how the outside world works, and by the time you get out of college, you should have an adequate amount of knowledge to survive on your own.

Well, at least that's how I've always seen it. :3

[Legend Zero]

*Does not see a section about school being a tool for interaction*


School is also used to get kids to determine what field of work they wish to venture in. The level of classes are 'easy' for you because some people just get things, while others don't. Assuming you are talking about the American school system....it is not a secret that it isn't even close to tops.

[Cin]

I admit Languages could be modified so they focus more on learning Mandarin, since that has more or less already overtaken English as the most spoken language and with the Chinese became a more global economic power it would useful in the business world. However this could just be done later on or offered as optional.

R.E if it focuses on a variety of different religions is very useful for teaching tolerance and helping people understand other religions.

With Maths its dependent on the field you're going into for example Engineering, Physicist, etc its all basic blocks.

Drama can be useful if you want to go into acting and acting schools might require it. Also can be a step onto theatrical work.

DT once again you might want to go into carpentry so being comfortable with wood and machines is always a good thing.

Geography can open many doors depending on what you back it up with, and if you're smart enough can take you many places.

For plumbing and that you have to consider health and safety, would they like to spend hours filling in the forms for them. I've seen one of those forms, a group in my travel and tourism class had to fill a very long one in for a trip they were planning for coursework for a London trip.

General Studies if done right can be a very enjoyable lesson, I've had a few good debates with the rest of the class on things such as Capital Punishment.

School is a building block to help you decide what job you want to do to life, not to life in general.

[JG.]

Pythagoras = POINTLESS.
Biology = POINTLESS.
Geography = NEAR POINTLESS.
Paper = POINTLESS.

But really, it depends on what job and education you want to have.

[GenzoTheHarpist]

Advanced highschool math/science aren't designed to be useful alone... they're designed to help you if you pursue a technical job in college. If all you care about is what you can do with a high school degree, then you don't need anything more than just basic algebra.

PE is the only real useless one you mentioned.

High school degrees really don't represent any kind of job preparatory curriculum because its [i]expected[/i] you'll go to college or a trade school after graduating.

[Great Unclean One: VK]

P.E.: Only for jocks. Then again, it's the only legal way of forcing people to excercise......somewhat.

Math (Any): Pointless unless your going into computers, teaching, etc. Only the basics should be taught, and if you want the more advanced stuff, you sign up for it. That's how it should be.

Physics: Useless unless you want to pursue it. Only the building block stuff should be taught, then should be up to the student wether he or she wants more of it.

English: Should be mandatory.

Languages: Should only be taken once, then it's up to you wether you wanted to continue or not. Should include Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and French.

Computers (Programing): Should only be taken by those who are interested. Such as myself.

Geography: A must.

Government Studies: Only for those who take it seriously. I'm stuck with a class of 28, and 16 of them are idiots. Can you guess how many of them are male?

Of course, the school is meant to give you the basics and see if your interested into something.

[GenzoTheHarpist]

[quote name='VK's Red Terror' timestamp='1295313675' post='4941997']
P.E.: Only for jocks. Then again, it's the only legal way of forcing people to excercise......somewhat.

Math (Any): Pointless unless your going into computers, teaching, etc. Only the basics should be taught, and if you want the more advanced stuff, you sign up for it. That's how it should be.

Physics: Useless unless you want to pursue it. Only the building block stuff should be taught, then should be up to the student wether he or she wants more of it.

English: Should be mandatory.

Languages: Should only be taken once, then it's up to you wether you wanted to continue or not. Should include Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and French.

Computers (Programing): Should only be taken by those who are interested. Such as myself.

Geography: A must.

Government Studies: Only for those who take it seriously. I'm stuck with a class of 28, and 16 of them are idiots. Can you guess how many of them are male?

Of course, the school is meant to give you the basics and see if your interested into something.
[/quote]
So you pretty much think only english and geography should be mandated?

[DARKPLANT RISING]

Shut the f*** up TC.

[Tentacruel]

What school needs is less busy work, less paperwork, and more [u][b]learning.[/b][/u]

[Great Unclean One: VK]

[quote name='GenzoTheHarpist' timestamp='1295324757' post='4942268']
So you pretty much think only english and geography should be mandated?
[/quote]

Let's also forget the parts where I said for some subjects, the basics should be taught and the more advanced stuff left up to the student to decide, but then again, I was too lazy to post about other subjects such as biology which once again, only the basics should be taught and the more advanced stuff left to those who actually want to learn more about it.

[~/Coolio Prime\~]

PE won't be used outside of school(beyond some of the health and proper exercise tips given early on), but it still has its uses.

[Xazeon]

I actually like gym. I'm somewhat of a jock, but it's also nice to have a break from the rest of school which is educational but unfortunately boring :/

[GenzoTheHarpist]

I'd rather just have an empty period than PE.

[Great Unclean One: VK]

[quote name='GenzoTheHarpist' timestamp='1295424311' post='4944423']
I'd rather just have an empty period than PE.
[/quote]

I'd rather get to choose another elective then PE.

Seriously, I want something besides PE, like Java or something.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Been away for a few days so catching up on several comments.

[quote name='War Chess' timestamp='1295278029' post='4940653']
You're so dumb, you are really dumb.
School makes us who we are, a bunch of rude trolls that cheat and hate each other.
[/quote]

Thank you for the intelligent and well thought out response.
Oh, you took exception to that rant? Whatever.

[quote name='♚Kelp' timestamp='1295279072' post='4940685']
I disagree with Bahamut Zero's first statement. [i]In my opinion,[/i] school prepares you for employment. *Life skills, and those classes are exceptions. Primary and secondary school prepare you for college, which thus helps you get a job.
[/quote]

During my however many months of searching for employment I was continually told 'you don't have enough experience.'
'I learnt most of the skills you asked for at school/college.'
'Yeah well that's at school, not in an office.'

Not the most fullproof argument but I see your point.

[quote name='Legend Zero' timestamp='1295280276' post='4940719']
*Does not see a section about school being a tool for interaction*

School is also used to get kids to determine what field of work they wish to venture in. The level of classes are 'easy' for you because some people just get things, while others don't. Assuming you are talking about the American school system....it is not a secret that it isn't even close to tops.
[/quote]

Facepalms self for stupidly forgetting the social side, thanks for bringing that up and agreed.

Even teachers I've spoken to have said to me that when I left, I would have no need for half the stuff taught on the cirriculum. EVER! Doesn't that seem like a monumental waste of time? Regarding the job thing, I mentioned basic courses on plumbing and other trades didn't I, how much more job related can you get (although I see Yin's point about Health & Safety idiots).

I've started reading Lord Alan Sugars autobio (for those who don't know, some businessman who's worth about 800 million or something). At school in the 50's, he learnt all about plumbing. He learnt bricklaying, and how to sew and mend his own clothes too. He also learnt how to construct his own bicycle, and can still do so to this day. Brilliant life skills of practical use.

There should be a lot more doing at school, rather than just reading and listening. I am aware how different people learn best (by seeing, hearing or doing) but practical is just so much more engaging.

Seeing a lot of people biging up geography (why?) and moaning about P.E. You guys have seen the size of the average American and Brit right? I'd have thought learning about how not to screw your body up would be a good thing, but obviously not.

[Cin]

In that case Bahamut try going into Apprenticeships or Volunteering with in the sector you want if possible. I know the issue from lack of experience, but that's not the school's fault, in the UK they offer work experience for a few weeks, that sometimes leads to a job and can give you useful contacts. Also look at vocational courses in what you want to do, such as Britain's NVQs.

Some people don't learn best by doing, but I agree there should be use of vocational courses.

P.E would useful if it did cover healthy eating also, but I'd worry how many parents would say its the government being too nosy. I suppose I big up Geography because some point in the future I'd love to do something with it.

[endphase]

[quote name='War Chess' timestamp='1295278029' post='4940653']
You're so dumb, you are really dumb.
School makes us who we are, a bunch of rude trolls that cheat and hate each other.
Depends on where you live. If you live in a place where no one cares to education, you're screwd. If you live in a place where the GOVERNMENT and the STUDENTS themselves care about learning, great !

But why in hell arts and Physical Education exist ?! The're crap and blood all together to give jobs to the people that didn't find any.
All we need to learn is : Languages, ALL Languages ! Math, Science and Computer Stuff.

I want to learn, not do crap all day ! PE and Arts must go to hell ! 10 times more Languages and math, phisics, chemics and computer stuff, 10 TIMES !
That's my opinion.
[/quote]

That's what I'm repeating always. Even to my Physical Education teacher... He gave me detention[img]http://public.yugiohcardmaker.net/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Darth Revan of the Sith]

The only reason im ever interested in going to school is to learn history and truthfully i dont understand why there aren't more classes for history *Sigh* well i guess thats how it is.
however i concider geography a science so in my view Geography=FAIL!

[GenzoTheHarpist]

[quote name='Bahamut ZERO' timestamp='1295531550' post='4946597']
I've started reading Lord Alan Sugars autobio (for those who don't know, some businessman who's worth about 800 million or something). At school in the 50's, he learnt all about plumbing. He learnt bricklaying, and how to sew and mend his own clothes too. He also learnt how to construct his own bicycle, and can still do so to this day. Brilliant life skills of practical use.

There should be a lot more doing at school, rather than just reading and listening. I am aware how different people learn best (by seeing, hearing or doing) but practical is just so much more engaging.

Seeing a lot of people biging up geography (why?) and moaning about P.E. You guys have seen the size of the average American and Brit right? I'd have thought learning about how not to screw your body up would be a good thing, but obviously not.
[/quote]
lol, how do you think Alan Sugar made that $800 million? It wasn't his damn plumbing skills. All you're showing is that he learned useless crap that ended up being completely irrelevant to his career... how does that prove your point?

Yes, that's soooo useful... you do realize that the manual labor field is greatly reducing as things become more robotized... sewing is almost completely useless for getting a job now, even if it may have been useful in the 50s. Almost all fabric work is done either by outsourcing to third worlders who will do it for pennies, or by machines.

Most americans can't even locate china on a map. Our knowledge of the world is vastly limited and needs to be corrected. Everybody who's gone to an american highschool has taken PE, all these obese fatasses took it as well. Doesn't mean a damn thing because most people know how to lose weight and just don't have the willpower to do so.

[TheBigCheese]

I did latin for 7 years and it was one of the greatest mental delights I have ever experienced.

There are so many joys and benifits when studying latin that it simply is not a redundant subject. Latin is a methodical subject and in many ways it is similar to maths (I know many of you will be tempted to refute this but I have studied them both to a good level and if you wish to disagree make sure you do so with a knowledge of latin in mind) as you have to tackle a problem and break it down with a specified solution. It is also like maths in the sense that it works in a highly logical fashion. Your argument for it being a useless subject is most likely the fact that no-one uses it today and that it is a dead language. However Latin is the base of most of the romantic languages and resides within them all, basic grammatical structures even used today were derived from the latin. Latin teaches discipline and forces you to organise you mind into a logical unit.

Not only is latin useful in the respects that I have just mentioned but there was no greater thrill that translating Virgil's Aeneid (One of the greatest pieces of classical literature, it is a tapestry of mesmerising poetry and sintellating story) into english or reading through Ovid, or even translating a tricky piece of text. If you want to look at latin on an egotistic level, if you have latin as something you studied at school to a high level it does distuingish you from a crowd, especially when you are looking for a job.

I love latin and I'm sorry if i sounded contrary but I must defend something I feel passionate about

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

[quote name='GenzoTheHarpist' timestamp='1295568187' post='4947774']
lol, how do you think Alan Sugar made that $800 million? It wasn't his damn plumbing skills. All you're showing is that he learned useless crap that ended up being completely irrelevant to his career... how does that prove your point?

Yes, that's soooo useful... you do realize that the manual labor field is greatly reducing as things become more robotized... sewing is almost completely useless for getting a job now, even if it may have been useful in the 50s. Almost all fabric work is done either by outsourcing to third worlders who will do it for pennies, or by machines.

Most americans can't even locate china on a map. Our knowledge of the world is vastly limited and needs to be corrected. Everybody who's gone to an american highschool has taken PE, all these obese fatasses took it as well. Doesn't mean a damn thing because most people know how to lose weight and just don't have the willpower to do so.
[/quote]

Erm, ah, yes, well argued (although an easy bat up on my part). I think what I was going for was the stuff was on the cirriculum in the past so why not now? But I did drop myself in it. Very badly. Hmmmm...

Good point also made about modern methods. (In fact I'm going to rep you, as you seem to be one of few people who can debate properly).

@BC if you have a use, and better yet a passion for it then good for you.

[Scanty&Kneesocks]

I actually would prefer high-school if it was shorter(2 years) and it kept to basic knowledge and necessary knowledge.

English, Math, History, Geography, Critical Thinking, PE, and others I probably can't think of now

I also believe that every school should have some sort of health class that rather than act as sex ed. or how to eat properly/diet would practice more on(and hopefully we will never need to use this.) medical application such as how to use a first-aid kit, hands-only CPR, when and when not to use CPR, what to do with certain injuries or burns, etc... Stuff that could save you or other people's life.

while the 2nd year will continue on a long with more job/entrepeneur/college aspect and giving you ideas on what you want to do with the rest of your life. Than have people going into college at the age 16 finishing at 20(assuming 4 year bachelor) ready to go to the work force. The only thing is some majors (like CIS) will probably require more math classes as compared to what you would of needed if you completed them in high school.

[.Corgi]

[quote name='War Chess' timestamp='1295278029' post='4940653']
You're so dumb, you are really dumb.
School makes us who we are, a bunch of rude trolls that cheat and hate each other.
[/quote]
Wise Said.

Why not get the scoolwork by E-m@il instead so you don't have to leave home? That would be good for me. No friends in my scool, I'm smart so about 70% of the scoolwork is super easy for me and I have a serious problem with the bus.