Homework or Tests?

[ashitaria]

Which one of you thinks that homework is useless? I do, and I think that homework shouldn't be part of our grade. First off, homework isn't needed for good grades on tests. I never do homework and yet I am able to get high scores on tests by cramming up an hour before hand. Secondly, not doing homework affects your grade negatively. I have a GPA of 3.75, and yet I could have gotten a GPA of 4.0 if not for homework. The classes I get "A"s in have little to no homework.

Should homework affect the grade? Personally, I think that the tests should be the only thing affecting our grades, nothing else. Homework should be there for practice, really. Not for grades or anything. I think homework is just crap. If it wasn't for homework, I would have gotten an A in Geography and Literature.

 

[Shatokan]

Personally i like the way my trig teacher grades the homework. He Averages all the homework for the semester and uses that as a test grade. The reason i like this is because the final can take the place of 1 test grade, meaning i can do no homework and still make a 100% if i know everything. This leaves room for people that don't NEED homework. Though some classes homework should be required and in college homework is often given just so you can't skip as easily.

 

[ckm]

Some people thrive off homework, although I am not one of them.

However it's kind of hard for me to question the necessity of homework without doing the same to the education system as a whole. The evaluations we undergo during education are short-sighted and suit some people much better than others. For some, homework is a great tool for memorising material, but for me it's mundane and, frankly, mind-numbing. I usually do my homework extremely half-assedly (if at all) unless I have something that motivates me (i.e. I find it interesting).

 

[Dormouse]

Well, the point is to learn the material, not cram an hour before the test and forget it immediatly. I believe educators just feel that homework is more likely to help you memorize what they've been teaching you, in a way that'll it'll stick.

But hell, the whole school system these days just begs to be taken advantage of. The whole concept of grades practically rationalizes cheating... Good grades won't necessarily benefit students if they aren't earned. Which is why the whole system is fucked, people will go to ridiculous ends to get high marks and bypass othe rlearning opportunities because they might lower their average.

Uhm, that was divergent. Sorry. Basically homework is good in small quantities. Everyone needs practice, though the amount varies. So I don't believe it should be marked, just made available as a review for those who want it.

 

[ashitaria]

Well, the point is to learn the material, not cram an hour before the test and forget it immediatly. I believe educators just feel that homework is more likely to help you memorize what they've been teaching you, in a way that'll it'll stick.

Unfortunately, about 90% of the material is complete useless crap.

 

[Words]

I love tests. hate homeworks. Its about work spent.

 

[Darby]

I appear to be in the same boat with everyone else, I'm good at tests, HATE homework.

I have grown to hate homework less over the years though, not because I do it, but because I watch people really try and still struggle. Often times they are close friends, homework is practice, and although I may not need it, other people do. I just don't like the way most classes weight it, because it IS practice, your not doing anything truly useful and yet it ends up being 50% of your grade, WTF?

I have a 2.53, and it's because in almost all my classes my homework percentage(the percentage that was turned in) is less than 40%

EDIT: I'm also not a big fan of crammers, if you can't remember it by the time the test rolls around then that's your problem, your supposed to learn the material, not shove it one ear, and hope it holds for an hour and a half before falling out the other.

 

[Firehazard159]

There was another thread very similar to this not much long ago.

The general consensus for INTP's seem to be that we don't like homework, and excel at testing regardless of how much homework is assigned (If we even do it.) (And, if not being good at test taking, at least, remembering the information we've been given without studying.)

I know that was my biggest failing in high school. I blatantly refused to do homework, meanwhile ace-ing tests, which, in retrospect was terribly dumb of me. Fighting the system in such a way is rather ineffective, and only harms myself : /

I ended up with a C average despite being an A test taker. I was in AP classes, but eventually was kicked out despite this same trend, it was heavier homework orientated so I ended up with a D at one point and was kicked down to a regular level class (which was horrible, the level of intellectual pursuit was so low :'( ) It really upset me that despite being able to answer questions more in depth and more effectively than a majority of the other students, I wasn't worthy of being on their same level due to my irritation at a bad system that simply doesn't work for all students.

I have noticed something interesting within myself though - I'm perfectly willing to do "homework" as long as I'm allowed to do it in the class it's assigned in. I'm not willing to take it home and let it interfere with my personal time. The way I see it, I "ideally" have 8 hours of sleep time, 8 hours of work time, 8 hours of personal time. I don't want my Work to overtake my Personal time, nor do I want my sleep to overtake either of the other categories (Though, I tend to be ok with letting other categories override sleep time -_-)

I'd always wished for a school system where I would walk in at 8, get all my assignments for the day, and have one long study hall over 8 hours, where teachers would give lectures throughout the day (probably 3-4) with the rest of the time being down-time/work-time. That way, kids who needed to hear a lecture could, the ones who work independently could, and the rest of the 3-4 hours of downtime/work time gave students the opportunity to ask questions, either individually or addressed to the classroom (giving introverts more potential to get help, I was never able to raise my hand to ask a question, but I had little issue asking the teacher a question if I could walk up to their desk and ask it privately.)

And, if a student finished all their work for the day, they could go home early (Or take up extra-curricular studies/activities). I wonder if such a school exists.

 

[Firehazard159]

Well, the point is to learn the material, not cram an hour before the test and forget it immediatly. I believe educators just feel that homework is more likely to help you memorize what they've been teaching you, in a way that'll it'll stick.

But hell, the whole school system these days just begs to be taken advantage of. The whole concept of grades practically rationalizes cheating... Good grades won't necessarily benefit students if they aren't earned. Which is why the whole system is fucked, people will go to ridiculous ends to get high marks and bypass othe rlearning opportunities because they might lower their average.

Uhm, that was divergent. Sorry. Basically homework is good in small quantities. Everyone needs practice, though the amount varies. So I don't believe it should be marked, just made available as a review for those who want it.

Of course, what kid is going to be willing to use review material? I think most students are against homework due to it's tedium, but it's actually good for many students. I don't think any kid would do it if they didn't have to, and would end up failing a class, and probably have to retake a course or exam after cramming for the stuff the next time around.

Of course, maybe if it did work this way, people may realize what they need to do to succeed and be able to properly implement it later on in life / school, to where they don't fail. I don't know

Sucks to be an INTP in an SJ world : / haha.

 

[Darby]

It's really bad in my Calculus class, he's incapable of explaining it any way he doesn't know, so I pretty much have to teach the class. he puts the notes up on the projector and then every 2-3 minutes asks me if he's doing it right. why is he teaching? by the way, I still only have a B- in that class, he's a stickler for homework.

EDIT: I also feel very similar to Firehazard about the 8-8-8 schedule, once I leave school, I'm done(which is another reason Calculus is irritating, he refuses to put the homework up until the last 2 minutes of class).

 

[Latro]

I actually do well with homework assignments because it imparts some structure to my study at home. I like this because I never really did any studying at home other than homework, and so I never really learned to do it on my own (which admittedly is detrimental to my creativity and organization I imagine, and is probably related to my present issue with coming up with a research topic). Busy work sucks, but by the time I got to high school there really wasn't very much of that. And now in organic chemistry I would be very happy if they would give formal homework assignments, even if they weren't graded. They would impart some structure so that I wouldn't have to (or more likely, so that I would at all).

 

[ashitaria]

To me, homework is only useful when they are give before the exams. Because homework before the exams give you practice when you need it, and I finish all my homework during the finals period. So I get good practice and raise my grade up by 40%. All good.

I hate homework, and only do it when I'm interested in it or when I don't find anything wrong with doing it.

 

[warryer]

What are you smoking crack?

I would choose homework over tests anyday. Ok, I don't know what level of schooling you are but, I find that most of my learning/understanding comes from doing homework problems.

Yes, I drag my feet to start them but, once you get going you find a set of brain challenges. I can't be pulled away. Once I spent 4 hours on a single thermodynamics problem because I couldn't let myself give up without understanding.

In most of my classes the homework is much more in depth and complicated than test questions. Our tests tend to be vastly over simplified, while that's good for a grade it doesn't challenge the student to critically think as much as I think it should.

 

[Firehazard159]

which is another reason Calculus is irritating, he refuses to put the homework up until the last 2 minutes of class).

I have such a raging hatred against teachers who did that.

My algebwa teacher had a terrible lisp, and a new-yorkish sounding accent mixed in with that, which was the most grating speaker to listen to.
(Yeah, she would say algebwa all the time... *shudder*)

She wouldn't let anyone have anything other than their textbook and notes out for listening to her speak for the entire 50 minute class, she would refuse to put the assignment up on the board until the very last 2 minutes of class as well.

She spoke most unintelligibly, was single/close-minded, and threw irrational fits of emotions when students didn't get her or challenged her set in stone methods. She could also only teach it in the one way she knew how, there was never any adaptation, just repetition of what she already stated. If you couldn't follow that, you were looked down upon by her.

I spent most of her class listening to my CD player under my long hair (Headphones strung up through my shirt, CD player in my cargo pants pocket... changing CD's was tough but doable :P). While doing that, I'd usually read through the book and learn everything that way, then doodle for the rest of class. I had the volume low enough to answer questions if she called on me (which she often did to make sure students were paying attention, randomly call on them to help with a solution on the board.)

Ugh... she makes my blood boil in anger at her raw ... honestly, stupidity.

I don't mean to sound harsh to people with lisps or strong accents or anything, but what she did was torture. Most other kids agreed with that sentiment. I'm not sure how she kept her job -_- (I think she still teaches to this day too)

Sorry... /endrant

 

[Darby]

Lol, I have a problem with my R's but I understand, I hate it too, there's just nothing I can do about it, because the way I sound to myself doesn't sound any different than anybody else, so I can't tell, unless I hear a recording *shudders* it still makes me want to cut my tongue out.

You truly summed up my teacher magnificently well though, with the single-minded approach to everything, and what I hate most, is most kids are failing his classes, and he's blaming them because he can't teach. Also, when they come in after class for help, he just puts more problems on the board, but obviously if they could do them, they wouldn't have come in in the first place. So when they ask for more help he whines about how stressed out he is because everyone needs help all the time, and they just need to learn how to "do" it

 

[ashitaria]

What are you smoking crack?

I would choose homework over tests anyday. Ok, I don't know what level of schooling you are but, I find that most of my learning/understanding comes from doing homework problems.

Yes, I drag my feet to start them but, once you get going you find a set of brain challenges. I can't be pulled away. Once I spent 4 hours on a single thermodynamics problem because I couldn't let myself give up without understanding.

In most of my classes the homework is much more in depth and complicated than test questions. Our tests tend to be vastly over simplified, while that's good for a grade it doesn't challenge the student to critically think as much as I think it should.

First, don't ever ask me if I smoke crack. It's offensive, and shows intense immaturity and rigidness.

In any case, homework isn't always harder than tests, tests aren't always harder than homework, but you don't need homework to think and ponder, there are alot of logic puzzles out there that are not provided by teachers.

There's nothing wrong in liking homework either. Like you, when I start on homework, I have to finish it. I just don't like homework as there are times when it is not mentally challenging.

Are you in college? I'm a freshman in high school. So that's explaining our different thoughts about homework.

 

[Firehazard159]

@Warryer:

I don't really think we have a problem with homework itself, in as much as have a problem with the basis for it.

As I said, I have no problem working on it *in class*. I have a problem with the "home" part of it.

Really, there's no difference between homework and exams, except, exams usually cover 'one of each' type of problem difficulty / expression (To see if you grasp each concept), where homework is repetition of 4-5 types of the same problem expression (To ingrain how to solve each problem type).

The other big difference between a Test and Homework, is it is almost guaranteed to be your work, whereas homework is potentially you just copying someone elses work just to get a grade.

 

[ashitaria]

@Warryer:
whereas homework is potentially you just copying someone elses work just to get a grade.

*smirk*

DidIdothat?

*smirk*

 

[Firehazard159]

*smirk*

DidIdothat?

*smirk*

 

[ashitaria]

I'm assuming you do it too?

 

[Firehazard159]

I'm assuming you do it too?

I did when it was convenient, because I didn't really care. The whole system is heavily flawed.

 

[dbtng_thomas]

We iNtuitive types tend to skip to the answer at the end of the story. Once you enter some of the more advanced topics in your college career, you come to recognize the value of treading the ground that all those 'normal' folks have to cover. It's completely counter to my nature, but I now acknowledge that producing hundreds of papers has honed my research and argument skills well beyond even my self-perceptions when I entered school ... a goal that would have been impossible to reach if I just 'skipped to the end', because I had no idea what the end looked like.

Face it. Sometimes your teacher, and indeed the blind and pedantic education system, know what they are doing when they require homework.

 

[ashitaria]

But even though we skip to the answer, we still look back and see why it was the answer. It's the same whether you work to the answer and when you work back from the answer. You both get the steps required for getting the answer, and you both understand.

 

[dbtng_thomas]

INtuition won't get you to the end of the road forever. The work involved in treading the ground imparts new abilities. You wind up in a different place than if you had just skipped to the end. Sooner or later, you have to apply some effort, and in return you become a slightly different person. You have to experience this transformation to realize its worth.

 

[Firehazard159]

We iNtuitive types tend to skip to the answer at the end of the story. Once you enter some of the more advanced topics in your college career, you come to recognize the value of treading the ground that all those 'normal' folks have to cover. It's completely counter to my nature, but I now acknowledge that producing hundreds of papers has honed my research and argument skills well beyond even my self-perceptions when I entered school ... a goal that would have been impossible to reach if I just 'skipped to the end' because I had no idea what the end looked like.

Face it. Sometimes your teacher, and indeed the blind and pedantic education system, know what they are doing when they require homework.

Errrr. To an extent, yes.

The more advanced a subject becomes, the more one will inevitably need to study the groundwork to understand the advanced theory.

But, are you telling me that low level stuff requires the same thing? I mean, if we're talking (and I'm going extremely basic here) mathematics - How many times do kids need to grind over 1+2 to figure out that it equals 3? But, the more advanced ideas, especially more abstract mathematics, may take additional study. For some, they may not, depending on how well they grasp the concept itself.

I'm not saying 'homework' should not be given, I just think the "home" part should be taken out of it. If school needs to be extended for that, well, I'm not really against that.

I really don't think all teachers are idiots either. Just some, like my math teacher above. The math teacher I had the next year, I loved. He had the assignment on the board when we walked in, his first speech to us, was we were allowed to work on our math or even other homework in class, as long as we weren't disruptive to the lesson. We could only ask questions up to the point of where he was in his lesson plan, related to the homework, so if we were ahead and became stuck, we'd have to listen until he got to that point in his lesson, and then after he was finished with his lesson plan, any questions were allowed. Most of the time I finished my work with over half the class to spare, upon which I'd work on other homework.

I loved his class, it was probably one the best I've ever had. He was also adept at explaining things in multiple ways. Some people were made to be teachers, others not so much. I don't think single-mindedness is a great trait for a teacher, and I don't think they all know best. Some, do. How can I be the judge of that? Well, if they've managed to teach me anything, or if they've only managed to alienate half the class. Several students had complained about her, then retaken a class with a different teacher and got better grades.

Like I said, I don't know how she keeps her job. Maybe I'm biased, but eh.

 

[Dormouse]

I wish I had done more basic number crunching when I was young, my mental math sucks now...

Repetition in some cases is useful. Especially for the most basic of concepts. Speed is great, and you'll find your own tricks. The whole process will be smoothed out, and you'll be able to work through any issues you have.

Not every concept requires that much commitment, but I do find the drudgery of homework improves my memory of subjects. And there's really no point losing marks over it, unless you don't have the time because of working on other assignments or whatever.

 

[dbtng_thomas]

are you telling me that low level stuff requires the same thing?

No, but I would like to raise the possibility that practicing the low level stuff may lead to a more ingrained understanding that builds the foundation necessary to effectively wield the more advanced concepts, which also require their own practice. It's the difference between knowing and doing.

Proving that you know the subject matter of high school algebra year after year doesn't remotely cut it when you get to College Algebra and the teacher blithley assumes that you are actually good at all those things you did in your previous classes, as he brutally ramps you up to study calculus.

Another example would be writing papers. I hated writing papers before I entered college. At this point, I can crank out a paper on any topic in a matter of a few hours. That ability was hard won, and it's been a valuable asset since I acquired it. How else would I have gained this ability, were it not for the requirements of my teachers? I certainly would not have done so on my own.

 

[Darby]

I dont value the ability to "know" or "do" the work assigned, I value the ability to understand what it means, if you understand basic concepts then the later ones will be easier, tha doesn't mean that being able to know and do the things aren't important, not at all, but I think practicing something you just don't understand is a waste of time, you need to find another way to figure it out. That's my personal opinion on the matter, and if you don't agree, I honestly don't care, because your way is probably working better than mine, but it doesn't change how I feel about it

 

[Firehazard159]

dt, it kind of feels like you ignored the rest of my post and singled out that point -_- I'm guessing you probably didn't... but, it is annoying me nonetheless :P

I think you're associating 'understanding' with 'speed of processing' more or less here, as both your points seem less based on understanding it (as, there really isn't different levels of understanding, there's 'get it' and 'don't get it') but the speed of someones ability through grinding it. Much like practicing a martial art enhances your precision, practicing math enhances your speed of processing the number crunches.

Again, I don't disagree with you. I disagree with the structure of how homework is implemented by certain teachers. I disagree with the fact that it's often intended for "home."

Z.z

And, the subject here has been more implemented with high school rather than college. Public schooling is pretty mandatory, and a highly frustrating system, where as college is 'optional.' (Granted, to an extent, it's nearly mandatory these days.) But, the subject matter is more optional, and generally people pick what they are interested in pursuing, which is more incentive to actually pursue the subject with more intensity, that or switch majors.

I dont value the ability to "know" or "do" the work assigned, I value the ability to understand what it means, if you understand basic concepts then the later ones will be easier, tha doesn't mean that being able to know and do the things aren't important, not at all, but I think practicing something you just don't understand is a waste of time, you need to find another way to figure it out.

Along the same line of thought. Understanding and Doing are different things. I can go through the motions of something without understanding it, and, while going through the motions a ton of times could spark an intuitive leap of understanding, it also might simply ingrain bad habits as well.

 

[dbtng_thomas]

@Fire - Sorry, man. Didn't mean to be rude. I was replying to your question, and guilty as charged, I ignored the rest of your post. Yes, public school sucks nads, completely and utterly, with no excuses. Quit, get the GED, and get on with your life. My high school diploma never did me any good at all. Ever.

No, I'm not really talking about understanding or speed of execution, however those things are indeed foundational for what comes after, which is the genesis of new abilities. I hesitate to apply metaphors here, because I feel that the subject deserves explicit description, but it's probably easier to get my point when you consider a discipline that requires spiritual commitment like Tai Chi or Chi Gong. You are building new parts of your own mind.

I must agree with you that it is entirely possible to drown in rote detail and never really learn anything. That situation is not unique to school. There's naught to do but be one of those people that learns the lesson and gets the wonderful spark.

 

[Firehazard159]

<3 It's ok, happens to all of us every now and then :P

I'm out of high school a few years now, but not so far gone. Still, my diploma hasn't done me any favors, that's for sure :P

I think it is possible to find a better teacher, or to keep asking 'why' you do something, if you have the opportunity. I worked for a landscaping company, and whenever the practices we applied weren't self evident, I would ask my fore(wo)man why we were doing it, and she was always happy to explain the reasoning process behind why we did things certain ways and not others. Which, sometimes led to me pondering other ways of doing things and sometimes bringing those up. It was a pretty great place to work, due to that kind of atmosphere. I respected my higher ups competence and experience, but they respected my innovation and musings, even if they didn't always help, though sometimes it did.

Life should always be about learning... That's been my motto in every job I've taken, if it has nothing to offer me in advancing my understanding of the world, I don't want to pursue it. That said, there tends to be a gem of knowledge somewhere in each occupation, from the burger-flipper to a research scientist :P If you know the right places to look!

Hrm. I'm really going off on side-tangents now.

I do think I get what you're saying with the metaphor, but I think it's more applied to when you're willingly pursuing something like a college degree (vs public education). Practicing Tai Chi when you want to learn how to be a carpenter or physicist, probably isn't going to get you there. (though, that's not to say there isn't valuable lessons within Tai Chi that could potentially aid your pursuit... blargh, you get what I'm saying, I hope!)

I guess for me, and maybe this is childish immaturity leaking through, but I have had a tendency in the past to not be open to willingly learn something when it's forced on me. My dad always tried to force an interest in his favorite things, and, I understand he only wanted to build a closer connection to me, especially as I grew more distant into a world of computers and technology that he couldn't understand (he's a huge nature-nut, wants as little to do with 'high tech' stuff as possible). And so I closed myself off to a lot of his teachings, but now that I'm older, I wish I'd of listened, and want to learn more from him now. (Which, makes him pretty happy I'm certain ^_^). I only hope we've got enough time together to pursue such endeavors, but ach, that's another tangent entirely!

Eeeeh, I feel like I'm just rambling now, and forgot where I was going. *clicks post*

 

[ashitaria]

INtuition won't get you to the end of the road forever. The work involved in treading the ground imparts new abilities. You wind up in a different place than if you had just skipped to the end. Sooner or later, you have to apply some effort, and in return you become a slightly different person. You have to experience this transformation to realize its worth.

What if I don't want to become a slightly different person? What if I'm already satisfied with the worth I have now? In the end, effort really means nothing if the results are nothing. And the end will always be the same, no? So how can we end up in a different place if we focus on the details to get the big picture? And working up gives you the same abilities as working down. You both tie up the loose ends, you both understand the procedures to an answer, etc.

 

[dbtng_thomas]

@Fire - Lol.

@ash - No, I don't think the end point we wind up at is always the same. The place you get to is slightly different depending on the ground you covered in getting there. The difference may not be so much in the place you've arrived at, but may be in the observer instead.

There's real value in the iNtuitive side of an INTP. It saves time and creates sudden synthesis of previously unrelated factors. I'm built like that too, and I like it. Still, I've had to do a lot of things in my life that I did not want to do, and many of them transformed me in one way or another, leading to a more capable person in the end. Homework is one of the things on that list.

 

[ashitaria]

@Fire - Lol.

@ash - No, I don't think the end point we wind up at is always the same. The place you get to is slightly different depending on the ground you covered in getting there. The difference may not be so much in the place you've arrived at, but may be in the observer instead.

There's real value in the iNtuitive side of an INTP. It saves time and creates sudden synthesis of previously unrelated factors. I'm built like that too, and I like it. Still, I've had to do a lot of things in my life that I did not want to do, and many of them transformed me in one way or another, leading to a more capable person in the end. Homework is one of the things on that list.

What about in Math? Answers in math are always fixed no matter what problem-solving skills you use. For logic puzzles, sure. The answer can vary depending on the way you think or the ground you cover. But with Math?

 

[dbtng_thomas]

... or something else altogether?

Should high schools offer two tracks, one for the folks who enjoy being there and want to get their diploma, and another for folks who are simply studying to achieve the GED?

I stuck out the whole high school skullfuck and walked in the graduation ceremony. I was proud of the accomplishment, but now I just consider it wasted time. I could have passed the GED in my freshman year. I could have spent those three years going to college. Instead I got high, argued with my teachers every day, learned wonderful things from my friends, and generally got in trouble. I acted like someone in prison.

What if the system wasn't rigged to keep you in, but was instead set up to push you in the most positive and productive direction available to you? Damn, I wish they had positioned the GED as something other than the failure option. It's the fast track, and had I seen it that way, I would have taken it.

 

[Geminii]

I hated homework and generally never did it, but I can see the value of it in that it's a way to get students who don't intuitively grasp a topic to learn how to research and/or grind (and/or tap their friends for answers, I suppose).

Where it often falls down is that teachers themselves aren't taught the WHY of homework, and can end up assigning it because "that's what teachers do". Then there are people like FireHazard's later maths teacher, upthread, who make it part of the lesson and allow those who have the ability to complete it faster to do so.

Done the wrong way, it's a cage, and it's not surprising that a lot of brighter kids simply don't do it. Done the right way, it's liberating, and an easy additional mark/grade with very little effort for those who have the knowledge and/or skill.

 

[ashitaria]

I hated homework and generally never did it, but I can see the value of it in that it's a way to get students who don't intuitively grasp a topic to learn how to research and/or grind (and/or tap their friends for answers, I suppose).

Where it often falls down is that teachers themselves aren't taught the WHY of homework, and can end up assigning it because "that's what teachers do". Then there are people like FireHazard's later maths teacher, upthread, who make it part of the lesson and allow those who have the ability to complete it faster to do so.

Done the wrong way, it's a cage, and it's not surprising that a lot of brighter kids simply don't do it. Done the right way, it's liberating, and an easy additional mark/grade with very little effort for those who have the knowledge and/or skill.

I don't think that your wording is completely accurate because not all 'bright' kids don't do it, drop-outs and rebels don't do it either, and most 'bright' kids do their homework (or at least copy) because their usually 'bright' enough to know how homework affects their grade.

But I sometimes forget to do my homework....

 

[jeremusic2]

What can be truly frustrating and unmotivating is when this system can't acknowledge the intp's actual ridiculously, ridiculously large work ethic. People who are content with the system recognize the 1 to 1 - ness of the work they put in to the grade they receive, some require a larger '1' (haha), but you get the idea.

But where the hell is the credit for all of the philosophical bunny trails and connections to other material and personal experiences? The actual commitment to understanding that doesn't just boil down to some skill a computer can do better*? Judging by the way people talk, even some people who are the craziest about getting the grade at all cost, couldn't give a flying fuck. So I take it education as it stands in this SJ world is to jump through hoops and act like you know what you are doing?

Certainly to an extent this grade does reflect you know what you're doing (in so far an explicit and objective system can inherently describe a subjective understanding at all) but to what end? For most people it's just so they feel more prepared for some job prospect in the future. Way more time is spent preparing people for their jobs than could be spent to train someone on the job itself. even less time depending on the person's general (not 'educational' as it stands) understanding.

It's a question of learning about how to swim by analyzing a bucket of water, or just jumping in. So why this wasted time you ask? Social stratification. It is argued civilization is a construct designed by smart people to be stronger than what nature would deem as 'the fittest'. Something analogous has happened with education in the SJ world. Either beat them or join them.


*the brain is still remarkably computer like, so I don't mean it to be an excuse to not hone these abilities, but just to acknowledge where a persons priorities should be.