School?

[rioda90]

Just thinking... Is there anyone who's still going to school to learn something or is everyone too sucked into the whole grading and test process? Today I think my school reached its lower point when my math teacher suggested doing an my extended essay in one of the "easy subjects" such that I could get a good mark.

 

[gruesomebrat]

It does seem that way, doesn't it? I know, personally, I'm past the point where the high school curriculum actually teaches anything important, and so the remaining year of my high school experience is going to be primarily based on getting good grades for university. As much as I hate that people are like that, I don't see that I have a lot of choice. I'm looking to go into self-employment, and in order to get anyone to seriously consider investing, I have to have my diploma for some reason. Beyond that, I don't see why I'm still in school, when I've got a good business idea that could be making me a decent living...

 

[EditorOne]

Refocus. School should be teaching you how to learn. It's the key concept, especially for you younger folks who face lives in which you might have to learn ten or more jobs, not necessarily based on each other, in your working lives. Examine each course you're taking to see if any of it really is developing mental muscles for learning, like algebra for thinking logically, a foreign language so your brain learns to assimilate new ways of thinking and speaking, literature to learn how to analyze and perhaps categorize the products of minds that function differently from yours. Etc.

Just tossing out a thought. I vividly remember high school as unpleasant, frustrating and a lot of hard work, so you have my sympathy. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.

 

[CoryJames]

I found highschool easy. I find college to be pretty easy too. And I learned things at both. It is about approaching it with the correct mindset.

 

[The Gopher]

I just finished suckers na actually I am kinda disappointed with leaving....... it's so anti-climax.

 

[shoeless]

my senior year in high school, all i can truly reflect on the past twelve years of school is all the meat grinding i've been forced to do. i don't mean the fun kind of meat grinding either.

the american school system is fundamentally fucked-up; teachers generally aren't paid enough to care, parents only want their kids to "succeed" so they can get into a good university and be a doctor or a lawyer or some other money-making profession, and the ultimate goal of it all is to get a good grade. there is no learning in the process.

of course, i have met a few exceptions to the rule, taken a few classes that have actually taught me something and that i actually appreciate, but the majority of my experience with school has been less than inspiring. perfectly intelligent individuals who don't have the "work ethic" to complete all the brain-dead assignments may not pass, while perfect idiots can get away with anything as long as someone does their homework for them. it's ridiculous.

i actually aspire to become an english teacher for many of these reasons; i want to counter-act the stupidity of the current system and hopefully inspire other people to suck less, while also teaching my students information that is both interesting and relevant (to life). maybe i'm just idealistic, but i don't care. the american education system seriously needs a change. it's time to forget the fucking status quo and actually teach people something that matters.

 

[CoryJames]

I do believe we have a revolutionary on our hands, and a zealot at that. It is making me feel all warm and tingly inside.

 

[JoeJoe]

shoeless, do I understand correctly, that you are on an american high school in your last year in Germany?

 

[gruesomebrat]

Of course, JoeJoe. Don't you know that the American school system is so fundamentally fucked up that it has spread past it's boundaries and into three quarters of the world's countries outside the States?

 

[JoeJoe]

Well, was stalking shoeless on the photo thread earlier and found out, that she's on the high school on the military base where her father is stationed...

Because she once mentioned, that she's not so good at German, I assumed she was already older and in some other kind of education.

But yeah, last year for me as well! Even though the German school system is quite shitty as well it seems to be a lot better than the American one. I mainly still go to school to get my university qualification. I guess I could do a lot better if I put some effort into learning at home but I'm just too lazy. I also have the impression, that the German teachers are doing a better job in terms of methodology and such. Most lessons are varied and/or at least moderately interesting. At least interesting enough to keep my attention.

It's also too challenging to get good grades without paying attention in classes. Apart from that, how well you participate in the lessons is either 50% or 100% of the end grade you get.

Also, almost everything we do in school is new for me.

 

[snafupants]

Graduate school is reasonably satisfying for me. The grating, not-very-bright question asker has been weeded out at this juncture and you are around people who are smart and interested in making a career of the same thing as you. Also, there are few classes which seem like a drag (e.g. anthropology) and fewer which are not germane to your career.

 

[gruesomebrat]

Yeah, but here's the rub: in order to get to graduate school (which sounds like heaven, BTW), you have to suffer through high school (read "hell on earth")

JoeJoe, I find it depends on the course. There are some classes that it's possible to sleep through, and still pull in a good mark. I know my accounting is like that... I have done very little work in class itself, and I'm pulling a 92 at midterm. Because it's the class that's most interesting to me, I have no problem focusing on it at home to get my work in. My other classes... not so much; I'm working my ass off in one and coasting in the other and pulling 70% in each.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

After a year of university, I can safely say that things don't really get any better, and taking classes for the purpose of learning is not a great idea (for me, anyway). Self-teaching what you're interested in, and taking the courses that you can get good grades in with minimal effort (or a comparably low effort, e.g. if you can ace what are usually considered very hard courses with only an average amount of work) seems to be the way to go.

 

[Bird]

Perhaps your math teacher just
feels bad for you and doesn't
want to fail you.

"Grades" are a representation
of the knowledge learned.
I don't understand the big deal.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Perhaps your math teacher just
feels bad for you and doesn't
want to fail you.

"Grades" are a representation
of the knowledge learned.
I don't understand the big deal.

Can't tell if serious.

 

[Bird]

It has been my experience that if
you don't actually learn the material,
you won't pass the class.

But then I've learned not everyone
takes open-ended question exams.
That most schools, especially public
schools, are reliant on multiple choice.
Not being asked a specific question
and then you provide the answer, not
choose one.


I think this is why math is so detested,
because you actually have to know
and understand and learn in order to
properly solve equations. Math exams
are very rarely ever multiple choice
no matter the privacy of your school
or not.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I think this is why math is so detested,
because you actually have to know
and understand and learn in order to
properly solve equations. Math exams
are very rarely ever multiple choice
no matter the privacy of your school
or not.

In addition to the above, people that just learn the basic mathematical procedures get really screwed over in portions of assessment that require actual problem solving.

Schools don't teach students how to problem solve or correctly apply logic. Teaching such things would be difficult.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

@Bird

Okay I see where you are coming from. You're right to some degree, but then there are also the kids who get by on copying, extra credit, and concept memorization(without understanding; although the ethics are debateable). Schools should really up the ante and rely more on authenticity in school work(save for math, maybe).

 

[Bird]

I think all exams should just be open
ended questions. I honestly think this
little bit would be enough to help.

And with no study guides. What the fuck
is a study guide? You shouldn't have to
study, you should just know.

 

[Jesse]

I loved multiple choice. Mostly because I made a game out of finding the right answers out through looking the answers not the question. They always have one ridiculous answer, 2 similar ones and one that could be the right answer if you read the question wrong.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I think all exams should just be open
ended questions. I honestly think this
little bit would be enough to help.

And with no study guides. What the fuck
is a study guide? You shouldn't have to
study, you should just know.

In the last two years of high school I studied 7 subjects: advanced calculus, linear algebra, physics, chemistry, civil and mechanical engineering, biology and normal english. I think the only subject in this list that could have open ended exams is english. All of the other subjects outlined require structure in order to build on the concepts previously taught. Though, I never given a study guide.

I loved multiple choice. Mostly because I made a game out of finding the right answers out through looking the answers not the question. They always have one ridiculous answer, 2 similar ones and one that could be the right answer if you read the question wrong.

Wait until you get to university. They test you on your precise knowledge of linguistics rather than engineering.

 

[Bird]

You can make open-ended questions
about almost any subject. As long as
you don't provide a set of answers, it's
open-ended.

 

[Meer]

It does irk me when there's a multiple choice question on an exam and the only true answer would be 'It depends'. Then I have to try to imagine which answer is being sought after and narrow the scope of my thoughts.

I have come across relatively open-ended questions that seemed to be written with a specific answer in mind. I like to answer with something that wasn't covered in any lectures, but is true regardless, to see if I can get away with it.

 

[CoryJames]

You guys should look up the Ted Talk on "Self-Teaching". It is pretty interesting.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

It is not as if you learn anything at school, from the lessons or from some study guide if you wish to achieve high grades. Higher achievers such as myself and others that I know all have engaged in self learning in order to to truly comprehend the work. Though, I do know of other who simple learn to pass exams such as the person in my degree who has a gpa 100%. The person is not particularly great at problem solving or self-learning.

 

[Fghw]

Most of my classes are about how to communicate information to unintelligent people with a lot of patience.

1. Chemistry- actually not all that bad, my favorite class by far.
2. History- how to write the most detailed essay.
3. Statistics- how to repeatedly write out the most unnecessary parts of the process of statistics while solving everything on a calculator.
4. Spanish- how to teach spanish to a rock.
5. Mathematics- how to factor x^2+6x+9 until it hurts.
6. English- how to know things even the queen didn't know about her own english.