Why do we go to school? Why not instead of going to school, go straight to a big job and learn as we go?

Question

It would save us a lot of years of our lives, you know.

Answer 1

Homeschool.

Homeschooling doesn't waste as much time as the public school does and you can graduate at 15/16.

Answer 2

I think the great advantage that Americans have in the education system is if you don't feel like going to college right after high school, you can work for a couple of years and then come back to school through the bridge of community college (and then transfer to a descent college or university). So if this is what you feel like, then go ahead and explore the world, but remember, even though college degree is just a piece of paper, it will get you a better position, more opportunities, and higher salary (comparing with high school grads). By the way, I don't think many people have the opportunity to go straight to a big job after high school unless you're truely very lucky.

Answer 3

It would save a lot of years but ultimately ruin your life! Very few people know what they want to do for a career early in their lives (and some people have gone to school, been working for years, and still can't figure out what they want to be when they grow up), so these years give you the time and varied experiences to let you discover your likes, dislikes, skills, talents, and weaknesses, all of which are important in your selection of a career. Also, life isn't just about your job, and jumping right into work wouldn't teach you everything you should know to get through life (even if some of us do flunk home ec). Also, adolescence and young adulthood can be very turbulent emotionally, and I would hate to see the mix of that and job responsibilities! Finally, there are no proms at work!

Answer 4

Going to school, whether or not you remember every little thing you have learned, expands your mind and teaches you to think. Going straight to a job, you would not have this mental capacity stretched out for you ahead of time and, if you quit and want a new job, you will not know how to do anything else other than what you were told to do at the first job. A well-rounded education is a good thing to have.

Answer 5

You really are an angsty teenager asking this question.

Anyway, heres an answer. The stuff you learn in elementary, middle and high school are all basic knowledge you should know as you get into adulthood. If you go directly into a big job, and have to travel to Europe for some reason, would you be able to calculate the exchange rate for your money without knowing how to do math? Could an architect build a safe and stable building able to withstand an earthquake or a flood without an education. For that matter, would we have any doctors, computer techs, or any other profession which requires years of studying? I know your probably tired of going to high school and just wants to get out of it, but living life in the real world on your own is very difficult without proper preparation. Rent, Health Insurance, Car Payments, Insurance, Utilities are all very expensive and if you arent careful, you can slowly lose it all.

Answer 6

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want a doctor "learning as he goes" while doing surgery on me...or a lawyer doing the same as he was defending me. It's a way to make sure that you have at least covered all the material that is standard for the job you're going to do. If someone was just supposed to show you while you went, when a situation arose that you'd never been trained for...you'd fail because you wouldn't have been trained in alternate situations and problem solving. Which is what all that "meaningless" homework is for.

Answer 7

There is a crucial reason for this. Unlike many other countries, the United States is very focused on degrees, licenses and credentials. While some may strike it lucky and rich without this (and these stories are passed around all of the time), the typical route to success often involves obtaining degrees, licenses and other education-based credentials. These may not define one's ultimate career path, but they often are what paves the way in the initial and middle stages. Yeah - it's called jumping thru hoops - and is ultimately meaningless, but sometimes one plays the game (initially) to get ahead.

Been there - doing that.

.

Answer 8

life`s a biotch you know ? you can`t work without a diploma , funny thing is that i have 2 and still dont manage to find a job...lost 12 years of my life with high-school,now i`ll loose 3 more with the university with fingers crossed that i`ll find a job after i`ll finish

Answer 9

Nice thought, but if I were an employer, I would not want to pay you a salary AND have to teach you how to perform your job.

Answer 10

Schools also teach social skills, although there they fail as in all parts of education.