Why do our shcools teach things that will never be used in the "real" world?

Question

A lot of garbage is being taught to kids that will never be used when they get older and have a job..... once it's taught it's never used and forgotten about.... think back to school and you should be able to think of many things you were taught and don't use anymore.... How can we change our education system to be more productive?? Like maybe finding out what their desires are at a young age and educating them in that direction........ also, a lot of kids don't even know how to balance a check book when they graduate.

Answer 1

They are fulfilling the stated function of mandatory state education. 120 years ago or so, the people that put forward this notion felt that school should condition the army of workers that our industrial system requires. They felt the benefits of a liberal education should be reserved for small number. But the object was to create a society where people went where they where told, did what they were ordered without question, and looked to authorities to solve problems.
That's unnatural. Hence a 12 year prison sentence at an early age is required to instill that in people. Actually teaching the child is a byproduct, it's something that might be nice as long as doesn't interfere with the other goals.
If you look at the result, students that graduate without marketable skills and wind up in debt fast, you see that this is in keeping with the designers of the school system at the dawn of the industrial age.

Answer 2

Unfortunately teachers cannot simply teach the facts that will be 'important' when the kids grow up, because all that stuff changes... it would be like only buying the stocks that are going to make money not lose money. And the check book is a good example, I haven't balanced my check book in ten years, I don't even have a balance book anymore, I don't need to, life has changed.

Good teaching, and of course good teaching is just as hard as a good doctor or a good cook, is about training the mind. They may use a set of facts that may have safe, but low level of value, but they train you in how to use those facts... they train you how to use good logic. Learning isn't just a 12 year process, it's a life time work, it goes far beyond college even. But a good teacher, even if they taught pig branding (I had to take that in my high school)- teaches you how to aquire knowledge and use it for the ends you want to achive.

Answer 3

"Those who can do - those who can't teach!"

I agree that too much garbage is taught in schools. It's basically daycare for kids, teens, and young adults.

Beyond the skills of reading and writing and learning how to use a calculator / computer, what else does one really need to know to get oneself started out in real life?

Most teachers are in the education business primarily for their salaries, the holidays, and the perks and benefits of their jobs. The needs of the students are secondary.

Sure, you might find the odd educator who has ideals left, but that is rare!

Most students actually educate themselves IN SPITE of their teachers' interferences.

As has always been the case, the true campus and learning place for students is the "University of Life".

Answer 4

I won;t lie, I used to think the same way...

But anyways, it is really about exposing them to all areaas of learning and trying to get them to realize (maybe not realize, but start developing) their interests in education for later in life.

The more educated you are, the more you can carry on an intelligent conversation, and the more logically you will think.

Most schools are starting to require a personal finance class... which personally I think is a great idea.

But for example, I am a pre-med student. I have to take a bunh of B.S. classes that I will NEVER use in med school or for practical aplication of my career (or at least thats what every doctor and med student I have talked to tells me).

But I understand why. Med schools are looking to see that you can handle challenging classes and schedules, and making sure that you have the mental capacity to be educated. I know this may seem a little irrelevant to what you asked, but I think there is a little bit of a correlation.

It may be true that I will never in my life need to know when Columbus discovered America, or how America got it's name, but it gives me expusre to history and culture, and may press me towards some sort of cultural career. Most of us may not use the math that we leanred all the way through high school, but if math classes weren't required, the kids who end up desiring to be engineers would be out of luck. So our best chance is to teach them all math, because honestly, what 8th grader knows what they want to do for the rest of their life?

I think I have made my point.

Answer 5

I don't think so. Everything you learn comes in useful some time or the other. One thing helps us to learn other things. Remember most things you learn, if you never use it, will be forgotten. it's like a limb, if you don't use it, it withers and dies. Don't know if you watch this show, "Who wants to be a Millionaire," but some guy on it won several thousand dollars because of something he had learnt in school, which he thought he would never ever use. What he won, could serve him for probably 10 years at a regular job. Probably you might have an argument, if you wondered about the time spent on certain things. Learning different things gives us so many different options to branch out an do multi-tasking in future.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, as Oprah Winfrey has stated, the US school system was based on 50 years ago.

You might want to be proactive... visit the following website to make a difference or something.

http://www.gatesfoundation.com/UnitedStates/Education/

Answer 7

I guess, Danny, that schools offer a large range of education because there's a large range of intellect and predisposition.

Some kids are made for Math.
Some kids are made for English literature.
Some kids are made for History.
Some kids are made for Physical Education
Some kids are made for Science

Those "some kids" happen to be who will be looking after the planet (and us, btw) and if you can't give them a wholesome education, they we are a dictatorship and deserve their anarchy.

However, if you're talking about algebra.. I'm with ya :)

Answer 8

Like
not how to read
not how to add up
how to be impolite
how to think your better than others
how to avoid work
how to not help others

ie what they teach in schools now.
Get real ... education is a joke now compared to even 30 years ago.
And I'm a teacher by the way.

Answer 9

Because high school education is controlled by universities.

Answer 10

because our school system is controlled by government, and with government, there is no competition, and so they don't really have to try to teach or succeed.Anything done by government is almost always extremely inefficient and always done worse than could be done by the private sector.