Rather pointless?

Daenerys

Daenerys

The Last Dragon
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Why is it that in most subjects teach you rather...pointless abstract things that you'll never need to use again unless you want to be a teacher of the same subject?

Take maths as an example, Circle theorems what. the. fuck. Is the the point in them? In my future life will i ever need to know what the angles in a shape inside a circle add up to? No.

Example from my maths class -

Kid "Miss, will we ever need this in real life?"
Miss "Its needed for your exams"
Kid "But...what about after exams"
Miss "....no, i didn't even do them at college or universaty"
Kid "so why do we need to learn them?"
Miss "........shut up and work"

It's just...incredibly retarded that we have to learn things that we'll never need to use again, i'll think of more examples later..
 
Exactly. I don't need to know how to work out the equation of a line in terms of x and y when all I have is its normal and one point.
I'll likely never need to analyse an advert semiotically.
I most certainly will never need to know the chemical formula for Hydrocarbons, so why teach all that? I'd rather learn about stuff like loans, mortgages and stuff that I will need to know in five years time. =/
 
I do agree with you that we are not gonna use them in real life, and I'm gonna say that your teacher is incredibly stupid, we don't learn all that stuff so we can use it in real life, it's to practice concentration and develop our mind, basically get you to use it, that's the answer your teacher should have given you, I'm pretty sure she would have gotten a better response.
 
Heh, this reminds me of the time when I was sitting during my Pre-Cal class and ranting to myself silently. "WTF I don't get this crap!"

Basically, I had the same thoughts as you. And then one kid voiced out my thoughts, to which the teacher curtly replied, "If you have that kind of attitude, then you shouldn't be in this class."

So we never complained afterwards, although that didn't stop me from crying and cursing at my homework. Lol yes, I actually cried a few times because I couldn't solve a freakin' problem. Shame on me...NO, shame on the ones who invented that stupid problem!

But yes, pretty damn useless if you ask me. I know that the basics are required in your everyday life, but not something complex like Calculus or Trig...because then everything is a whole mess of jumbled formulas that we definitely would not use...unless you choose to further exert your knowledge to its proper field.
 
I hate learning something that you know that you won't be applying it to anything in life, or anything that you plan to do in the future. I know for subjects like math it's great for learning how to solve problems, but if you generally struggle with math or if you just dislike it and have no interest, it's really useless because the chances that you are going to actually learn it and remember it are pretty slim.
 
I actually think that high school (in America) lasts too many years. Classes like trigonometry and advanced sciences...British literature...these are like the specifics of the broader topics. I think it should actually stop at classes like Algebra I. There's no need for Algebra II and III. Wtf.
These are things you learn when you want to further your studies in that particular area.

And Spanish should be a required class; not gym.

Kids don't do good in school when they don't want to do good. I think it's bullcrap when someone says "I don't get it". That's just another way of saying "I don't want to learn it". But...I wouldn't exactly be enthusiastic about being in classes like trigonometry either. =\
 
Mitsuki said:
Heh, this reminds me of the time when I was sitting during my Pre-Cal class and ranting to myself silently. "WTF I don't get this crap!"
So we never complained afterwards, although that didn't stop me from crying and cursing at my homework. Lol yes, I actually cried a few times because I couldn't solve a freakin' problem. Shame on me...NO, shame on the ones who invented that stupid problem!

But yes, pretty damn useless if you ask me. I know that the basics are required in your everyday life, but not something complex like Calculus or Trig...because then everything is a whole mess of jumbled formulas that we definitely would not use...unless you choose to further exert your knowledge to its proper field.
Click to expand...

One of the worst parts of me wanting to become an architect or engineer. -.- I have to learn more about geometry and functions, the area underneath a curve, that kind of stuff.

I've often caught myself crying in frustration many nights lol. Sometimes my teacher doesn't explain everything well and so I'm stuck during the night trying to figure out the cryptic code that is math. Stupid.
 
Rhea said:
Kids don't do good in school when they don't want to do good. I think it's bullcrap when someone says "I don't get it". That's just another way of saying "I don't want to learn it". But...I wouldn't exactly be enthusiastic about being in classes like trigonometry either. =\
Click to expand...

Oh yes, it's true that kids eventually won't do good in school or a particular subject if their mind-set is absolutely negative. It's all about willingness to accomplish something and actually do good in school...not because you have to, but because you want to.

However, it's hard to keep that mind-set sometimes. =/ I had the mind-set that I wanna learn and do good in school, no matter what...but there's just days when something new comes up and you find that you're not good at that particular area.

You can do so well in learning new things, but suddenly one day, you're stuck and you'll think, "Okay, what the hell is this...?" Now, that's when the matter of seeking for help, trying to solve the problem, OR skipping the problem comes to play. So I really don't think that when someone says "I don't get it" means they don't want to learn anymore. =/ It all comes down to choices. Dedication taps you on your shoulder and you either do something about it or dismiss it.

Lol I believe I can say so for myself because I really cried my heart out when I didn't understand a problem. That clearly means that I was still motivated to solve the problem (even though I was cursing and angry) because I do care about my grades...
 
It seems pointless at the time we learn them, but for the career outlook that's happening at present day, we might need them. Therefore, the school curriculum prepares us for it. Circle theorems? I'm honestly guessing, but maybe an astronomer might need to learn those, and quite intensively when measuring a parallex, actually. I remember there were plenty of friends who had once imagined working with NASA. Linear Algebra... I have a classmate who does software graphics and programming, and he uses that quite often. What he learns in that math class, is actually helping him understand the material for his software courses.

Even if you're somebody who's not looking toward such a specific and hard-working field as these, it is still beneficial for you to study these things. Sure, it's boring, and probably stressing you out at some points, but Isaac Newton invented Calculus for a reason. No doubt, his findings have caused me more trouble than I would have ever wanted, I'm glad I learned it. Because now I can say, "I can do more than just count to 10."
 
It may be useless for careers and whatnot, but it broadens your general knowledge, so if the topic were to arise in oh say, a discussion or someone needed help, rather than standing in the corner in silence you could in fact step in and say this and that. Although I agree its a waste of valuable learning time studying stuff that you only ever need for your exam as opposed to lifetime-compatible things.

The great thing about England is you can drop a load of useless subjects at age 14.
 
I think that its wrong to say such things about school. Even though I'm someone who says that its pointless to know a bunch of information that you will never use. Up to a curtain age, people should learn a little bit of everything because I doubt that every student knows what they want to do and how to do it while in school or right after getting out of school.

It wouldn't be very good either if math classes stopped at Algebra 1 because I need need to know high levels of math for my major (computer science). I don't find math to be particularly interesting but it goes along with computer science. This can be true for a number of people depending on what they want to become.

I'm guessing what you meant though was that if you are not planning on pursuing a career that requires math, then there is no need to take the more difficult classes (like trig and calculus). But the things is that you may end up changing your mind about what you want to become very easily. And it would be bad if you needed to know something like high level to pursue it. My dad told me that he wanted to go to college and become a civil engineer (design bridges and stuff like that) but couldn't because he needed better math skills and he didn't take the higher level math courses while in high school. Of course this point can be made with subjects other than math, like science, social studies, and english.

Another example would be at my university, the most popular major among the students is undeclared, which means that they don't know what they want to major in yet, so it is better to have a deep background in a little bit of everything. My point is that it is better to have more knowledge than useful than to have very little of it. Plus, its not part of the education system to try and teach its students the bare minimum.
 
That's true, rikku.thief...however, I would be very disappointed when two years later pass by and cannot remember a single thing I've learned about theorems and such. I would then think, "Meh, so much for being proud of myself for learning those back in school."

Because really, therein lies the problem - remembering it. I mean, if you're heading in that direction career-wise, then sure you'd remember most of them, and that's great. But if you're not heading in that area, you'll eventually forget most of the things you've learned sooner than later.

Like I said, basic math is required, yes. It's all around us - we cannot escape it. xD But things like...theorems...er no. However, it's still cool learning them as it provides a challenge to those who wants to be challenged. I just find it a nuisance more than anything, really.
 
Yeah, remembering the actual material would be a tricky part. But the fact that you have learned them before, means you can still be able to pick it up and apply it to whatever deems it necessary in the actual applications. And I agree with Addleboy. It is definitely beneficial to know a little stuff over a broad range of topics if you are unsure of which direction would be best for you.
 
Hrmmm, I agree that some Math is useless. I forgot the math I learn in High school, I don't remember what Math subjects I learned. My junior year of High school math is when I learned Trigonometry. Trigonometry seems useless to me. :/

Some Science is rather useless. Biology, Physics, and some Earth science are very important in my opinion. Earth Science...some subjects of Earth science is important such as weather, environment, plate tectonics, but rocks? Sure diamonds, gold, fossils are cool but I could careless about sedimentary rocks or metamorphic rocks. Sure, if you want to be a geologist that will be useful. As for chemistry....Well I'm not planing on being a chemist or work for a power plant.
 
Okay, first of all...things you need to survive in the real world:
Math, English (in English speaking countries), and History.

Math is something that everyone just needs to know. Like I said, you don't need to know trigonometry or any advanced forms of Math and whatnot to survive in the world. But...unless you want to suck at life, not know how to manage your money in the long run, or stop and add numbers on your fingers in line while you're shopping at the mall...math is really something that you need to have a general knowledge of.

English. In English speaking countries, people need to learn to speak English; not Engrish, Inwish, or Engwees. This isn't just about foreigners coming into the country either. If you don't know how to read and write, you're virtually screwed for the rest of your social life (unless you live in Bumfuk Egypt). How you speak, and compose your thoughts into words makes a big difference in the corporate world.

History. History isn't all about learning how Columbus came to America, or how the Cold War ended. History broadens your horizons and provides valuable insight on common sense.
George Washington chopped down a cherry tree and his father forgave him for telling the truth.
Okay, so...some of the things that you learn in History are totally bogus, but they do teach common sense and morals.
 
That's true. I especially agree with the English part. I mean, geez, I'm foreign, come from a different country, spoke something other than English as my first language, and still I have better grammar and vocabulary skills than about 95 percent of my classmates. Face it, just because one lives in a country that has English as a main language, doesn't mean it's a good idea to just blow off the subject entirely. Other countries are pretty good at identifying that. It's also NOT about how flashy you can make your language sound - it's what it means that's important.

Also, I think that advanced math doesn't deserve that much credit. Sure the basics up to Algebra I are needed in life, as Rhea so incredibly pointed out, but there are some advanced mathematics out there that are really needed, again, quoting from the above post, meeting out finances, and other business-like activities.
 
In many ways, the benefit of learning about such concepts is not the actual concept, but rather the process. It teaches you to think abstractly and how to solve problems, challenging you to work out complicated logic, etc.

It's like running in place - it seems like you're not getting anywhere with it, but the value is in building strength and endurance - only with school, it's a matter of mental strength rather than physical.
 
ahem, two things:
identities of sin and cosine relations
rational exponents

when on earth, will we need to work with multiples of sine, cosine, cosecant and others squared and in barackets with a nice little negative sign between them?

and please, tell me if you will ever have a number with the exponent of 3/5 ?

sigh, I too remember some nights that were frustrating as hell and the teacher never checks the homework anyway.
Its not that I don't like this weird math, I just hate 2 hours of math work per night added to the rest of my subjects...
 
Dagolu said:
ahem, two things:
identities of sin and cosine relations
rational exponents

when on earth, will we need to work with multiples of sine, cosine, cosecant and others squared and in barackets with a nice little negative sign between them?

and please, tell me if you will ever have a number with the exponent of 3/5 ?

sigh, I too remember some nights that were frustrating as hell and the teacher never checks the homework anyway.
Its not that I don't like this weird math, I just hate 2 hours of math work per night added to the rest of my subjects...
Click to expand...

Wow, 2 hours? That's a little ridiculous. My Calc teacher only gave at most 45 min worth of work per night and more than half the class still got 5s. 2 hours is just overkill and can potentially burn people out before they get into the heavy stuff in college.
 
Completely Agreed, I mean, sure some subjects are handy, to a point (It is my belief that Physics is basically math, with a purpose)
Biology is useful for medical jobs
etc
But when you're learning Rational Functions, including functions including sine and cosine in them, why not just learn them in university or something? Or at least have them as part of a course that you can actually choose to do.

Sure, there's the whole, the more you do this math, the faster you'll be at doing math in everyday life like buying stuff at the supermarket, or perhaps, the more you learn about this, the faster you can do it elsewhere etc.

But if that was the idea, they might as well just give us Brain Age and have us train our minds that way.

Actually, I should probably suggest that, maybe we'll do something at least remotely fun
 
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