All Things Educational

[TheGrey]

Irving's thread about the liberal arts degrees was really interesting- lots of viewpoints.

I'd like to expand on the topic, and I invite your opinion on all things educational.

Do you want a degree? What kind, and why? Do you like to attend classes, whether your career needs them or not? What's your favorite subject, and why? Do you continue studies on your own time? Do you have memories of a favorite teacher you'd like to share? Are you seeking a class on a particular subject?

What about those among us that are parents: tell us about the differences you notice among the subjects they are now teaching your children. Is there a subject yu feel they should still be teaching your children? Are the teachers still as you remember them in grade school, middle school, high school? Do you find yourself supplementing your child's education? Do we have any homeschoolers here? Tell us what that's like.

[Irving]

I always felt like the kids that cut classes were really the ones that should have been there, while the kids that didn't cut class could probably miss a few classes a week and still be fine.

[clodhopper]

0-12: Too much social science embedded in all classes, much with a left slant. Fortunately, my sons recognize most of it and have learned to regurgitate it back to the teach to make them happy. Need more focused civics to teach the kids how the country works.

12+: Too many people going to college for useless degrees that provide no career opportunity, only to later complain about all the debt they agreed to rack up. Not enough guidance from parents/counselors/whoever explaining to kids that college is an investment in the future and if the degree wont turn into a career to pay back the investment and better your future, pick a different major. Stop frikken encouraging kids to "pursue their dreams" or whatnot. Very very few people end up working in a job they love.... they are the exception, and usually are doing so at a low wage. Wanna get paid well? Pick a job you can tolerate and no one likes to do, then get really good at it. It is called "work", if it was fun to do everyday, it would have another name.

[Vic Tory]

Irving's thread about the liberal arts degrees was really interesting- lots of viewpoints.

I'll have to check that one out. But for this discussion....

I'd like to expand on the topic, and I invite your opinion on all things educational.

Do you want a degree? What kind, and why? Do you like to attend classes, whether your career needs them or not? What's your favorite subject, and why? Do you continue studies on your own time? Do you have memories of a favorite teacher you'd like to share? Are you seeking a class on a particular subject?

Good questions for kids considering college. Here are some more....

Do your interests and passions center on areas taught in Trade Schools versus colleges? Cooks, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, mechanics, etc. will ALWAYS be able to find gainful employment.

If you are unsure of "just going to college because your friends are," have you considered going straight into the workforce for a year or two? Make some money. Grow up. Learn more about your lasting interests and passions. THEN maybe you'll realize college is (or isn't) for you.... (Dennis Prager notes how young people who do this are MUCH better prepared for college. They've actually experienced "the real world" more than most of their professors. They are less gullible and less influenced by the Leftism rampant in American colleges.)

Peter Drucker says (paraphrasing) most people don't know what their strengths are. (He's right.) He also points out more people know their weaknesses better than their strengths -- but adds that most of the time those people are wrong about THOSE, too(!). [Gasp!]

Don't be alarmed. There are personality profiles which can help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Even the ubiquitous DiSC tools are more helpful than blind shooting to determine your next courses of action. (Don't bank on Myers-Briggs. That tool is the best marketed survey out there ... and it isn't valid. Sorry, but this is what I do for a living. Ask me why if you want to know more....) Prevue, QMQ, Assess, Caliper, ProfileXT, etc. are all good tools to help you figure out more about how you're wired.

What about those among us that are parents: tell us about the differences you notice among the subjects they are now teaching your children. Is there a subject yu feel they should still be teaching your children? Are the teachers still as you remember them in grade school, middle school, high school? Do you find yourself supplementing your child's education? Do we have any homeschoolers here? Tell us what that's like.

I am a grandparent -- and a high school coach. So I see this from two perspectives.

I'm astounded at how government school teachers are brainwashed that they are producing "critical thinkers," when they are not. But they truly believe they ARE.

Government education is actually indoctrination ... in Leftism. I coached in an [Get ready to "Ooh!" and "Aahhh!"] International Baccalaureate school for 13 years. What a Teachers Union stroke of genius marketing that labeling was! Those teachers and kids are told they are the best of the best. (They are not.)

These last 4 years I've coached at a Christian school. These kids are told to work their butts off and most of them do.

I'm headed into a full-blown rant, so I'd better stop. If you want to know more, ask.

[beast556]

I hated school from the get go, always failed because I would not do homework. Only subjects I found interesting were math and ww1&2 history. I only made it to 10th grade and dropped out and got a full time job. Went and got a ged when I was 18. I've had a job since I was 12 years old and school just seemed like a waste of time to me.

[CS1983]

I desire to read your rant. Please continue.

[Ah Pook]

I hated high school. Barely graduated. Wood shop was about the only thing that interested me.

College taught me a lot. How to write, use punctuation, proper tense... Also learned math. You know, stuff that should have learned in high school. Probably the most useful skill I developed was research. This was before the interwebz. Library books and periodicals, magazines, interviewing pople... Went in for a business degree but hated the school of business. Ended up with the closest thing to a business degree from the school of communications. I'd say I don't use what was learned in the college curriculum but I did learn the process. Oh and I worked my way through college.

Looking back, I would should have picked up a trade to fall back on.

I know of several home schoolers. I get it but most of the kids I see need public school too. Teach what you want in the evenings and on weekends.

I am a big fan of Mike Rowe's philosophy that not everyone needs to go to college.

[StagLefty]

I worked in the trades all my life and made a reasonable living. The only regret I have is that I didn't pick a trade to be licensed in.Mike Rowe is my hero !!!

[Hummer]

I can't speak much about modern education, although I'm impressed with the home schooling groups and 4-H people I've worked with. I'm sort of a jack of all trades with experience in many fields including construction and horticulture. Post college I've gone my own way and am mostly self-taught. In the past I have taught the martial arts and as a shooting coach. Mostly I've been teaching ornithology for 30 years and am a certified trainer in a somewhat obscure field. I've guided thousands of people to see birds and other wildlife and I do volunteer work for the sheriff and the state wildlife agency. But to teach it's important to learn from other teachers so I take a few classes most every year. I still haven't mastered fluent Spanish and probably never will. But I'm getting to the point in teaching where I've been there, done that. It's easier to share with others via internet forums....

My focus now is to continue improving our homes, making life comfortable, contributing to science by publishing, and learning more about the world and people through travel. Education comes in many forms and can keep you alive and growing.

[wctriumph]

I don't have a "degree" from a university. However, it seems that most of the jobs I am chasing are requiring a BS in business or related work experience. I find that this disqualifies in some instances. If I get this new job I am chasing right now I will take online courses and finish the degree.