Why do we put children though school?

ClocksForward · 19-11-2011 08:09AM #1

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

abouttobebanned · 19-11-2011 08:13AM

I think you just had a bad experience. We learn so much more than just facts and figures in secondary school. There's a social education that you won't get from a "library card and a mentor"

ClocksForward · 19-11-2011 08:18AM

abouttobebanned wrote: »

I think you just had a bad experience. We learn so much more than just facts and figures in secondary school. There's a social education that you won't get from a "library card and a mentor"

Yup Maybe I don't think like most, in that I just cannot learn properly without assimilating the knowledge myself through self study. I ain't trolling when I say I honestly can't learn something well unless there is absolute silence.

Somehow I don't think my style of learning applies to the vast majority of the population? Or maybe I am wrong:cool:

strobe · 19-11-2011 08:41AM

Creches cost a fortune. It's illegal to chain kids to radiators ('cause of the PC brigade :mad: )

School is free and legal, basically.

10green bottles · 19-11-2011 08:41AM

To learn to spell

Badly Drunk Boy · 19-11-2011 08:42AM

ClocksForward wrote: »

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

Leave kids to their own devices and they'll do just that. "Will I teach myself fractions or French or simultaneous equations, or will I go on Facebook or watch the telly?" Hmmm...

Also, does everybody get their own mentor and who pays for them?

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:17PM

There is something sinister about forcing all 5-year-olds to go to big building to learn stuff on threat that their parents will be prosecuted if they don't comply.

Dotrel · 19-11-2011 01:21PM

They're state-run child-minding services. Any knowledge gained whilst there is entirely incidental.

Gee Bag · 19-11-2011 01:21PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

Howya Pol Pot, glad to hear your alive and well.

19-11-2011 01:23PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast.)

You cook toast?

El_Dangeroso · 19-11-2011 01:26PM

Because school is not about learning, it's about getting kids used to the mindless drudgery and routine of a 9-5 job. It's social compliance training.

Think about it, if you were given the freedom to learn about things you were truly interested in a non-structured environment for the first 17 years of your life and then told that you now had to sit down and be dictated to in a hierarchical fashion it would come as a bit of a shock. Can't have people thinking that there is a nicer way to live, what would happen to productivity in a nation full of independent thinkers?

Abi · 19-11-2011 01:26PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

This doesn't happen often, but I actually don't know what to say to all that. So much stupidity in one post.

WalterMitty · 19-11-2011 01:31PM

The way things are going kids would be better off staying at home and learning off internet after age of say 15 or younger if child is mature. They can still sit exams before college. You can view some of worlds best teachers on youtube for free teaching things like maths and science that we badly need students to do in this country.
I found secondary school after junior cert just rote learning, boring religon and irish classses for several hours a week,everyone working out what would come up on exam rather than having any intellectual curiosity.
Even in university the standard of teaching was rarely excellent and you could do well without ever attending the university and just getting notes from your mates in the class. I can watch lectures online now for free from the best universities in world although ya cant get a degree without paying some university to award it to ya.

chughes · 19-11-2011 01:32PM

strobe wrote: »

School is free and legal, basically.

It's free except for the books, uniforms, and voluntary contributions.

Fbjm · 19-11-2011 01:34PM

Without secondary school, no one would go to university.
Without university, no one would get degrees.
Without degrees, no one would get jobs.
Without jobs, no one would be working in mental institutions, for the mentally unfit.
Without mental institutions for the mentally unfit, people like you would be roaming the streets, creating nonsensical threads on sites like boards and generally being a nuisance.

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:34PM

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Because school is not about learning, it's about getting kids used to the mindless drudgery and routine of a 9-5 job. It's social compliance training.

Hmmm..

Reamer Fanny · 19-11-2011 01:35PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

This is why

Teyla Emmagan · 19-11-2011 01:37PM

Thank God for schools, there would be horrible little teenagers everywhere without them.

Biggins · 19-11-2011 01:38PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

*sigh*

One question OP: How the fcuk is one supposed to read from book is one is not taught at school how to read?
A teacher? A mentor? etc? ...and where did they learn? Was it a school?

Jeasus H Christ!

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:41PM

What intrigues me about these types of questions is the vitriol they seem to engender in many people who respond.

Most of the replies are strawmanning and insulting the OP.

Way to go lads.

Logical Fallacy · 19-11-2011 01:41PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

I assume you averaged C's and the problem is the system, not you?:D

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:42PM

Biggins wrote: »

*sigh*

One question OP: How the fcuk is one supposed to read from book is one is not taught at school how to read?
A teacher? A mentor? etc? ...and where did they learn? Was it a school?

Jeasus H Christ!

If reading and writing was the goal of school kids would be finished school at about 7 or 8 years old.

Logical Fallacy · 19-11-2011 01:44PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

If reading and writing was the goal of school kids would be finished school at about 7 or 8 years old.

Ah come on Chuck, surely you agree that you have a far higher level of literacy at the end of your schooling than you do at 7 or 8?

iguana · 19-11-2011 01:45PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

There is something sinister about forcing all 5-year-olds to go to big building to learn stuff on threat that their parents will be prosecuted if they don't comply.

There is absolutely no legal requirement to send your children to school. All a parent is legally required to do is ensure their children reach a minimum standard of learning. How the children reach that point is entirely the choice of the parent. Most people do this by sending their children to school because it is both the easiest way and the social norm.

Nolanger · 19-11-2011 01:46PM

abouttobebanned wrote: »

I think you just had a bad experience. We learn so much more than just facts and figures in secondary school. There's a social education that you won't get from a "library card and a mentor"

Yeh, think like everyone else instead of for yourself, expect a job instead of making one, and think you're a failure because you missed an A in Geography.

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:47PM

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Ah come on Chuck, surely you agree that you have a far higher level of literacy at the end of your schooling than you do at 7 or 8?

Not because of school. English was a complete and utter waste of my time after the age of about 7 or 8.

My father read a lot to us as children and I read a lot myself.

Chuck Stone · 19-11-2011 01:49PM

iguana wrote: »

All a parent is legally required to do is ensure their children reach a minimum standard of learning.

What are these standards?

Pherekydes · 19-11-2011 01:49PM

Fbjm wrote: »

Without degrees, no one would get jobs.

/puts hand up timidly.

I got a job without a degree.

Logical Fallacy · 19-11-2011 01:50PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Not because of school. English was a complete and utter waste of my time after the age of about 7 or 8.

My father read a lot to us as children and I read a lot myself.

Flawed logic Chuck, you still read daily in school, a variety of subjects that covered a very rich lexicon and it had an affect on your level of literacy.

To say otherwise is very disingenuous.

Nolanger · 19-11-2011 01:51PM

Fbjm wrote: »

Without degrees, no one would get jobs.

in Australia.

MegaWattKungFu · 19-11-2011 01:54PM

ClocksForward wrote: »

Looking back over the years wasted in secondary education in this country, it got me thinkling..why does society feel the need to push children through this sweat shop of indoctrination in lieu of giving the little bastards a library card and a mentor?

I can't speak for anybody else, but I've had to unlearn most of the rubbish "taught" in school. Teach the kid the basics, then leave him to his own devices I say. Children who are going to make something of themselves are going to do it regardless.

We don't need this excuse of a system to be perpetuated at large. I say remove the need for these "teachers" to stroke their ego by teaching children garbage like "CSPE" or how to cook a ****ing slice of toast. If you want to learn calculus, there are no shortage of books. Secondary education has more in common with a circus act imo.

Autodidactism for all:)

This could be an interesting discussion but after hours isn't the place for it.

Why do we put children though school?

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