School = Brainwash?

You say it needs reform, but how do you suppose they reform it? Give some examples as to what would make the educational system better.

I would start with getting rid of this set, linear style of learning. Take Math for example. You spend years learning how to calculate this and calculate that, and after spending years of looking at formulas only do you get to actually do something worthwhile with the math. The curriculum (at least in BC) is filled with silly things like absolute values that aren't useful in actual practice.

Also, I mentioned the concept of "batches" of children. I like how in college, you take a course when you're ready to take it. Each person is building their own path at their own pace. Instead of people being placed in slots and expecting to conform. (But in reality, college isn't really far from a factory, either)

I hear a lot of this "school isn't useful" stuff.

Thing is, unless you're part of the small segment of the population that knew for absolute certain they wanted to be doctors since age five, you just don't know what you need. And sometimes you might think you know, but you really don't. School is about exposing you to the world. You have to wonder how much of your aspirations comes from what you've been exposed to.

Yeah, I suppose that is another good byproduct of school. In the process of being bombarded with work and slaving through homework, you have time in between to think about what you want to do. In fact, you have more than 10 years to think. I agree about school being about exposing you to the world, definitely. However, school doesn't really succeed in doing that. The occasional career fair may give you ideas for what to do; otherwise, you're somewhat sheltered from the world by a wall of pedantic procedures.

I guess I'm mainly against school being a factory. And in extension, society wanting this kind of production line. It's only starting to transition into more abstract forms of education. The rest of the people still have to deal with what we are forced to go through now. I just feel that school could have more potential, you know?

I agree with alot of this for the most part.

My main discontent with my own school is when it comes to advanced/academic classes. I understand that some kids aren't as "smart naturally" I guess, or just don't have enough "drive" to be in advanced classes. However, I really don't like it when the advanced classes are extemely challenging and the normal classes are for the football players that want to pass and play with an A. It dissapoints me that I can work so hard for a C in an advanced class, not be recognzed or honored for my work, even be ctricized because it wasn't an A, and then a jock who doesn't understand anything gets an A and praise because the class was designed so he could do so and take the school to the play offs.

I have a lot of other issues as well, another being coaches that are teachers. In my eyes they are teachers first, but in theirs and the schools they are coaches. They just have to teach because of some law I guess, but they don't have to do it well.

Tay you said a mouthful. Coaches do place sports before academics all the time, and yes many teacher are told to pass students like football players especially regardless of how much effort they actually put into the work. In actuality no coach has to teach a class other than physical education style courses. Most schools are just to greedy with money to hire more competent teachers for general education subjects that specialize in them.

Recently several schools, colleges, and universities even have lost accreditation's due to fraudulent academic scores reported by teacher who wanted to do the right thing and fail the kid while the principles and guidance staff changed the grade, passed the kid, and then fired the teacher. There have been several scandals recently around where I live where the state actually came in and had to perform a full investigation.

Then we wonder why people in other countries call us dumb stupid Americans. I mean well DUH! look at our education system and look at how we treat the kids.

To reply to this,
Yes the school system is messed
We are the stuffing and our body is the turkey, thats what we are being told to do
@ Tay post
To add on, many people's potentional is seen later than usual and those of us that are in this category, are tossed away as trash.
For example, the day you are born is the day you decide you are in the advanced classes or not.
Our parents are the ones that prepare us for that get in advanced class exam and well the whens knowing of the school system get into the advanced classes and the others are wasted potentional that school never sees. I am first hand experience of this cruelty

I agree with alot of this for the most part.

My main discontent with my own school is when it comes to advanced/academic classes. I understand that some kids aren't as "smart naturally" I guess, or just don't have enough "drive" to be in advanced classes. However, I really don't like it when the advanced classes are extemely challenging and the normal classes are for the football players that want to pass and play with an A. It dissapoints me that I can work so hard for a C in an advanced class, not be recognzed or honored for my work, even be ctricized because it wasn't an A, and then a jock who doesn't understand anything gets an A and praise because the class was designed so he could do so and take the school to the play offs.

I have a lot of other issues as well, another being coaches that are teachers. In my eyes they are teachers first, but in theirs and the schools they are coaches. They just have to teach because of some law I guess, but they don't have to do it well.

Oh, one more thing to add to this discussion, I can't stand the classes where all you have to do is memorize a bunch of descriptive terms. I study the day of the test, 20 minutes a chapter (or as fast as i can read them), then i forget everything the next day (or only remember it enough to pick out the answer from a selection - recognition). That is the major reason why i switched from business major, it was trivial and though most think its relevant to going into business, the truth of the matter is most people have to learn the specific workings of the business or company they wish to join anyways.

Oh, one more thing to add to this discussion, I can't stand the classes where all you have to do is memorize a bunch of descriptive terms. I study the day of the test, 20 minutes a chapter (or as fast as i can read them), then i forget everything the next day (or only remember it enough to pick out the answer from a selection - recognition). That is the major reason why i switched from business major, it was trivial and though most think its relevant to going into business, the truth of the matter is most people have to learn the specific workings of the business or company they wish to join anyways.

When universities require private sector to help with money, you can't expect anything different. You have classes designed by companies that will hire you once you're done with your studies. Universities can't do pomegranate because they need the money, teachers don't react because they're getting paid and students, at least most of them, don't know if they must agree or disagree.
You're missing knowledge that is great to know, that might be useful at some other point and whatnot because "why would a company waste their money in something that won't be useful for them?" The benefits are just not enough for them, so you must pay (yet again) learning less, in quantity and quality.

Oh, one more thing to add to this discussion, I can't stand the classes where all you have to do is memorize a bunch of descriptive terms. I study the day of the test, 20 minutes a chapter (or as fast as i can read them), then i forget everything the next day (or only remember it enough to pick out the answer from a selection - recognition). That is the major reason why i switched from business major, it was trivial and though most think its relevant to going into business, the truth of the matter is most people have to learn the specific workings of the business or company they wish to join anyways.

Sounds like the majority of everything we're taught doing Pre-Med. Really. Almost everything.