Is school really needed?

Yaaaaaaaaaa someone who thinks like me, I hated school and I didn't learn anything either in fact I have over the years found that a few facts I was told at school was utter rubbish, my idea of school is by all means be told about many things like history, geography and other things but you shouldn't have to study it or remember useless facts unless you are interested in that particular subject, so you get told about many things and then when you find something of interest you then sign up for that, schools should have things on the agenda that has more to do with life, and possible careers of choice, I know I learnt more as far as common sense from my parents and I think a little common sense will get through life far better than what they teach at the moment...its nice to know I am not the only one that thinks like that...

I think I learned a lot in school. Yes, I some easy As, and I probably won't be using calculus again. But English classes prepared me for college writing. History helped me understand the world better (though I would have loved to have taken a class on history since WWII). I use algebra and geometry a lot. And I could go on. I think Physics was the most useful science I took in high school. I also speak very good French, and was able to test into 3rd semester French at college making it possible for me to get a minor in it by taking only 4 classes. While schools vary greatly by county, at my high school there were a lot of advanced courses, vocationals, and some community college credit options. Part of the reasons high schools have to set requirements for what you study is to help you get accepted to colleges. Also, few high schoolers have the maturity to handle setting their own course of study. Also, at college you still have certain required courses that are not in your area of study or interest, but are designed to help you become well-rounded or prepared for grad school.

I think we need school, i go to school when i was 6-year-old, i learn how to spell English , i learn 1+1=2, i learn how to write a letter...... so many things i learn from school ! About you say some teacher are just plain nasty, i agree with you !But not all teachers are plain nasty, there are so many good teacher!

schooling in india is good not useless atleast a lot intelligent chaps

People don't realize the value of school unless they are faced with adversities that brings them back to the time when one was still learning. We physically don't feel that we have learned something from school but somehow as I grew older, I realize it's value. It's not the calculus, the physics, sciences or other subjects that retain in our minds and hearts. The discipline of studying, and preparing ourselves for the next topic. The ability to analyze things faster. The treasure of knowledge of what to do in case something happens only dawn upon us as we grow older. Because of school, we are keen listeners and thinkers. You might not remember exactly what was thought but remember the topic on how science thinks? how problems are solved in math? these are the same principles that allow us to solve our day-to-day problems. Don't know how? Well isn't it that first we must first look for the details in the problem, the summary of the whole problem, next is to find possible formula or solutions. Then you do the checking of the answer if it really answers the problem. That same pattern can be used in our lives. It helps us see the perspective of problems in a whole lot clearer view so as we can solve it easier. Well, I could go on and on about these things. But it wouldn't matter if all you did in school is to watch cute guys or girls. Detest the hours. And wait 'til the bell rings indicating that class is over. Just my cent. =)

Our schools nationwide are really not all equal and a lot of them set low standards. There is a lot that one learns in high school that does not come from the classroom. The idea is to prepare children for the real world. If you plan to go to college then you need high school so that you can better learn what you learn in college. If you are not going to college then you need all the social learning still and some schools offer classes that actually prepare you for life without college. I took a math class that taught how to ballance a check book and file taxes. For example. Just my thoughts though..

I have had experience as both a teacher and a student and I believe that schools are necessary. You say that some teachers are like dictators. The way I see it is that there are certain rules and that they should be kept. However, many students decide if they are even slightly inconvenienced then they won't obey the rules and so we have to tell them over and over and over again e.g. not having chewing gum in class (they stick it under the desk) not eating in the corridors (a lot of food gets spilled and it makes the cleaners life more difficult) not kicking soccer balls near the windows (they get broken), don't sit on the desks (they also get broken). None of the rules we have are dictatorial they are either plain common sense or courtesy. The problem is that there are too many "nice" teachers who won't life a finger to see that people keep the rules so as a result those that do cop abuse. The other thing is that is it not all about teaching "subjects" it is about teaching students. We certainly try to teach people skills such as analysis, critical reflection, teamwork, organisation etc etc. There is also a lot of subject based information as well as that relates to specific courses. I have noticed that many students do not have the self discipline to study well (although some do). I only have to look around when people have free periods and see what they are doing to see that. I also think that in many cases unless you have excellent information put together by someone then it is very difficult to understand concepts and that is also about what teaching is about - providing information at a level that students can absorb and then increase the complexity (where necessary) so that they can progress.