I'm not surprised at the USA being behind in schools....

[Rageaholic]

This is what we call an industrial society teaching agenda, which is more about training the young to work in an industrial setting.

Unfortunately, while we still have a lot of industry, the world's moved on into the information age, and we are decades behind in getting our schools' curricula adjusted to reflect that fact, and the longer we dawdle with outmoded teaching styles and topics, the harder it will be to effect that change, and the further behind we'll fall.

^-.-^

Yeah. Ironically, the only excuse I've heard for the authoritarian teaching style is that it prepares kids for the "real world". To me, it's just indoctrination. It's like saying "You don't have a choice, this is what you're doomed to do". It shouldn't be that way and doesn't have to, but those in charge insist that it be that way.

[MrsEclipse]

We got a lot of that "preparing you for the real world" crap when I was in school. My mom's favorite response, which I flippantly said one day, was, "Prepare us for the real world? So what's this? Imitation Soy Tofu World?"

In the real world, you do have a choice.

[Mytical]

Actually according to most people, I would make a good teacher of Math or Computers. Because I speak the two different languages of each. Now before you say it, yes it is not literally two different languages..but to some it might as well be. Something like 'common' and 'technical jargon' or 'common' and 'mathematical jargon'. I can translate so that most people can understand.

I've lost count on how many times I've had to sit and 'translate' from somebody in the IT or Math field and somebody who is not. Including while taking a class. Even to the point where in one week I took somebody failing Algebra (who before he entered the class had no higher math then, in his words, adding and subtracting) to getting a B on the finals (Got a free steak dinner out of that woot!).

Its like SOME (please note the emphasis on this word) people in management. They forget where they came from. You don't start out in life just 'knowing' things..it takes longer for some then others. If you take time to explain it, make it interesting, and make it at least a LITTLE fun..most people will be able to learn.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I remember doing very well in math when I was young. At that point, I was actually interested in learning about the world. My curiousity was what kept me going. I think school does a good job at crushing that curiousity because from what I remember of elementary school, it was less learning and more "do what the teacher says". I mean shit, isn't most of school just "doing work"? I'm not saying you can't learn anything that way, but a lot of that work was simply filler.

Like holiday work; ie, the stuff that was set during the summer holidays. I always suspected that the teachers never even bothered to look at it, just ticked it off.

[Dreamstalker]

Jobs unfortunately work the same way. It's all about BSing the person interviewing you. I suck at interviews, but I know I'm good at other things, but they will never know that because all they see is "he sucks at interviews so that means he's a failure at life!".

Oh, don't get me started on that. I don't go for all the pseudo-psych BS. Not answering a few questions the way someone thinks you should does not equal "can't do X". Entering a certificate program with a bachelors degree in that field shouldn't mean that I need to take the entry-level classes again.

I'm finishing up a 'required' class for my comp forensics certificate right now...basically Internet 101. According to the transfer counselor I should have been tested out of it, but by the time the instructor finally got in touch with me about it my only option was to drop the class (which wouldn't be a good idea).

The class is so basic that it's been a struggle for me to do the assignments...interesting when I'm taking classes one level higher at the same time.