Student dilemma

[Goatzbro]

Should students be required to take classes that they don't plan to use in the future? For example, students that have to take advanced math classes when they don't plan to go into any field that uses math.

Just fyi, I am talking purely about public schools (i.e not universities or private schools). Essentially every person that I tutor in math or science is very apathetic about both subjects, and I wonder whether it is even worth it for the government to spend taxpayer dollars putting students through those courses.

Personally I think that it is necessary for students to take these classes in order to decide if they enjoy them. I was wondering what your views are regarding this situation.

[LouBerry]

Should students be required to take classes that they don't plan to use in the future? For example, students that have to take advanced math classes when they don't plan to go into any field that uses math.

Just fyi, I am talking purely about public schools (i.e not universities or private schools). Essentially every person that I tutor in math or science is very apathetic about both subjects, and I wonder whether it is even worth it for the government to spend taxpayer dollars putting students through those courses.

Personally I think that it is necessary for students to take these classes in order to decide if they enjoy them. I was wondering what your views are regarding this situation.

I think it's necessary for high school students to take classes that are "dumb" because A.) You never know where your future may take you, and one day you might really regret sleeping through Algebra, and B.) Sitting through dumb classes is a good way to prepare you for college, especially if the class you hate is challenging, because college is hard and all the classes pretty much suck.

[Melodic]

Honestly, I think students should have more control over their curriculum, however not to the point of where they aren't learning anything. I also believe most core classes don't give many a purpose to their career, it really only gets them to graduate and into college.

[Harry Smith]

You need it to a basic level, that's what happens in the UK. At least then when people hire you they know that you can actually work out the change or write a letter. It's really just a case of employees wanting to see how able you are

[phuckphace]

I'd argue that the propaganda is more of an issue than making everyone take math. when people tell me "I didn't learn anything in high school," I have to disagree. I learned all kinds of things, mainly that I am evil WASP spawn responsible for 100% of all genocides in history, all about Martin Luther "Jesus Christ the Savior" King and his hallowed life, and the 9000 reasons why Gloria Steinem and Naomi Wolfe are right about everything. now that's what I call tax dollars well spent (just kidding, death to America)

[Body odah Man]

Should students be required to take classes that they don't plan to use in the future? For example, students that have to take advanced math classes when they don't plan to go into any field that uses math.

Just fyi, I am talking purely about public schools (i.e not universities or private schools). Essentially every person that I tutor in math or science is very apathetic about both subjects, and I wonder whether it is even worth it for the government to spend taxpayer dollars putting students through those courses.

Personally I think that it is necessary for students to take these classes in order to decide if they enjoy them. I was wondering what your views are regarding this situation.

It depends on what kind of classes. I can see you not wanting to take advanced math and that being not a problem, but not taking math at all would be. We need math in this day and age.

[Bull]

Personally, I have no problem with taking required courses. Some I have enjoyed, others not so much. Also, I think the teacher has a lot to do with whether or not a class is enjoyable, even if the subject matter is not to your liking. The course work required makes us more well rounded individuals and better prepared for the times in which we live. In a few years we will be making hard decisions about the direction of our lives as we go to vote for those who will represent us and on the various referendums that come up and we need a good background of knowledge to make wise choices.

[Miserabilia]

I think they should because nobody can definetly say they won't use it in the future because the future is never that certain. If we would go down that road we would eventualy have to go all the way and let gradeschoolers customize what they want to learn and they simple aren't responsible enough, which leads to think when is anyone responsible enough to decide what and what not to learn?

[jessie3]

I kinda disagree here, if the student does not want to take an advanced class like math in school then he/she has the right to not take it. I don't like when teachers try to convince students on taking the class by using there own experience because times have changed since and even if the student doesn't take it he or she has a much better opportunity now to learn the missed subject online since we have the technology to do it.

There are many successful people who didn't finish high school like Mark karp ( Tumblr ) Richard Branson ( virgin airlines ) Mark Zuckerburg ( Facebook )

[Blood]

Should students be required to take classes that they don't plan to use in the future?

They shouldn't be required to, no. However, ALL students need to be taught basic reading and math skills. But stuff like chemistry and calculus shouldn't be required (which it is in my school, not sure about all schools).


Personally I think that it is necessary for students to take these classes in order to decide if they enjoy them. I was wondering what your views are regarding this situation.

Oh no, definitely not. You don't need to try something to know if you will or won't like it. I know for a fact that I'm not going to enjoy calculus, and I haven't even started it yet.

Some students just aren't gifted in maths and English like others are. Public schools need to start offering more of a variety of classes for students who are gifted in more hands on types of things.

[Korashk]

Unless highschool standards have changed since I graduated, you don't have to take any advanced classes to graduate unless you want to. What a lot of people consider "advanced" really isn't. You use stuff you learned in algebra 2 and physics on a regular basis whether you realize it or not.

[Goatzbro]

Oh no, definitely not. You don't need to try something to know if you will or won't like it. I know for a fact that I'm not going to enjoy calculus, and I haven't even started it yet.

Some students just aren't gifted in maths and English like others are. Public schools need to start offering more of a variety of classes for students who are gifted in more hands on types of things.
The part about students not being gifted in mathematics is 100% not true. There have been studies done that show there is no such thing as a "math person" or a person who just isn't gifted in math. I will give you both an anecdotal example, and a factual example. For me personally, I used to be terrible at math. I could barely solve algebraic equations such as 5x+2y=7. But after I actually put my mind to it and learned the material and stopped making excuses for myself, I am now able to do differential and most of integral calculus. I'm also learning some Topology and Number Theory as well.

Now for the factual example. Here are some links to studies that show my point.

http://www.newser.com/story/176571/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-math-person.html
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/the-myth-of-im-bad-at-math/280914/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0Z--pmPog

[Goatzbro]

Also calculus can be fun! When I do maths that I consider beautiful or I come across a very interesting result, I get a rush as if I had just solved a mystery or had sex (just kidding :P)

[TheN3rdyOutcast]

As far as I'm concerned, the classes that are mandatory to take (math, science, literature, health...) are general classes that will help you no matter what field you go into, and the ones that aren't mandatory (band, art, keyboarding, home ec...) are classes that you take for fun, however, I believe the US curriculum has many holes, such as the fact that we have a growing Spanish population, however, Spanish is not a required class to graduate.

[Blood]

The part about students not being gifted in mathematics is 100% not true. There have been studies done that show there is no such thing as a "math person" or a person who just isn't gifted in math. I will give you both an anecdotal example, and a factual example. For me personally, I used to be terrible at math. I could barely solve algebraic equations such as 5x+2y=7. But after I actually put my mind to it and learned the material and stopped making excuses for myself, I am now able to do differential and most of integral calculus. I'm also learning some Topology and Number Theory as well.

Now for the factual example. Here are some links to studies that show my point.

http://www.newser.com/story/176571/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-math-person.html
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/the-myth-of-im-bad-at-math/280914/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0Z--pmPog

Ok, so even if it's not true, why should students be forced to learn something they don't like? So they can learn to "like" it? Forcing someone to learn something isn't going to make them like it any more than before.

[Taryn98]

While students may not need to take advanced level courses, I think having a well rounded education is important to understand what's going on in the world and to teach critical thinking skills. History, English, math, science, art, psych, industrial tech, etc all have valuable lessons that people should know. Generally speaking, most people I meet are clueless about most subjects and it's kind of scary to me.
Although math and science may not pertain to someone's particular interests, they teach people how to think logically and problem solving skills that can apply to many other fields of study and life.

[AlexanderTheGreat]

I believe it to be important for children to take what are known as 'core subject classes' so he or she may decide if they enjoy them. Also they provide a student with a general understanding of subjects that they may not study which is useful in their social and professional life. I believe that these subjects should be taught up to the age of 15 and then student can study what they want. I also see it important to have a wider choice of subjects to choose from. In the UK we have the 'General Certificate of Secondary Education' qualification which basically says you have completed secondary school (high school). In this qualification you study English, Maths, Science, Religion, Sports and 3/4 subjects of your choice depending on your schooling. Whilst choosing my subjects I noticed that there were very little subjects to study. I would say you get to choose from 8 subjects. These are basic subjects and I can say that I have no interest in studying these subjects or taking a career in them whatsoever. If schools offered subjects that can lead to career opportunities such as 'Media Studies', 'Sociology', 'Marketing', then I would agree with the choices however at the current time I don't see that most British state schools offer a good range of subjects to study at the GCSE qualification.

[CosmicNoodle]

You need it to a basic level, that's what happens in the UK. At least then when people hire you they know that you can actually work out the change or write a letter. It's really just a case of employees wanting to see how able you are

Yup, in the UK basic math is compulsory, and advanced math is optional when you go to college at 16

[tovaris]

Yes yes they should!