3 ms·

The question is then, if education isn't about learning stuff (which is what the GED should test), then what is it about?

by wisty 16y ago

acon 16y ago
Education is about learning to follow the rules of an society: coming to school or work in time, sitting still and quiet while being bored for several hours. You know, the important skills you need to be a good little worker bee.
- noarchy 16y ago
  Being on time, and attendance, these seemed to get emphasized more than actual performance when I was in high school. This reflects how some of my worst jobs were, too.
  - tomjen3 16y ago
    Far be it for me to defend US high schools, but being on time is very much a skill that people lack - and it so annoying, not to mention a sign disrespect for the other peoples time, to be later for appointments.
btmorex 16y ago
I would say a number of things, but one big one is to simply show that you're the kind of person willing to jump through various hoops to get where you want to be. Actually, I think at the undergraduate level it's even worse (you still learn a lot of generally useful things in GED/high school). I would guess that what most people actually learn at the undergraduate level is completely unnecessary for their eventual careers. There are certainly exceptions, but it's a good rule (consider this: why do you need a bachelor's degree before entering med school? We invented a "fake" major for this requirement--premed--but objectively, it's completely unnecessary)
- yardie 16y ago
  I've never heard of or seen a premed major. I've heard of premed students getting degrees in bio/chem/eng. Just like there is no prelaw degree. Just phil/polisci/engl degrees with courses suited for taking the entry exams.
  - btmorex 16y ago
    It's pretty common. For example: http://www.science.psu.edu/premed/premedicinemajor.html http://www.science.psu.edu/premed/premedicinemajor.html
goodside 16y ago
Demonstrating the ability to go four years without getting kicked out of school for discipline problems and/or getting incarcerated. The GED is sold heavily to inmates as a way to get back on their feet after they're released, so the people who end up taking the GED are preselected to have severe self-control issues. Learning HS material doesn't correct this: the reason nobody wants to hire them is because they were in jail, not because they don't know trigonometry.

The question is then, if education isn't about learning stuff (which is what the GED should test), then what is it about?

by wisty 16y ago

The question is then, if education isn't about learning stuff (which is what the GED should test), then what is it about?

acon 16y ago

Education is about learning to follow the rules of an society: coming to school or work in time, sitting still and quiet while being bored for several hours. You know, the important skills you need to be a good little worker bee.

noarchy 16y ago
Being on time, and attendance, these seemed to get emphasized more than actual performance when I was in high school. This reflects how some of my worst jobs were, too.
- tomjen3 16y ago
  Far be it for me to defend US high schools, but being on time is very much a skill that people lack - and it so annoying, not to mention a sign disrespect for the other peoples time, to be later for appointments.

btmorex 16y ago

I would say a number of things, but one big one is to simply show that you're the kind of person willing to jump through various hoops to get where you want to be. Actually, I think at the undergraduate level it's even worse (you still learn a lot of generally useful things in GED/high school). I would guess that what most people actually learn at the undergraduate level is completely unnecessary for their eventual careers. There are certainly exceptions, but it's a good rule (consider this: why do you need a bachelor's degree before entering med school? We invented a "fake" major for this requirement--premed--but objectively, it's completely unnecessary)

yardie 16y ago
I've never heard of or seen a premed major. I've heard of premed students getting degrees in bio/chem/eng. Just like there is no prelaw degree. Just phil/polisci/engl degrees with courses suited for taking the entry exams.
- btmorex 16y ago
  It's pretty common. For example: http://www.science.psu.edu/premed/premedicinemajor.html http://www.science.psu.edu/premed/premedicinemajor.html

goodside 16y ago

Demonstrating the ability to go four years without getting kicked out of school for discipline problems and/or getting incarcerated. The GED is sold heavily to inmates as a way to get back on their feet after they're released, so the people who end up taking the GED are preselected to have severe self-control issues. Learning HS material doesn't correct this: the reason nobody wants to hire them is because they were in jail, not because they don't know trigonometry.