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People should not be deliberately handicapped. Forcing someone to waste years of their life is bad. School is so unlike every other social institution that it i

People should not be deliberately handicapped. Forcing someone to waste years of their life is bad. School is so unlike every other social institution that it is (close to) useless as preparation for anything else. Outside school people actually care whether you do your work, and if your don’t do it there are real consequences, but the standards are completely different, depending on the workplace. Outside school if you’re surrounded by assholes you can just leave unless you’re in prison. Outside school the chances of physical violence being overlooked or covered up by the authorities nominally in charge of your welfare are much smaller. Outside school there are no contexts so rigidly age segregated. People become responsible when responsibility is thrust on them. They do better, faster with real support. School doesn’t do that. It infantilises people. Nothing you do in school matters of itself. You can choose to do projects or research that people care about but that’s completely optional.

HenryKissinger 6y ago
> Forcing someone to waste years of their life is bad. Taking the time to develop one's personality alongside one's peers, to share the same experiences and to make bonds with them is totally not a waste of time. > Outside school people actually care whether you do your work, and if your don’t do it there are real consequences Not sure what schools you attended. I had good teachers, who cared if I did my work. And if I didn't I would get a bad grade. Bad grades are real consequences that can negatively affect your future. > Outside school if you’re surrounded by assholes you can just leave unless you’re in prison. So many workers work jobs that they don't like but can't afford not to. Unless you're ready to face unemployment, and possibly the loss of your home and homelessness, you can't always so easily leave your job. I know that this is HN, where everyone makes 6 figures in the tech industry and could leave their job in the morning and find a new one after lunch, but the reality isn't so rosy for the vast majority of workers.
- zozbot234 6y ago
  People can develop their personality just fine outside a prison-like school environment. We need to rebuild our local communities, so that these shared experiences and bonds can occur freely among people of all ages.

HenryKissinger 6y ago

> Forcing someone to waste years of their life is bad. Taking the time to develop one's personality alongside one's peers, to share the same experiences and to make bonds with them is totally not a waste of time. > Outside school people actually care whether you do your work, and if your don’t do it there are real consequences Not sure what schools you attended. I had good teachers, who cared if I did my work. And if I didn't I would get a bad grade. Bad grades are real consequences that can negatively affect your future. > Outside school if you’re surrounded by assholes you can just leave unless you’re in prison. So many workers work jobs that they don't like but can't afford not to. Unless you're ready to face unemployment, and possibly the loss of your home and homelessness, you can't always so easily leave your job. I know that this is HN, where everyone makes 6 figures in the tech industry and could leave their job in the morning and find a new one after lunch, but the reality isn't so rosy for the vast majority of workers.

zozbot234 6y ago
People can develop their personality just fine outside a prison-like school environment. We need to rebuild our local communities, so that these shared experiences and bonds can occur freely among people of all ages.