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> We waste a lot of time trying to teach teenagers languages in high school. I learnt French, very poorly. Have retained almost nothing to this day, what a wast

> We waste a lot of time trying to teach teenagers languages in high school. I learnt French, very poorly. Have retained almost nothing to this day, what a waste of time. Does that mean the learning was in vain? I’ve probably forgotten 90% of what I learned in high school other than math. Does that mean most of my education was a waste of time?

maxwell_xander 5y ago
>Does that mean the learning was in vain? I’ve probably forgotten 90% of what I learned in high school other than math. Does that mean most of my education was a waste of time? Did the things you learn change you in some other fundamental way, that only learning those things could (ie you could come to a conclusion and forget the exact process that brought you to that conclusion, and thus the process was worth learning even though now forgotten)? If not, then that learning must have been in vain, almost per the definition of vain, right?
guy98238710 5y ago
> Does that mean most of my education was a waste of time? Yes.
jeofken 5y ago
Public school is much a place to dump kids so that both parents can work full time - this is how it’s utilised in reality. Otherwise there would be a cutthroat market for parents education spending - but almost everyone leaves the child in the closest school they don’t have to pay for. Some would say separating state and school is equal or greater in importance, than separating state and church.
- CogitoCogito 5y ago
  I went to public schools all the way through undergrad and they were all excellent. I don't really know what would have been improved by those schools being private.
- DarylZero 5y ago
  I think there's a pretty cutthroat market for education spending even on the public schools -- people shop for homes based on school districts.
  - DarylZero 5y ago
    Actually it's not really "education spending" it's more about which group of peers you put your kids with. Whiter is more expensive.
guy98238710 5y ago
To be fair, schools offer a lot of subjects to give you a taste of several academic disciplines. You are expected to choose one or two you like and discard the rest. If it is done well, you will enjoy the process. Having fun is not a waste of time.
JimTheMan 5y ago
Probably. And if you could accurately predict the lack of function after learning something, you'd probably dump that subject no? And you can do that with language instruction in most cases. Hell, maybe make language instruction more hardcore and immersive for those who need or actively seek it. For everyone else, it's not worth pursuing 98% of the time.

maxwell_xander 5y ago

>Does that mean the learning was in vain? I’ve probably forgotten 90% of what I learned in high school other than math. Does that mean most of my education was a waste of time? Did the things you learn change you in some other fundamental way, that only learning those things could (ie you could come to a conclusion and forget the exact process that brought you to that conclusion, and thus the process was worth learning even though now forgotten)? If not, then that learning must have been in vain, almost per the definition of vain, right?

guy98238710 5y ago

> Does that mean most of my education was a waste of time? Yes.

jeofken 5y ago

Public school is much a place to dump kids so that both parents can work full time - this is how it’s utilised in reality. Otherwise there would be a cutthroat market for parents education spending - but almost everyone leaves the child in the closest school they don’t have to pay for. Some would say separating state and school is equal or greater in importance, than separating state and church.

CogitoCogito 5y ago
I went to public schools all the way through undergrad and they were all excellent. I don't really know what would have been improved by those schools being private.
DarylZero 5y ago
I think there's a pretty cutthroat market for education spending even on the public schools -- people shop for homes based on school districts.
- DarylZero 5y ago
  Actually it's not really "education spending" it's more about which group of peers you put your kids with. Whiter is more expensive.

guy98238710 5y ago

To be fair, schools offer a lot of subjects to give you a taste of several academic disciplines. You are expected to choose one or two you like and discard the rest. If it is done well, you will enjoy the process. Having fun is not a waste of time.

JimTheMan 5y ago

Probably. And if you could accurately predict the lack of function after learning something, you'd probably dump that subject no? And you can do that with language instruction in most cases. Hell, maybe make language instruction more hardcore and immersive for those who need or actively seek it. For everyone else, it's not worth pursuing 98% of the time.