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Does anyone have an example of a better education system? I remember being kept in line with the curriculum until the point I realised I could learn easier myse

by trapper 18y ago

Does anyone have an example of a better education system? I remember being kept in line with the curriculum until the point I realised I could learn easier myself - has anyone experienced a "good" school? Where does one find such a place?

Prrometheus 18y ago
I don't know a better education system. However, one of my friends in the graduate Mathematics program at Wake Forest was 18 when I was an undergrad there. I don't think he went to special schools. Certain districts let children skip ahead; most make them sit in class, earn all-A's, and suffer boredom. My friend is now 22 and close to finishing his PHD. He should start his period of productivity at a young age. I know anecdotes are not data, and maybe he is unusually bright for an unusually bright person. However, it is certainly possible for a Mathematically inclined person to start a career early in the modern era. I have Hawkin's book "God Created the Integers". It's been awhile since I've read it, but I remember that more than a few of the famous mathematicians he profiled were tackling hard problems at a young age. They certainly weren't still taking Calculus I when they were 18.
- trapper 18y ago
  That's a shame. I wonder why there is no innovation in the education system like there is in other industries? I mean, montessori is considered innovative and it's like 60 years old? Perhaps a chance for a hacker or two :) Given how fast I have seen young people excel when given the right tuition, I suspect we haven't even begun to optimise human learning.
  - Prrometheus 18y ago
    My stock answer is that public bureaucracies are bad at innovation. Perhaps there is some sort of supplement to school that a hacker could work on for children interested in topics either outside or more advanced than the curriculum. Reforming the actual schools, though, is equivalent to reforming city hall.

by trapper 18y ago

Prrometheus 18y ago

I don't know a better education system. However, one of my friends in the graduate Mathematics program at Wake Forest was 18 when I was an undergrad there. I don't think he went to special schools. Certain districts let children skip ahead; most make them sit in class, earn all-A's, and suffer boredom. My friend is now 22 and close to finishing his PHD. He should start his period of productivity at a young age. I know anecdotes are not data, and maybe he is unusually bright for an unusually bright person. However, it is certainly possible for a Mathematically inclined person to start a career early in the modern era. I have Hawkin's book "God Created the Integers". It's been awhile since I've read it, but I remember that more than a few of the famous mathematicians he profiled were tackling hard problems at a young age. They certainly weren't still taking Calculus I when they were 18.

trapper 18y ago
That's a shame. I wonder why there is no innovation in the education system like there is in other industries? I mean, montessori is considered innovative and it's like 60 years old? Perhaps a chance for a hacker or two :) Given how fast I have seen young people excel when given the right tuition, I suspect we haven't even begun to optimise human learning.
- Prrometheus 18y ago
  My stock answer is that public bureaucracies are bad at innovation. Perhaps there is some sort of supplement to school that a hacker could work on for children interested in topics either outside or more advanced than the curriculum. Reforming the actual schools, though, is equivalent to reforming city hall.