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You have a decent argument, but your example of calculus is about the worst you could have picked. I got 99% in calculus at UBC in the first semester, and then

by eloff 4y ago

You have a decent argument, but your example of calculus is about the worst you could have picked. I got 99% in calculus at UBC in the first semester, and then I set the ridiculous goal of beating that in the second. I did get my 100%, but what a waste of time. It’s never been useful to me as a software engineer, what I remember is dangerous, and the opportunity cost of spending all that time on it was high. I plan to unschool my kids one day, and I won’t try to force them to learn calculus. Some ground rules are necessary to get some breadth of education, but otherwise I’d rather nurture their natural curiosity and motivation than stifle it. My own education in software and computers is basically unschooling. It was fun, and I quickly surpassed my peers and went on to have a great career. I’m only 20 years in, but the difference in motivation and outcome is compelling.

threatofrain 4y ago
> You have a decent argument, but your example of calculus is about the worst you could have picked. > I got 99% in calculus at UBC in the first semester, and then I set the ridiculous goal of beating that in the second. I did get my 100%, but what a waste of time. Huh. Of all examples you could choose, you picked one where you were already in college, and specifically you pointed out how you got 99% in one university class and decided why not get 100% in another. And then you felt that the extra gain of 1% wasn't worth your efforts. • For most families, by the time your child is ready to learn Calculus with a private tutor or yourself, hopefully you should be very well attuned and be able to have a sophisticated conversation with them about what they're interested in. Of course if your child is learning Calculus at a very early age then you're going to have a very different situation than nearly all other families, whether schooled or unschooled. • Even in your example, it sounds like doing Calculus early would not be a bad choice. Since you don't think Calculus was profitable, why not fulfill those early reqs and instead take classes on what you really enjoy, esp. since classes are so expensive? This is a well known strategy.
- eloff 4y ago
  I think calculus has very limited utility these days. Rather learn something else. The problem is not the extra effort for that 1%, the problem was the wasted effort overall. I’m homeschooled, I found college pointless, and I dropped out and made my own way in the world. My brother did the same. We’re both reasonably successful today. I’m understandably skeptical of the educational system.

by eloff 4y ago

threatofrain 4y ago

> You have a decent argument, but your example of calculus is about the worst you could have picked. > I got 99% in calculus at UBC in the first semester, and then I set the ridiculous goal of beating that in the second. I did get my 100%, but what a waste of time. Huh. Of all examples you could choose, you picked one where you were already in college, and specifically you pointed out how you got 99% in one university class and decided why not get 100% in another. And then you felt that the extra gain of 1% wasn't worth your efforts. • For most families, by the time your child is ready to learn Calculus with a private tutor or yourself, hopefully you should be very well attuned and be able to have a sophisticated conversation with them about what they're interested in. Of course if your child is learning Calculus at a very early age then you're going to have a very different situation than nearly all other families, whether schooled or unschooled. • Even in your example, it sounds like doing Calculus early would not be a bad choice. Since you don't think Calculus was profitable, why not fulfill those early reqs and instead take classes on what you really enjoy, esp. since classes are so expensive? This is a well known strategy.

eloff 4y ago
I think calculus has very limited utility these days. Rather learn something else. The problem is not the extra effort for that 1%, the problem was the wasted effort overall. I’m homeschooled, I found college pointless, and I dropped out and made my own way in the world. My brother did the same. We’re both reasonably successful today. I’m understandably skeptical of the educational system.