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> If the kid is this smart he can do way better than running some VPS hosting company in the long run. What's actually super interesting about the kid's commen
by Arelius 14y ago
> If the kid is this smart he can do way better than running some VPS hosting company in the long run.
What's actually super interesting about the kid's comment is that while clearly written by a clever kid, he specifically never states that he is too smart for this, and that seems intentional.
It seems very much that the kid recognizes that the system is flawed, and not that he is too extraordinary for the system, so in my opinion, trying to appeal to him in the: "If you were that smart you would've just finished it next to all your other stuff." sort of manner will be of no effect.
Now, I don't even know if I think he should stick around through school, I likely would not have, but if that's what you want to argue to him, I'd suggest that the best way to do that is through showing him how non specialized education is helpful all through life, which I argue will be very difficult, because we have an educational system that stresses specialization over a more liberal education, and I think he recognizes that.
- InfiniteLoopx64 14y agoExactly. I do not feel I am too smart for school, however, as you say, I feel that the system is flawed. And I don't want to waste my time on many things that I know will truly never help me in practical knowledge. However, there is still of course the connections and some vital information that school providers, but I don't think it's worth sitting out all the other useless information that wastes my time.
- quasque 14y agoThis is a curious assault on general knowledge that you display here - what precisely would you consider to be "useless information", and why? Schooling at the level you're at now is designed to be well-rounded, and I suspect you would be doing yourself a future disservice if you chose to completely reject it in favour of your current narrow interests.
- shawndumas 14y agothe insipid inanity that they pass off as "knowledge" really is not worth his time. he would be much better served reading broadly; historic fiction, science/nature periodicals, the classics etc
- quasque 14y agoAs I am unfamiliar with the state of the US education system, could you please explain what exactly are you referring to?
- shawndumas 14y agobelow is an example of what is done and what to do diff. this is about science but you can extrapolate to the other subjects. teachers like Tyler DeWitt are vastly underrepresented in the school system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVwWN0kjbms&list=FLj3EXpr5v35g3peVWnVLoew&index=2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVwWN0kjbms&list=FLj3EXpr...
- shawndumas 14y agoalso see this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/09/a-warning-to-college-profs-from-a-high-school-teacher/?print=1 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/...
- quasque 14y agoThanks for the links. The speaker in that video makes an excellent point about science communication which I think applies to all education and not just primary/seconday school. For example, even scientific journals having "commentary" or "news and views" sections alongside the papers is incredibly important to tell the readers why the research may be important (if they don't follow it intimately already).
- danielweber 14y agoIt's been many years since I've read "The Millionaire Next Door," but one thing about the millionaires is they surprisingly often don't have college degrees, sometimes not even high school. HOWEVER, just about universally they highly highly value their own kids getting college degrees. It is one of the most important things they believe they can give their kids. So while they skipped parts of the traditional educational system, their experience after 30 years of life has convinced them that their own kids ought to have it.
- shawndumas 14y agoFlawed doesn't even begin to describe the system, and that's not taking into consideration that the system was never designed for people like him
- mtrimpe 14y agoEvery system is flawed; the ones after high-school as well. I'd suggest following hkmurakami's advice and figure out a way to bend the system to your will. It's a much more valuable lesson in the longrun.