To be fair though, most of the time you choose to take higher level math classes. For example, I'm in calculus this year, but my friends elected to take "the easy way out" and are in prestatistics.
The only class I have taken in my high school career (I'm in my junior year) that has any practical applications to my life is personal finance. We're learning about banking, investing, and other financial concepts. We study steps to building wealth. That is something that everyone should take because it applies to everyone and is useful to everyone. Math, science, art, history, and all of the other classes that we're required to take are just plain useless for 90% of the people that take them. Yes, it's building a base of knowledge, but for what? Learning for the sake of learning is just silly, but that's what the American school system is. Learning for the sake of learning. And actually, the schools don't even do that right. With so much emphasis placed on grades, students aren't concerned with learning the material (for retention), they're concerned with passing the tests. Ask just about anyone that has graduated from high school. My sister, for example, graduated 9 years ago and she has already forgotten everything she studied and "learned" there. That's just how it goes. High school is only important because the people that decide who gets hired/admitted say that it is.
Seriously? That class is a joke at my school. NO ONE cares about it.
However, I have heard that accounting was useful, but then again, that was from a girl who's parents are accountants.
Also, I disagree with you about American schools learnign just for learning. We learn to pass a standardize test. If not that, we learn to go on to college. We go to college because our society has this idea in our heads that we can't be successful unless you get your degree and get a high-paying job. A high-paying job would be great, but I know that not everyone is meant to go to college, so it should be okay if people choose not to.
The standardized tests that we spend our school careers studying for are just another branch of the educational system. Again, they only matter because the people that decide if you get into college say they matter. Everything between sixth grade and high school graduation (for most people) is just pointless. College actually prepares us for a career in our chosen field; they teach what you actually need to know to be successful in whatever occupation you choose. The fact that the only way to get there is by completing four years of what is essentially busy work is just ridiculous.
Personal Finance is a joke at my school as well. No one takes it seriously because it's so easy and dull. But regardless, the material taught in there is very informative and helpful.
High school is about exploring what you want to do with the rest of your life, and preparing for it. Sure, it's unlikely that I'll be a professional artist or trombone player, but it's nice, I think, that I have at least a superficial understanding of those classes.
With all the people that STILL can't differentiate between your and you're, I think it's the most valuable subject out there! Not to mention that it teaches you comprehension of reading material, which is vital in the work force.
I do agree that it's a little repetitive. Essentially, you do the same thing in each grade in high school, only with different reading materials.
It's great for people like you who "get" it. I personally never understood the people that a) couldn't be bothered to read a book or b) didn't understand a word of anything when it was read in school.
Foreign language. It's impossible to learn fluently in high school anyways unless you actually have a desire to learn it. Otherwise, it's just a waste because you forget it right after you're done with the class. You have to want to learn a language to actually learn it
Eh, not true. I always remember things from my history classes and math classes even if I don't mean to. I think I'll use every other subject someway in my future career. I may use Spanish too I guess haha I just don't know it fluently and I just finished AP Spanish
The point of high school math classes is not to become fluent, I guess you could say, in math, and the goal of a high school language class is not to become fluent in that class, even at the AP level. It's unlikely that anyone can become fluent in a language after the first bit of their life because of the critical period.
That's true. I just feel like I wasted a lot of classes being forced to take 4 years of Spanish when I know I will probably only use level 1 Spanish, if any, after high school and college
My AP class was taught in fluent Spanish and the test was all listening and responding in Spanish. It was most definitely meant to teach me how to fluently speak Spanish
Again, not fluent. Have a good understanding of constructs? Yes. Be able to speak and listen to/comprehend the language? Yes. But not become a fluent speaker or be able to comprehend fluently. You can communicate effectively without being fluent, and effective communication is what standard, honors, AP, and IB classes at my school and others aim for, because, as I said, being fluent is highly improbable.
My mom never took physics, chemistry, or any math beyond Algebra 2. She went to Harvard and is successful - it all depends on if/how you use the knowledge you get from the classes
State history, especially if you live in a flyover state. Like, the ones that pay attention in class are probably moving to Texas after college, nobody cares about Will Rogers or Native American history, and I could be learning about cool shit rather than a bunch of shit about tornadoes.
I respectfully disagree. I know you're Canadian, but in the US many students can't even identify all 50 states, let alone many other countries, so I think it's very important to put an emphasis on geography. (Plus it's also one of those things you can impress people with. My dad can identity every single country in the world and its capital city on a map, and people think he's a genius.)
Why does not knowing something make it imperative that we learn it? I probably couldn't name all 50 states, but that's not something I've ever been called on to do or ever expect to be.
I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth. I personally believe that geography is important because we are a global race and we must be aware of each other instead of wallowing in the ignorance of our own lives. I really enjoy learning about other cultures and AP Human was one of my favorite classes. But to each his own I suppose.
I agree with you, geography is important. Just the way you worded it/the way I read it made me think that you said what I said you said. And no, that phrasing was not on purpose...but I like it.
Oh, haha. I'm sorry that I misinterpreted your intentions in writing that comment. I'm glad you agree that geography is important. I actually don't have a class like AP Human anymore and I miss learning about the world.
AP Human Geography. The course is basically about world cultures, like a combination of geography, anthropology, and sociology. I had a kickass teacher too, and the class was amazing.
You will LOVE AP Psych as well. It's a tough class because of the breadth of material, but you learn a lot of stuff within a year and it's a good prep if you want to take more psychology later.
That does sound like a good class. Geography isn't my thing, but anthropology and sociology are two of the very few things that actually interest me.
I'm sure AP Psychology will be challenging. But for the first time, I won't mind! I'm miserable in classes like math, science, English, etc. because they're both difficult and boring. But if something is difficult and interesting, I can deal with that. And I absolutely plan to take more psychology classes. The leading contender for my major at the moment is psychology. My ideal career at this point is to be a psychologist in the field of research/academia.
Yeah, you should take AP Human if you can. I forgot to mention that there's economics involved too, because you learn about trade/industry of many nations, which wasn't something I liked very much, but the rest of the class was great. I'm glad to hear you're interested in psychology. It's a pretty female dominated field I think. There are no boys in my psych class.
A lot of people argue that it's not a real science, including a few boys I know, so I made them sign up for AP Psych to see if I could change their minds. The school year's almost over and one of them has cracked and admitted that yes, it is in fact a science. But who knows why females seem to prefer it more. Interesting indeed.
Math. Not basic math. Higher level ridiculous math.
To be fair though, most of the time you choose to take higher level math classes. For example, I'm in calculus this year, but my friends elected to take "the easy way out" and are in prestatistics.
Not all schools have different options. For me, i had to take caculus, or flunk because i didn't have a final math credit.
I initially agreed, but when I thought about it, it's not that the subject has no value for learning - it's that we have no interest to learn it. :)
The only class I have taken in my high school career (I'm in my junior year) that has any practical applications to my life is personal finance. We're learning about banking, investing, and other financial concepts. We study steps to building wealth. That is something that everyone should take because it applies to everyone and is useful to everyone. Math, science, art, history, and all of the other classes that we're required to take are just plain useless for 90% of the people that take them. Yes, it's building a base of knowledge, but for what? Learning for the sake of learning is just silly, but that's what the American school system is. Learning for the sake of learning. And actually, the schools don't even do that right. With so much emphasis placed on grades, students aren't concerned with learning the material (for retention), they're concerned with passing the tests. Ask just about anyone that has graduated from high school. My sister, for example, graduated 9 years ago and she has already forgotten everything she studied and "learned" there. That's just how it goes. High school is only important because the people that decide who gets hired/admitted say that it is.
Seriously? That class is a joke at my school. NO ONE cares about it.
However, I have heard that accounting was useful, but then again, that was from a girl who's parents are accountants.
Also, I disagree with you about American schools learnign just for learning. We learn to pass a standardize test. If not that, we learn to go on to college. We go to college because our society has this idea in our heads that we can't be successful unless you get your degree and get a high-paying job. A high-paying job would be great, but I know that not everyone is meant to go to college, so it should be okay if people choose not to.
The standardized tests that we spend our school careers studying for are just another branch of the educational system. Again, they only matter because the people that decide if you get into college say they matter. Everything between sixth grade and high school graduation (for most people) is just pointless. College actually prepares us for a career in our chosen field; they teach what you actually need to know to be successful in whatever occupation you choose. The fact that the only way to get there is by completing four years of what is essentially busy work is just ridiculous.
Personal Finance is a joke at my school as well. No one takes it seriously because it's so easy and dull. But regardless, the material taught in there is very informative and helpful.
Music :/ I mean normal everyday music is good, but I don't find any reason why we have to dig deep
Somebody has to dig deep in order to keep creating music.
Aw. D: At my school music classes are electives. I don't see why they would force it on people who aren't interested past elementary school.
High school is about exploring what you want to do with the rest of your life, and preparing for it. Sure, it's unlikely that I'll be a professional artist or trombone player, but it's nice, I think, that I have at least a superficial understanding of those classes.
English? SERIOUSLY?!
With all the people that STILL can't differentiate between your and you're, I think it's the most valuable subject out there! Not to mention that it teaches you comprehension of reading material, which is vital in the work force.
I hate English class, but only when we have do idiotic things like finding literary devices, themes, deeper meanings, etc. in a 200 word text.
Well okay, it's pointless for some people. Like me, since I do know the difference between your and you're.
I do agree that it's a little repetitive. Essentially, you do the same thing in each grade in high school, only with different reading materials.
It's great for people like you who "get" it. I personally never understood the people that a) couldn't be bothered to read a book or b) didn't understand a word of anything when it was read in school.
I agree. Unless we're reading something that's loaded with metaphors and symbolism that only the teacher picks up on.
Foreign language. It's impossible to learn fluently in high school anyways unless you actually have a desire to learn it. Otherwise, it's just a waste because you forget it right after you're done with the class. You have to want to learn a language to actually learn it
That's true with every class.
Eh, not true. I always remember things from my history classes and math classes even if I don't mean to. I think I'll use every other subject someway in my future career. I may use Spanish too I guess haha I just don't know it fluently and I just finished AP Spanish
The point of high school math classes is not to become fluent, I guess you could say, in math, and the goal of a high school language class is not to become fluent in that class, even at the AP level. It's unlikely that anyone can become fluent in a language after the first bit of their life because of the critical period.
That's true. I just feel like I wasted a lot of classes being forced to take 4 years of Spanish when I know I will probably only use level 1 Spanish, if any, after high school and college
That may be true, but I think you're expecting too much from a course which is only meant to take students to a limited level.
My AP class was taught in fluent Spanish and the test was all listening and responding in Spanish. It was most definitely meant to teach me how to fluently speak Spanish
Again, not fluent. Have a good understanding of constructs? Yes. Be able to speak and listen to/comprehend the language? Yes. But not become a fluent speaker or be able to comprehend fluently. You can communicate effectively without being fluent, and effective communication is what standard, honors, AP, and IB classes at my school and others aim for, because, as I said, being fluent is highly improbable.
My mom never took physics, chemistry, or any math beyond Algebra 2. She went to Harvard and is successful - it all depends on if/how you use the knowledge you get from the classes
Finnish literature... complete bs.
State history, especially if you live in a flyover state. Like, the ones that pay attention in class are probably moving to Texas after college, nobody cares about Will Rogers or Native American history, and I could be learning about cool shit rather than a bunch of shit about tornadoes.
Trick question. All of them.
English, after 8th grade its the same crap every year
I respectfully disagree. I know you're Canadian, but in the US many students can't even identify all 50 states, let alone many other countries, so I think it's very important to put an emphasis on geography. (Plus it's also one of those things you can impress people with. My dad can identity every single country in the world and its capital city on a map, and people think he's a genius.)
Why does not knowing something make it imperative that we learn it? I probably couldn't name all 50 states, but that's not something I've ever been called on to do or ever expect to be.
I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth. I personally believe that geography is important because we are a global race and we must be aware of each other instead of wallowing in the ignorance of our own lives. I really enjoy learning about other cultures and AP Human was one of my favorite classes. But to each his own I suppose.
I agree with you, geography is important. Just the way you worded it/the way I read it made me think that you said what I said you said. And no, that phrasing was not on purpose...but I like it.
Oh, haha. I'm sorry that I misinterpreted your intentions in writing that comment. I'm glad you agree that geography is important. I actually don't have a class like AP Human anymore and I miss learning about the world.
Is AP Human humanities? I've signed up for AP Psychology next year, that should be fascinating.
AP Human Geography. The course is basically about world cultures, like a combination of geography, anthropology, and sociology. I had a kickass teacher too, and the class was amazing.
You will LOVE AP Psych as well. It's a tough class because of the breadth of material, but you learn a lot of stuff within a year and it's a good prep if you want to take more psychology later.
That does sound like a good class. Geography isn't my thing, but anthropology and sociology are two of the very few things that actually interest me.
I'm sure AP Psychology will be challenging. But for the first time, I won't mind! I'm miserable in classes like math, science, English, etc. because they're both difficult and boring. But if something is difficult and interesting, I can deal with that. And I absolutely plan to take more psychology classes. The leading contender for my major at the moment is psychology. My ideal career at this point is to be a psychologist in the field of research/academia.
Yeah, you should take AP Human if you can. I forgot to mention that there's economics involved too, because you learn about trade/industry of many nations, which wasn't something I liked very much, but the rest of the class was great. I'm glad to hear you're interested in psychology. It's a pretty female dominated field I think. There are no boys in my psych class.
Huh, that's interesting. Maybe in studying it I'll ascertain why psychology appeals particularly to females.
A lot of people argue that it's not a real science, including a few boys I know, so I made them sign up for AP Psych to see if I could change their minds. The school year's almost over and one of them has cracked and admitted that yes, it is in fact a science. But who knows why females seem to prefer it more. Interesting indeed.
History :/ It should be optional or something, because it seems pretty pointless to have to know about the past..
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.