Is it me or the education system?

[BronyPony 575]

Well, here is the common question(or so I think) about the American education system and whether it is doing the right thing. Let me expand the question, however.

 

I am normally the rebellious(lack of term) person who with mathematical courses in schools I fail at(or get below average) the class and I always feel like I am a failure at math and I will never be able to understand it no matter how they seem to teach it in the classroom, yet on my free time I do math and I always find interesting things within mathematical concepts such as number theory and the relationships between different types of numbers, such as primes, and I enjoy taking a look into set theory and such. What strikes me funny is how the top students in the classroom, when I begin to talk to them about these kind of subjects, clearly have no idea what I am talking about. For some reason, I am able to understand subjects within mathematics that even the top students in my classroom seem to have no clue(I am not bragging, but if you know what i am getting at).

 

I mostly do research on number theory and applied mathematics on my own time(in fact it consumes my time). In a summarized sentence, the reason why I can't comprehend the subjects within my math class is due to the fact that I can only understand something if I see why something is the way it is. I have to be able to see the core equations behind a specific law in mathematics in order to be able to accept that law.

 

For example, in geometry I have a hard time accepting specific geometric laws because I always have this small feeling that it could be wrong. Even if I tell myself I accept the geometric law I still have this skeptical feeling of it(keeping an open mind that something could be right or wrong). It could either be my paranoid feelings or skepticism, I don't care how someone puts it.

 

I have to develop my own ways of understand the inner workings of a specific mathematical law or equation by trying to find the core equations behind it. Without it, I either don't understand it or I become "skeptical" of it.

 

Does anyone else have these thoughts on the American education system? Or is it just me?

[Moonlight 7,286]

Usually, if I don't understand something that well, I simply create a way of remembering it. I don't usually become skeptical, but sometimes I won't be able to understand it, or figure out how it actually makes sense in some form or another. So, no, you're not alone.

It's always Math class where I have these confused emotions.

[#1 Flutterfan 174]

Even in College you'll find this--it's all what you put into it. The American Education system is partly at fault--but at the same time even in college when a teacher assigns pages--not all of the students will read the pages, thus, if you do--you know more than them. On top of that--even the top 1% of the students may KNOW the material that they are covering in class--but not the outside work. YOU need to put the effort into both.

For example--I find statistics interesting, and research. That was my general love throughout college. So--that's what I'd like to do for a career--as for you, you need to find what you like, and go above and beyond. Because only you can get the fullest out of the education. No one can MAKE you learn more--it's on two people, the student and the teacher. The teacher should be doing everything they can to help you.

[BronyPony 575]

Even in College you'll find this--it's all what you put into it. The American Education system is partly at fault--but at the same time even in college when a teacher assigns pages--not all of the students will read the pages, thus, if you do--you know more than them. On top of that--even the top 1% of the students may KNOW the material that they are covering in class--but not the outside work. YOU need to put the effort into both.

 

For example--I find statistics interesting, and research. That was my general love throughout college. So--that's what I'd like to do for a career--as for you, you need to find what you like, and go above and beyond. Because only you can get the fullest out of the education. No one can MAKE you learn more--it's on two people, the student and the teacher. The teacher should be doing everything they can to help you.

Are you implying that I don't do more to understand the content? Heck, I work hours on mathematical concepts and trying to understand the concepts(in the end I do). I am merely criticizing the education system for what it does.

 

Of course the students must put their effort into education, however there are the 2%, such as me, who try to understand what the teachers are trying to teach and we are the ones who get C's and D's in the class yet we seem to understand more than what they teach, in fact those mathematical concepts are college level.

 

It could be that I suck at mathematics, though I do understand number theory and the specifics. I normally do mathematics on my free time. In fact I have developed found new mathematical concepts, yet I get C's and D's within math classes.

Usually, if I don't understand something that well, I simply create a way of remembering it. I don't usually become skeptical, but sometimes I won't be able to understand it, or figure out how it actually makes sense in some form or another. So, no, you're not alone.

It's always Math class where I have these confused emotions.

It isn't caused by confusion that I am skeptical. It is that I see the geometric law and make these other cases where I don't see the law would work and such. It is a hard thing to explain.

Edited July 25, 2013 by BronyPony

[Planty 1,053]

Are you implying that I don't do more to understand the content? Heck, I work hours on mathematical concepts and trying to understand the concepts(in the end I do). I am merely criticizing the education system for what it does.

 

Of course the students must put their effort into education, however there are the 2%, such as me, who try to understand what the teachers are trying to teach and we are the ones who get C's and D's in the class yet we seem to understand more than what they teach, in fact those mathematical concepts are college level.

 

It could be that I suck at mathematics, though I do understand number theory and the specifics. I normally do mathematics on my free time. In fact I have developed found new mathematical concepts, yet I get C's and D's within math classes.

 

It isn't caused by confusion that I am skeptical. It is that I see the geometric law and make these other cases where I don't see the law would work and such. It is a hard thing to explain.

To get over things like your skepticalness, just accept everything they say as theory. Each time you do it in your head put "by this theory" at the end. Passing > it being right or undertanding in the end

 

I also got u"s in every math exam till the last when i got a B overall. In the end maths takes alot of time, i did 2 hours a night extra study for months to get there and it obly clicked in the last few days.

 

Some people just learn slower then others, but i asmit some teachers are bad, i found a guy on utube that described things in a better way making it easier to understand

[Sylentmana 271]

When you say you get poor grades in math do you mean A-?  It sounds to me like you understand math very well.  I got a D in my high school math class and I was getting professional tutoring 3 times a week.  Math makes my brain want to shut off.

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

From what I've heard countless times about the mainstream education system that it isn't about learning at all but about obedience. You are assigned a task and must complete it within a given window of time. The better you can read the textbooks and take what is written in them as the word of God, the better for you. Critical thinkers are not welcome.

[SCS 7,537]

The way you critically analyze mathematics is actually a very useful skill that you could apply in a future mathematical and/or scientific career. It's important to question things, but it's also important to get your school work done. You need to get good grades in school to go on to college and get a degree, and you need to get a degree to be able to get almost any job involving math and/or science. 

 

Even if you find the class material boring, you sound like you have the capability to understand it if you allow yourself to give it a chance.

[Planty 1,053]

From what I've heard countless times about the mainstream education system that it isn't about learning at all but about obedience. You are assigned a task and must complete it within a given window of time. The better you can read the textbooks and take what is written in them as the word of God, the better for you. Critical thinkers are not welcome.

Yep, being able to do even if you can't understand is what they are looking for. Dissagree with teachers? = auto zero even if what you say has elements of truth in it.

 

What doesn't help if they teach you dumbed down stuff which doesn't make sense beucase they try and make it easy to understand. The amount of times me and my freinds found thing wrong in high school physics was unreal, this all gets fixed at a level though

[Winterbass 763]

The way education works now is so bad and retarded. You put so much effort into it but you're never going to use more than a fourth of what you learn. The rest is completely useless, the only way to get good grades is to kiss your teacher's ass and do everything by the book. Critical thinking and logic aren't welcome, however mindlessly completing tasks and homework is the way to the top. Tests are nothing more but to check if you're following the monkey-see-monkey-do approach not to mention the fact that this approach is the best one to finish your useless school career.

 

Like, I love physics, especially space travel and quantum physics. I'm not sitting in a classroom to re-invent the wheel or thermodynamics, I want to explore the realms of the unknown and speculate. Making 60 repetitive assignments about how volume affects temperature and how friction stops a box from moving down a slope isn't going to help me, in fact, it completely demotivates me. 

 

And people are so surprised why so many people hate school. I suggest to those people to eat the exact same food every day for 40 consecutive weeks, it's the same for students since they are sitting in a classroom listening to the same bullshit in a different coating every single day.

 

Makes me wish I grew up in Finland, at least the education system there makes actual sense. Thank god for universities though.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Winterbass

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Probably the education system.

 

From what I've seen, kids have become stupider over the years, and most teachers either don't know what they're doing or just go with whatever is going on.

 

Maybe it's just me, but the education system has went down hill for a long time, and I fear for the education of kids these days... 

[Scootalove 10,689]

The education system has really changed over the years, and I feel that the kids don't care while the teachers aren't really trying. I just feel that the education isn't really, doing so well over the years.

[Lost 1,410]

My previous school ( secondary school, high school to you Americans) didn't teach us for practical use, they taught us to pass exams, for example we didn't learn maths, we learnt what questions may surface on a maths exam and how to pass them, you may think they are the same thing, but they're not, when I went on to A level maths, I had to drop out after the first day because what they were talking about we hadn't been taught at all.

[Serbon div 386]

 

Well, here is the common question(or so I think) about the American education system and whether it is doing the right thing. Let me expand the question, however.

 

I am normally the rebellious(lack of term) person who with mathematical courses in schools I fail at(or get below average) the class and I always feel like I am a failure at math and I will never be able to understand it no matter how they seem to teach it in the classroom, yet on my free time I do math and I always find interesting things within mathematical concepts such as number theory and the relationships between different types of numbers, such as primes, and I enjoy taking a look into set theory and such. What strikes me funny is how the top students in the classroom, when I begin to talk to them about these kind of subjects, clearly have no idea what I am talking about. For some reason, I am able to understand subjects within mathematics that even the top students in my classroom seem to have no clue(I am not bragging, but if you know what i am getting at).

 

I mostly do research on number theory and applied mathematics on my own time(in fact it consumes my time). In a summarized sentence, the reason why I can't comprehend the subjects within my math class is due to the fact that I can only understand something if I see why something is the way it is. I have to be able to see the core equations behind a specific law in mathematics in order to be able to accept that law.

 

For example, in geometry I have a hard time accepting specific geometric laws because I always have this small feeling that it could be wrong. Even if I tell myself I accept the geometric law I still have this skeptical feeling of it(keeping an open mind that something could be right or wrong). It could either be my paranoid feelings or skepticism, I don't care how someone puts it.

 

I have to develop my own ways of understand the inner workings of a specific mathematical law or equation by trying to find the core equations behind it. Without it, I either don't understand it or I become "skeptical" of it.

 

Does anyone else have these thoughts on the American education system? Or is it just me?

 

I completely understand you. I had the same f*cking problem. At least how much I understood you. 

 

You have a great potential. But there is one thing with maths that makes things complicated. Maths require practice.

When you see that you understood what you have to do, then you just do it, over and over again. That way I always ace the test, and plus it's good for the future to easily recall such things.

For example you have to practice this equation, and then you find one like that or make one and you do it. Then you find a similar with different numbers and you do it, and so on... You need to do at least 50 equations I think.

[Foreigner And Lover 207]

Maybe you shouldn't take it from me, since I was the best math student in my high school, but I never found the school system the problem. If you think it's repetitive and boring, that's because that's the point. You learn a bunch of useless stuff because school is supposed to help you decide what you want to do in the future. How the fuck are you going to know you like physics if you don't learn the basics? Just enroll in a twenty thousand dollar college course in theoretical physics? No, first school teaches you the basics so you can make progress.

 

If you're skeptical of theories or dumb stuff like that, then you need perspective. It doesn't matter if the theories are true or not, you need to know the basics of how geometry works and how it applies. The authenticity doesn't matter unless your career involves geometry. Then you can start complaining. Besides, most of the theories you do learn are only true in Euclidean geometry.

 

If you are complaining that school is just memorize textbooks and do homework, then you don't understand why they give you homework. If there's something you like doing then you're going to have to be able to do useless papers on it if you are going to spend your career on it. Schools can't go past basic knowledge because that defeats the purpose of schools, which is teaching general knowledge and letting people try a variety of topics without making a commitment. You can't go straight to quantum theory, you have to start with kinematics.

 

If you love something and want to learn more about it then go to college. Chances are if you didn't try things in high school you wouldn't be sure what you wanted to spend the rest of your life doing.

 

PS Don't waste your time with geometry. Worst class I had in seventh grade.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Foreigner and Lover

[BronyPony 575]

Probably the education system.

 

From what I've seen, kids have become stupider over the years, and most teachers either don't know what they're doing or just go with whatever is going on.

 

Maybe it's just me, but the education system has went down hill for a long time, and I fear for the education of kids these days... 

From many studies I have read about, here is the conclusion I am getting(as many here are getting to as well).

 

Students are simply being taught how to do problems. They are being taught a step-by-step process that allows them to accomplish problems by instructions. From the experience I have in the development of mathematical theorems and postulates, there is no such thing as the step-by-step.

 

Even mathematics is a subjective in a sense where the mathematics you do is based on what problem you are trying to solve. It takes innovation and creativity even to do mathematics. Most students don't have this and those very few who do are able to get into Harvard, even though everyone has the potential for creativity.

 

I would love to be a math class where students work together, or individually, to solve an unsolved problem. Though they may never solve it, they will learn new mathematical techniques that can be used to prove something or even make it easier to carry out a mathematical process. However, they only do this in very few kindergarten classes. They shouldn't just being doing this in the lower level grades. They should be doing it for all.