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Original poster

To think the school system is ridiculous

531 replies

Suflan · 10/06/2025 21:11

This post is talking about the school system in the republic of Ireland, but I know that the school system in the UK has some similiatites, so this is also relevant to people in the UK.

I went to school in Ireland a long time ago, 20 years ago.

My younger cousins are just sitting their school leaving certificate (irish equivalent to a levels) this year and they and their friends have been posting about the exams, after it happened, on social media.

I was just thinking what they learn and do exams on is such a load of shite. Like how is it relevant or necessary in todays world at all.

They posted about their maths paper, all the quadratic equations, prove that point 5,1 is on the line etc etc, extremely complicated equations, and algebra.

Like what do you need that for in life? Its so totally pointless. And maths is mandatory to do, so they need points from maths to get into University.

Like what is the point of learning these things. Surely they should be learning something useful. My cousins have said to me that they think that a lot of what they learn is totally pointless too

OP posts:
Martymcfly24 · 10/06/2025 21:21

What do you think they should be learning?

Bluevelvetsofa · 10/06/2025 21:20

It depends what you regard as useful and that will vary from person to person. I should imagine that understanding of quadratic equations would be very useful to someone who plans to follow a career based on maths.

What would you say hs been helpful for you to have learned OP? Your post would be more helpful were you to describe what you would do and how, rather than a blanket dismissal of everything taught in schools.

lnks · 10/06/2025 21:20

Can you not think of any careers where a really good understanding of maths is important? Because there are many

Original poster
Suflan · 10/06/2025 21:19

HopingForTheBest25 · 10/06/2025 21:16

As a child you don't know what you will need in the future - teachers have no way of knowing whether the kids in their class will go into career where this knowledge is essential, so have to give them the opportunity to learn it, just in case.

Without exposure to everything, how will a child learn where their true interests and abilities lie?

But maths in particular. The curriculum looks like it was desigbed 100 years ago.

Algebra is so completely irrelevant in this day and age.

OP posts:
Lammveg · 10/06/2025 21:18

Agree with PP. But it's also about the learning process itself, rather than the subject matter.

HopingForTheBest25 · 10/06/2025 21:16

As a child you don't know what you will need in the future - teachers have no way of knowing whether the kids in their class will go into career where this knowledge is essential, so have to give them the opportunity to learn it, just in case.

Without exposure to everything, how will a child learn where their true interests and abilities lie?

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