To think the school system is ridiculous

[Suflan]

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

Calling me stupid. How utterly immature of you.

And yet everyone i know say that they hated school and that it was like being in prison..

I didn’t call you stupid. I said you didn’t understand algebra. I don’t get chemistry, doesn’t mean I’m stupid.

Every quarter, working out the best mix of marketing spend to generate the maximum amount of revenue.

My son is just completing his Leaving Certificate and I find your post cringeworthy and pretty insulting to students and teachers alike !!

My kids have all gained so much from the fabulous Irish education system . I am so grateful .

And as for your ignorance regarding mathematics ......

Some people enjoy maths. My dc and lots of their friends do. Even if they go into careers where they don’t use it (and they may well do), it’s not a waste. Similarly, I really enjoy learning about Medieval history; it’s not remotely useful to my day job, but learning about it brings me pleasure. Just like dd enjoys untangling a gnarly maths problem.

Tax is obviously relvant and budgeting. Maths that is applicable to life, should be taught.

Have you used quadratic equations or algebra in your life?

I didn’t hate school.

What did you end up doing after school?

I definitely used simultaneous equations in my accountancy qualification to work out returns on investments and that kind of thing.

Also I’d bet most people use basic algebra most days.

Electricians will need it regularly, for example working out the right wires and electrical loads.

My maths degree would have been 7 years long if they’d had to cover the a level and GCSE content too. That wouldn’t have been feasible.

Compulsory education is designed to give you a broad knowledge and transferable skills (I used Pythagoras theorem when measuring to lay some decking last week). I think it’s pretty appropriately pitched.

Even if you never use algebra after leaving school, you are learning skills such as problem solving, applying known techniques to an unfamiliar task, using logic etc. These are all incredibly useful.

@Suflan

engineering uses advanced mathematics

Algebra is incredibly useful and you probably use it all the time without realising. For example any time you look at a multipack and figure out whether it works out cheaper to buy the six pack vs the four pack you're using the skills you would have learnt/practised by learning algebra.

I agree. I'm really pleased that we didn't have to do maths at A level. If we had. I don't think I would have have ever got into university.

I think you should do maths at O level or GCSE but not at A level unless you want to study a mathematical subject at university.

Maybe it was your specific school. I loved school. especially the labs and the library. We had the best collection of books on natural history. 😊

What do you do for a career op? I bet you use maths in some form, somewhere in your day.

So rude.

Let me ask you this. Why is your opinion allowed, and mine isnt'? My opinion on this is allowed too.

Why not just state your opinion , instead of insulting me, and calling me ignorant?

Be an adult and state your opinion without insulting others.

I absolutely agree.

I do research in psychology, studying how people learn and interact. i use algebra regularly and I expect all my students to understand it too. they need to be able to use statistics and write computer code and manipulate data, and all that depends on a basic understanding of algebra. I even still have my A-level maths notes in my office.

You need to meet more people. Theres plenty of us that didn't hate school. And regularly use algebra for that matter.

Totally agree with you its a load of rubbish. It's like mental torture and forces kids to shut off because they are so bored. A bit like many jobs today

Exactly - algebra is very widely used in many disciplines. Nearly choked on my drink when I read OP saying -
Algebra is so completely irrelevant in this day and age.

Maths is such an incredibly important skill for so many interesting careers. The course I teach medical students is algebra based, and maths and statistics are woven throughout medicine.

But you have the option of the Leaving Cert Applied or the Leaving Cert Vocational Program if you want a more practical education for the final two years. The Leaving Cert is a gateway to further education.

I like the joke where a pupil asks the maths teacher “Urgh, sir, will I ever need this when I grow up?” and the teacher answers “You won’t, but some of the smarter kids in class will”.

I talk to a lot of young people, in my job.

A lot of them tell me that they hate school.

The common complaints are : they hate the subjects, there are too many rules, it's too authoritarian, they can't even go to the toilet sometimes when they want to, etc etc
The school system is not working for a lot of people

Yes, all the time? Like, to work out how much pasta I need to cook for visiting family I know that I want 2n +1 handfuls - two per person and an extra 'for the pot'. To buy wood for a frame for a window I didn't have a long tape measure but I could measure it with some string then establish that it was 1.5 times as wide as high, so 2x for a side and 3x across, so 4x + 6x needed for the perimeter, so I could measure the string that was half the height of the side, x10 and have the amount of wood to buy.

Have you read this book?

Exam Nation: Why Our Obsession with Grades Fails Everyone – and a Better Way to Think About School
Sammy Wright

I think you would enjoy it. He agrees with you.
He is a secondary school headmaster.