Why I Think School is Just a Big Waste of Time
I may get an earful about this post from my parents, but I have been doing a lot of thinking about this subject lately. Maybe I am an anti-conformist. Maybe I just really don’t like rules (okay I don’t like rules). But for some reason, I have a really hard time sending my kid to school everyday when I know that he may be wasting his time.
Gasp! I know. I can’t believe I am saying this. I really do believe that my son is smart, and at the same time, he does need guidance and a good “education”. Sometimes I ask myself what type of education he is getting in school.
The public schools of California rank 47th among the nation in spending and get a respective “D” for academic achievement. Wow, he may learn more if I just drop him off at the local McDonalds everyday.
But it is not just the California schools that aren’t teaching our kids. I think as parents we get trapped into thinking that our children learn everything they need to at school. But in, fact they do not.
How are we to teach our kids about the love of adventure, about financial independence, about being creative and creating a living for themselves? School will not teach that. In fact, I never learned a thing about finance until I was well into college.
Financial independence and how to create money is definitely not taught in school. In fact one of my friends keyed it well when he said, “The only thing school teaches our kids, is how to be good workers.”
Well, there is a much valued need for good workers. But shall I doom my children to the rat race before they even have a chance? Send them to school from 8 to 3, fill out the forms, get good grades, only to find out that they didn’t learn all the other needed skills?
It is no wonder why there are more than 1 Mil homeschooled children in America. And as more and more are studying the impact of homeschooled children, they are finding that homeschoolers are more motivated, smarter and graduate earlier than their respective peers.
I had the opportunity to meet one such homeschooled woman the other day. She finished high school at 16! She gained an average of 2 years to live her life and do what she wanted by taking this route.
When time is such a precious commoditiy, as I believe it is, is it possible school, the way it is now, is just a waste of time?
12 Responses to “Why I Think School is Just a Big Waste of Time”
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I just walked away from a six-figure income to pursue the two most important things in my life:
1. Time with My Family
2. Time for Adventure.
I’ve done this all without sacrificing our quality of life!!
I’m redesigning my life to recapture what’s really important, and I want to teach others to do the same!
Won’t you join me on this adventure?
Hi! I’m visiting from MBC. Great blog.
I am not an expert but I think there is a bit more to school than simply the education or curriculum. I think kids learn how to interact, communicate, play, eat(not always), progress, think… Of course there is the flip side as well children could learn inappropriate behaviors.
School is more than the books!
Dan Callahan, MSW
http://www.rehabilitation-center.org
Agreed Dan! I think that in California (which is my only frame of reference), that I could likely engage my children in social activities that would allow them those options. But unfortunately, the schools are under such pressure (No Child Left Behind) to get kids to pass tests rather than teach them what is really important in life…true life skills as you explain. I am proponent of time, not of bureaucracy. I am not taking my kids out of school now, unless we see a big opportunity for a real-life learning adventure! Cheers, thanks for the comment!
Great blog Makenzie!
I appreciate what you are saying about being a non-conformist. I am certainly an out-of-the-box non confomist myself. Rules and regulations ~ Some good as guidance ~ Some can be restrictive to creativity and adventure that you speak of.
While my expertise is not in California Schools, I am certain they are as most States pressed economically and that I surmise will limit curriculum based programs. The sense of commaradarie and group participation in schools is of high value I believe.
I agree with your writing in regards to teaching financial independence, adventure ~ the creative side! ~ I am suggesting perhaps this is the time as Parents to reach out to the community for resources to provide those creative outlets and, quite frankly, basic economic principles that are not taught in schools.
Again, great blog and website. ~ Thanks for your post!
Blessings, Nancy
School definitely does not prepare people for the real world. Most of it is done on experience. There are people who have studied and have degrees, but their career does not have anything in common with their education.
I do know that my son, who is just turning 7 today (December 3rd), he is at a level that I was not at in school when I was his age. However, he is in a lot of advanced programs, another thing that was not around in the late 80s.
I did not get into the business mind until my father took up Amway. To me, I do not like Amway, but I did learn a lot of things from the people that spoke on the tapes and even the books I eventually picked up. Now, I am in a degree for business…lol. I wish there were more opportunities where children could learn the basics, and then by junior high or high school be given the opportunity to more programs that will better prepare them whether they become an entrepreneur, CEO of a big business, or anything else.
Writing a grant, writing for a scholarship, social media/ marketing, etc…those would be awesome to learn in school.
Good points Nile. I was laughing when I was reading your post because my parents were in Amway too! And for all of the bad press that Amway got, I think the motivational and educational part kind of rubbed off on me! I remember at the age of 5 going to seminars and the meetings etc. I think there is value in teaching those real life skills to children. I guess my question is: We only have a limited amount of time here, what is the best way to educate ourselves and our children?
I have mixed feelings about school too and I think its more dangerous than its worth sometimes.
OMGosh, Makenzie,
So glad you found me so that I could find you and your site. You are an inspiration to us entrepreneurs and mothers. Super glad to be connected!!
I agree with you. My son started Kindergarten this year and it has been a complete let down. Our schools are highly rated but with the number of children per teacher, the number of special needs kids in the classroom and the lack of focus, I just think he’d learn better at home. But we’re sending him for the horrible “socialization” and with the idea that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
We may be way off base but in that case, we always have homeschooling as a back up plan. I’m following from the MBC. Thanks for sharing such informative articles.
Hi Angela, I completely know how you feel! The socialization is important, but I think with the increase in homeschoolers now, they have it pretty well figured out. Some homeschool groups even create their own classes and activities. Of course there are advantages and drawbacks to both sides. It certainly doesn’t seem like the traditional school systems are getting any better! Good luck with your schooling situation! ~Makenzie
Hi Makenzie!
I homeschooled my daughter for the first three years of her academic life. The curriculum was much more advanced than anything she could have been learning in public school. However, I also made sure she was receiving the full required attendance hours by the state and she was comprehending the subjects without any difficulty. I know it made a difference in her life and gave her an added head start beyond her public school class. I would still love to be homeschooling her, but she begged me to let her attend public school. I think she felt like she was missing out on the socialization and normalcy of being a kid. She is thriving in public school and remains to keep an A-A+ average in all her subjects. I know it is because she was taught at an early age the importance of education and was given my complete utter attention in every course which is something she wouldn’t have received in public school.
I’m stopping over from MBC and now following you!
Read the book Dumbing Us Down, by Gatto.