Curiousity Is Dying

Confuzor · September 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">Entropy in schools</div> Topic mainly to do with my first-hand experience and thoughts...

They're was a time in school where I think I managed to do extremely well. Perhaps it was due to the fact that work was easier, but one thing I feel lacking more than ever nowadays is the prowess I once had when tackling on school... and I have a theory for this:

At the time of grade ten, my possible career options were in a four-way gridlock between taking up a position in the medical field, becoming a psychologist, becoming a Christian theologist, and becoming a multimedia artist. Nearing the end of grade ten, I decided that becoming a multimedia artist would be the leading contender, and thus, the gridlock began to disintegrate. I'm still trying to keep my options as open as possible however, so of course I'm trying to maintain good marks, however, as the reality of taking up the former career options grow dimmer and dimmer, I find myself less interested in the courses that are a major foundation in launching me there.

A few years ago, I would of considered myself insane for not deciding to go to university, yet I've now pretty much made up my mind that I'm not, (I now have my eyes set on a technical school). Thus, I find myself less interested in pushing hard for many of my academic courses - most notably mathematics. When I started at my high school, I took math at an advanced level, so I finished Math 12 last year... with a 68% average.

If I got a score like that in grade eight, I would of jumped off a cliff. My dad urged me to retake the provincial for a better mark, but I just couldn't bring myself to care. "The teacher sucked, dad! I don't want you to pay for summer school just to deal with math AGAIN when I should of been taught it well the first time. <b>Besides, it's not going to play any part in my post-secondary education</b>."

I also barely got through my sciences (took all 3 at the 11 level: physics, chemistry, and biology) with an "A", and while I would of been disappointed with such low-grade A's at an earlier age, I didn't really care. The marks still <b>sound</b> good, right? I think with the sciences, my mark is still generally good enough with the percentage standards set by universities, but even if not, I wonder how much it would really trouble me, if at all.

As you will have already noticed, I relate a lot with the courses to university. For a long time, I was engrained with the traditional mindset of:

good school grades --> good chance at university --> high-paying job as lawyer/doctor/dentist; pharmacist or accountant is also acceptable (I come from a Chinese background <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'> )

Thus, when I hadn't figured out my future, I had <b>motivation</b> in many of my courses. Not because I enjoyed it, but because it was for my future. When I realized that it wasn't going to play a role in my future, motivation dropped like an anvil.

I think this is a mindset a lot of you people share; maybe lack of curiousity FOR EVERYTHING comes as your grow older and you only want to concentrate on the things that fit in your spectrum of interest. The courses of greatest interest to me I currently take are "World Literature", Multimedia - this year, we're learning Lightwave, and Drawing and Painting. I <i>thought</i> I was going the enjoy History, but the way the teacher has set up the course seems to make it very unwelcoming. Biology was my highest science last year, so I don't think I should have a problem with it. And with Chemistry, I'm being taught by the same great teacher who taught me in grade nine, so even though I'm not really interested in the subject itself, I'm going to do my best to excel in it.

I spoke with my dad a while ago asking him whether he actually enjoyed school as a kid, (he took school around the 50's in Malaysia), and he said he did in fact enjoy what he learned, lncluding things like grammar! Maybe grammar somehow beat the alternative of hard farm life, I don't know for sure, but grammar?!?!? He also enjoyed Math as well, which if you haven't figured out, I hate with a passion. I guess some people see it as challenging; I find it half tedious, half frustrating 90% of the time. I might just drop out of Calculus yet...

Is our education simply motivated on money? What can make it motivated by curiousity? I understand that education boards can't tailor the cirrculum for every individual student, they have to try to find some sort of balance that will hopefully fit with the masses. The most intriguing solution always seems to be "home schooling", but it's not practical for everyone, both for financial reasons, and because it's not a norm in society.

Sorry for repeating the thoughts most people probably share already... Discuss... whatever you want.

absentic · September 2003

You could try setting a realistic goal on what you want to do when you grow up. Something interesting, say, advanced space travel? Now remember its almost 2004, stuff like that isn't far away :]

And let me remind you, you don't need to be super-highly educated to have a well paying job.

alius42 · September 2003

I've been suffering the same fate lately, but its also coupled with hardships I'm facing in life. But I agree, I've noticed a steady downfall of my interest in my classes since junior high. I've always gotten good marks and its never really been a problem, but I've recently been faced with the thoughts of "is this really worth it?" and when you have boring teachers it doesn't help a bit. I'm actually pursuing alternative ways of finishing highschool, I've yet to find a fit though. Just want to say I feel for you.

*edit* I'm also extremely turned off by the ideas of standardized testing and how much that factors in, when its so obviously worthless. Not to mention how everything is becoming so PC nowadays. *edit*

Confuzor · September 2003

I have my goals set up already. I plan to go to the technical school, my career goal WILL be to become a multimedia artist. For the sake of extra security, however, I try to do well on the "irrelevant" academics, in case my primary plan fails.

It is a bit unsettling since I think the rest of my friends are headed to university... but it's deja vu for me anyways since I had to go through the same thing by going to a high school none of my elementary friends were going to. I can adapt...

Still, it's sad seeing most of us aren't really interested in learning anymore unless it helps you earn money. C'est la vie...

kida · September 2003

Human curiousity is what brought us this far. If it wasn't for people like Einstein, people with a profound desire to know about things they don't, we wouldn't be this far. School is something that becomes a drag after the first six to nine years, it simply doesn't spark people's curiousity, because it has become a place frought with peer pressure and the desire to be accepted. There are so many aspects of school that deter us from it.

It is my belief that establshing a long time dream from a very early age is extremely important to be sucessful. Some people stick to this childish goal, some people grow off of it and find new and more interesting things. As the saying goes, money isn't everything to life. There are people in this world that don't make a lot, but enjoy helping others or doing things that are beneficial to mankind.

As for me, I think the way school is run should be changed in the near future. They should try to improve the image of school by hiring better and more enthusiastic teachers, and whatnot. Me and my friends have nothing to do at lunchtime, I wish the school would maybe put up some physical activities, like street hockey, or have giant LAN games. School has no motivation also because the government simply doesn't care as much for our eduacation than the construction of a renovated city hall or two 100 million dollar jets for the Prime minister.

In the future I hope to become several things, 1) archaeologist 2) cosmologist 3) someone that helps others 4) world wide photographer 5)artist. There are so many things that I could and want to become, but it is to my belief that the future rests in God's hands. Someday I want to move to the eastern part of the world, away from western civilzation. Mongolia, India, Sri Lanka, and whatnot.

I am a pretty curious guy, where as people don't look in the sky to see the beauty of the heavens and the clouds, I would. If riding a bike or walking, I would run my hand out and touch the rails and objects nearby to feel their texture out of pure curiosity. Some people arn't risk takers, but I am. Where logic plays sense, for me it is my instinct and emotion. The rest I leave to God's will.

If all in all nothing works, me and my friend will move to Mexico and live the simple life. But alas I don't think that would work either. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'>

The best thing from my young experience and from the experience of my father is to do the best you can in school, don't worry, and put 100 percent effort in what you want to become.

-peace

DiscoZombie · September 2003

wow, you read my mind. What college education has turned into in the last few decades really bothers me. College used to be about broadening your horizens, making you a generally more intelligent and well-read person. Now people go to college for a particular career so they can make money in the long run, and don't pay attention to a single thing outside of that future career.

On one hand, I think that's partially what makes the United States so successful -- everyone's all geared toward being industrious and making money, so the country produces a whole lot. On the other hand, no one can think for themselves anymore -- we're all like hard-working ants, none of us understanding anything about the world besides our own narrow, individual jobs.

It's a real shame. People used to pride themselves on being intelligent and understanding the world. Now everyone's so specialized that they're content to let others think for them. We're closer to Orwell's 1984 than we all know...

Legionnaired · September 2003

What you do for the food on your plate and who you are are two completely diffeferent things. I'm getting the crap kicked out of me by school right now, and that little bit of truth is the only thing keeping me sane. I do well with this because I know I need to to be able to survive. It's to pay for the clothes on my back, it doesn't define who I am.

You're burning out, just as I am. Stick it out, and define who you are through some other, more wholesome, more worthwhile, more fulfilling means than money. Invest in some people, and it'll help you get through your school work better, knowing that it's just something you do, and that the purpose of your life is helping other people on some level.

It's probably off base, and not what you wanted, but really, the only thing keeping me sane right now is the fact that I can invest in my friends more than I can my schoolwork. I guess that kind of helps me re-assert myself as a decent human being.

alius42 · September 2003

Well my problem with school is not how difficult the work is but more keeping my interest level up, I would much rather be out experiencing the world for what it is then sitting couped up in a classroom nodding off while listening to something I'm going to forget once the test is over. School has veered off course, its become something it shouldn't be. School IMO should make you a better person, not teach you to conform. That again lies heavily on your teachers but then again I've been seeing amazing teachers censored because of the stuff that makes them great. Its terrible. I've slowly watched as questioning is almost looked down upon in class now, the students aren't involved, the teachers get upset when questions are asked almost and don't really have an answer to why this will help you later in life. I guess I'm just fed up with it but thats how I feel.

kida · September 2003

CommunistWithAGun · September 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DiscoZombie @ Sep 14 2003, 10:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> wow, you read my mind. What college education has turned into in the last few decades really bothers me. College used to be about broadening your horizens, making you a generally more intelligent and well-read person. Now people go to college for a particular career so they can make money in the long run, and don't pay attention to a single thing outside of that future career.

On one hand, I think that's partially what makes the United States so successful -- everyone's all geared toward being industrious and making money, so the country produces a whole lot. On the other hand, no one can think for themselves anymore -- we're all like hard-working ants, none of us understanding anything about the world besides our own narrow, individual jobs.

It's a real shame. People used to pride themselves on being intelligent and understanding the world. Now everyone's so specialized that they're content to let others think for them. We're closer to Orwell's 1984 than we all know...  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Yeah...you can get the same education in a tech school as a university, but people think you don't just because its cheaper. I like being in a tech college more than a university. The teachers are always around, and the classes are nice and small, whenever you have trouble everyone stops everything and helps you to catch up/understand. Its definately better.

DiscoZombie · September 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CommunistWithAGun @ Sep 15 2003, 07:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Yeah...you can get the same education in a tech school as a university, but people think you don't just because its cheaper. I like being in a tech college more than a university. The teachers are always around, and the classes are nice and small, whenever you have trouble everyone stops everything and helps you to catch up/understand. Its definately better.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
that's probably the sort of school I should have gone to, instead of getting stuck at one of the biggest universities on the US east coast, with lectures of 400-500 people...... =x

Euoplocephalus · September 2003

Yeah, the state of oour education is really sad, at least here in the US. I changed colleges, and majors, because I got sick of having to specialize so early. At my old college from my first semester on I was supposed to take mostly classes that were about my major, and very little else. It sucked, I liked paleontology, I liked science, but I also like reading, philosphy and history (my new major).

Albert Einstien once said </span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> I'm not sure about the need for religion exactly, but rather a strong base in the humanites. Without a strong background in studying what it is that makes us who we are, how can one possibly truely engineer something for people, if one can't understand the people who will be using it?

Conversly, when I see something like "Physics in Modern Movies" or "Chemistry for Liberal Arts Majors"(both real classes at my current university) I shudder. How can it possibly be that an introductory level course in science is too difficult for a scholarly student to be able to pass, and as such they need a dumbed down course? These courses won't do anything but give students an easy way out of the science requirements, and futher the divide betwix science and the arts.

Curiousity Is Dying

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