"You've GOT to focus on this project. It's important!"

[Christian Hellhound]

Lately, my mom has been nagging me about doing this shitty, pointless project for Physical Science class where I have to make a mousetrap car. Today, when I told her I needed this product from the store to untangle one of my cosplay wigs she nearly bit my fucking head off! She asked me, "Have you even assembled your mouse trap car yet? You need to be worrying about that." Well, no, because YOU still haven't bought the fucking special glue or epoxy I fucking need to even do that. But whatever, fuck my interests and things I actually care about, let's focus on making something that'll only earn me a retarded letter that says "You're smarter than a brick" because school and grades are more important than anything else in the universe.

GO DIE IN A FUCKING HOLE, SCHOOL. YOU ONLY FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE AND RUIN MY LIFE. DIE.

/end rant

[brainiac3397]

They always seem to think that until 18, you spend 100% of your life with school.

In most countries this view is reinforced by the media.

[James Comey]

Turn in a half-assed project it you don't have jack shit. A bad grade is better than a zero.

[xcriteria]

(12-01-2013 04:15 AM)brainiac3397 Wrote:  They always seem to think that until 18, you spend 100% of your life with school.

In most countries this view is reinforced by the media.

And yet, very often, media storylines regarding school itself are either rare, or end up ridiculing it.

The common trope here: Adults Are Useless

Or consider this promo for Disney Channel's series ANT Farm:



Watch on YouTube

Comedy aside, really, "Why School?", and "What is School For?"

Why School? TED ebook author rethinks education when information is everywhere (Will Richardson)

Stop Stealing Dreams: What is School For? (Seth Godin)

Both Will Richardson and Seth Godin are parents, and have TEDx talks as well.

Things are changing... explore what people are saying, use items like these to facilitate conversations with others in your life, and report back on what comes of it.

That's one way to channel that very understandable anger and frustration.

In short, it doesn't have to be like this forever. Interest-based learning is a key starting point... all kinds of interests can be followed to learning things that do matter. So, if that viewpoint is understood by more people, maybe there can be less pointless projects, and more awarding of points for things that people want to work on.