School Subjects We Hated Then and Now
I am truly thankful for my education, but I can't say I'm thankful for all my education.
I may not have fully appreciated it at the time, but I could see the value of knowing about U.S. History, if not all of those pesky dates. I understood the importance of knowing Colorado history and how our government works. I realized that English and reading skills would be valuable tools in the years ahead.
Math skills are invaluable - no question about it. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions - it's all been beneficial throughout my life. But, let's talk about algebra. Have I used algebra even once since my freshman year of high school? Ever?? Of course, the answer is no. Not just know, but heck no!
When I asked our Facebook followers about the one subject in school you feel has served no apparent purpose in your life, the number one response was algebra. No surprise. I'm definitely not alone on this. Don't misunderstand me. We aren't saying that algebra has no purpose in life, but in the paths we have taken, it is not something we have needed.
Here's a look at some of the other classes that seem to have served no purpose in people's lives.
A few people mentioned gym class, and I understand it. Physical fitness is definitely important, but in my recollection, gym was more about playing games and sports than it was teaching us the importance of fitness.
Ah, yes, geometry. It took my brain half the school year to finally latch on to the concept of geometry. I went from despising geometry to almost enjoying it. I can see where some basic concepts could be beneficial in everyday life, but I think I would have done just fine without it.
Well, yes, Robert, not a lot of use for Latin in normal everyday living. However, I can say that one of the regrets I have about my school days is not taking a foreign language - be it Spanish or French. Spanish would certainly be the most practical, but somehow I opted for concert choir.
The bottom line is, I can see some good in just about all the classes I took in high school, but Mr. Algebra definitely missed the mark. That's an hour a day for an entire school year that I can never ever get back.