What are we turning into?

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

My nephew went for Dentistry because it was a highly lucrative career - then dropped out because it was too boring (and icky) -ended up doing IT successfully, he earns very well now.

I guess the degree isn't as important though as the way you approach learning.

As Bojan says, by the time you've done year 12, your bad habits are very hard to discard.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by jenchris

My nephew went for Dentistry because it was a highly lucrative career - then dropped out because it was too boring...

Should have done more extractions for a bit of variation

As Bojan says, by the time you've done year 12, your bad habits are very hard to discard.

The good learning habits are even harder to discard

[bojan]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

The good learning habits are even harder to discard

But first, you have to acquire them somehow, somewhere..

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by bojan

But first, you have to acquire them somehow, somewhere..

You certainly do.

Somehow? Not so easy for some because you cannot be forced to learn.
However, if you want to learn, you will.
Parents, siblings, schools, libraries, Internet, friends and the media. They are all good sources.

[bojan]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

.. because you cannot be forced to learn.

Well, I am an old school, and of course I disagree with the above.
Most often kids don't know what's good for them.
"Forcing", however doesn't imply a brute force - but it does imply teacher's skill to make students want to learn. And good supportive environment (school) that keeps that will well and alive.

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

However, if you want to learn, you will.

Agree.. I was like that, and still am. To some extent thanks to my teachers.
But you still need organised environment (school). Media, friends, libraries siblings are not selective enough in offering particular knowledge (for young students).. it is OK for us with experience and some knowledge of what we want to learn in greater detail.

[A23649 (Nathan)]

I don't want to live on this anymore.

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

From the article:

There you go then.

Oh, the humanities...

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by silv

I don't even really know how to translate the term "calculus" into German maths

Differentialrechnung.

But calculus isn't higher maths, it's high school maths. It is very much intuitive and graspable by anyone who can tell the difference between speed and acceleration. Backing off at calculus is a very bad sign indeed.

I despair on a daily basis at what my kids are taught at school. They have a subject called "science", can you believe that? When I went to school we had geography, biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy all as separate subjects and taught by different teachers. Here, they have three different subjects for physical education. It's like we're breeding Neanderthals.

Cheers
Steffen.

[AndrewJ]

It's like we're breeding Neanderthals.

Oooohh, a great chance for weightlifting gold at the next Olympics

Andrew

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by bojan

Perhaps I am expressing a bit "leftist" view here (all my education was obtained overseas, and whatever I achieved may have not been possible if was born in Australia for example), but in my life I have seen both sides of that coin.

I know exactly what you mean, and I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that myself.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Differentialrechnung.

Steffen, please correct your quote at post #28: I didn't say that, it was user silv!!

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by bojan

Well, I am an old school, and of course I disagree with the above.
Most often kids don't know what's good for them.
"Forcing", however doesn't imply a brute force - but it does imply teacher's skill to make students want to learn.

Of course there's even older school where the birch ruled. Mind you, in my school days, we'd progressed beyond the birch but not beyond the chalk duster as a "student waking projectile device".

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

Steffen, please correct your quote at post #28: I didn't say that, it was user silv!!

Done!

[bojan]

Here wo go again:
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1226454083363