What subject(s) did your school board make mandatory to take, but think it was a complete waste of time?
Robot
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
ArishMell · 70-79, M
We don't use "school boards" in the UK, but do (or did my day) have compulsory syllabi to fairly consistent, cohesive, minimum, national standards designed by the examination boards run independently of the Department of Education, Local Education Authorities, schools and school governors.
Of the compulsory subjects I thought French and History ones optionally to drop for the General Certificate of Eduation "Ordinary Level" examinations whose passes were intended as stepping-stones to employment or further education.
I was not to know as I turned sixteen that only a few years later I would enjoy my first of maybe a dozen holidays in France, over the next few decades - and yes, I did have the courtesy to at least try using their language when speaking to the locals.
Nor to realise the importance of a fair knowledge of History.
I thought a lot of Mathematics pointless but that was because I was weak at it, had no help at school which also failed to explain its value and uses in the wide world outside, and did not enjoy it. I must admit though, never having to Prove that Line OA is parallel to Line BC (Euclidean Geometry), nor to use Venn Diagrams that John Venn had never intended as "mathematical" !
I was not to know I would subsequently come to realise the importance of Arithmetic and Mathematics in so many areas of work and even my interests, but my poor numerical ability did scotch my early dreams of becoming a professional scientist or engineer. (I worked in various companies in those fields but at shop or lab. floor level not needing high qualifications.)
Of the compulsory subjects I thought French and History ones optionally to drop for the General Certificate of Eduation "Ordinary Level" examinations whose passes were intended as stepping-stones to employment or further education.
I was not to know as I turned sixteen that only a few years later I would enjoy my first of maybe a dozen holidays in France, over the next few decades - and yes, I did have the courtesy to at least try using their language when speaking to the locals.
Nor to realise the importance of a fair knowledge of History.
I thought a lot of Mathematics pointless but that was because I was weak at it, had no help at school which also failed to explain its value and uses in the wide world outside, and did not enjoy it. I must admit though, never having to Prove that Line OA is parallel to Line BC (Euclidean Geometry), nor to use Venn Diagrams that John Venn had never intended as "mathematical" !
I was not to know I would subsequently come to realise the importance of Arithmetic and Mathematics in so many areas of work and even my interests, but my poor numerical ability did scotch my early dreams of becoming a professional scientist or engineer. (I worked in various companies in those fields but at shop or lab. floor level not needing high qualifications.)