OK, so, I'm having a debate about school and its procedures with someone who shall remain nameless. He's very very intelligent so It's not like I don't understand what he's saying I just think it's wrong.

He says that he only went to school to do tests. Never went to class, didn't do assignments and said, and I quote, "who goes to school besides for exams? I never understood that one either, people who need to go to class, people who need to study and do their assignments"

I'm arguing this very harshly because I find it pretty stupid to say this. Most people go to school to learn something they don't know. So if I were to only go to school and do my tests with out learning anything...how would I get anywhere? I'm not paying 10,000$ a year to not go to school.


What do you think? Would/did you only go to school for exams and skip out on all the in between or would/did you actually GO to school?

Or am I just the stupid?

at uni i only ever attented the first/last week of classes + tutes (and exams of course). lectures suck major arse and i learned things by studying, not by being talked at.

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Right. I had hands on stuff, too, but a lot of work I had to be there being taught.

I think it also varies on the program you're taking. I only had 1 lecture class, ever.

Schooling cannot be quantified as just exams.

If done correctly and with a purpose, schooling can be a tremendous learning asset and can help properly mold you into the human being you become.

Up until university I was only there to do tests and get it over with. That's how I survived high school; if I hadn't skipped most of my classes, the boredom alone would've made me drop out. The system isn't adjusted to everyone's pace, and if you happen to learn quicker than most of the other students, you get stuck waiting for them, and that makes the whole experience incredibly unstimulating, and even depressing.

Now I go because I want to learn stuff. But sometimes you have to go through classes (like prerequisites) that aren't all that interesting or classes where you already know most of the material and you just don't feel like showing up to class every day and get bored.

Had a math class like that this semester. I had no interest in the subject but I needed this class to take other more advanced methodology classes, so I skipped most of it (went to maybe 2-3 lectures), opened my book last sunday, skimmed through it for a few days and passed the exam on thursday.

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When bread becomes toast, it can never go back to being bread again.

I went to school to learn, not to take exams. Exams are a means to an end, not the end.

I guess it depends on your school, your program, your curriculum, and how you learn.

I for one, could never skip class. Not only because my teachers facilitate better understanding, but because a lot of what I learn I retain simply from listening.

Perhaps if I was more motivated to study on my own I'd be fine, but I like a mix of learning methods.

i rarely went to lectures, would only attend classes because they were compulsory, if they weren't i probably would of skipped them too

IMO each person should do whatever they think they need to do in order to learn/get an education. For example I know people who rarely study and understand everything immediately from class or by reading through the book once, and end up taking 5,6 hard technical classes with ease. And it works fine for them. But since I know I can't match that I stick to what I can handle by brute force studying.

My point is, if he knows his stuff after he aces the test and that's what works for him, then it's fine

But I also think that education should be about challenging yourself...so I'm inclined to say that if he's having such an easy time, he should probably challenge himself more

A huge portion of your grade usually reflects on the little assignments you did in the semester, too. I wouldn't want to not do them and lose 20%-25% (yes this can be huge) of my grade even if I aced my test.

tachobg = very bright

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN at uni i only ever attented the first/last week of classes + tutes (and exams of course). lectures suck major arse and i learned things by studying, not by being talked at.

Unfortunately at my university, they make sure you're in class, or they withdraw you. Two of my classes have a quiz every day and another has you sign an attendance form. 3 absences and you're out.

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