<p>Me and my friends were just talking about this.</p>
<p>I want to be a doctor or major in pre-med or sports medicine. Last year in English 2 I was forced to read the book To Kill a Mockingbird and I hated it, so I BSed the whole book and bombed the test.</p>
<p>How in the world will reading To Kill a Mockingbird help me when I'm saving a person who could be seconds from dying in the emergency room?</p>
<p>In other countries, students focus more on what they want to do. For example, if someone wants to be a chemical engineer, they only focus on chemistry and other general sciences. That's how America should be like. Right now I have so much studying to do for an AP Chemistry test tomorrow, but right now I have to deal with this stupid essay on my opinion on how the Salem Witch Trials happened.</p>
<p>High school would be much less stressful without being forced to take unwanted or unneeded courses.</p>
<p>^ What other countries might you be talking about? I can tell you that many of the “other countries” don’t have what you are asking for. IMO it’s good that you read To Kill a Mockingbird in class, so that you are enlightened in the area of literature.</p>
<p>Unneeded? That’s to be debated. (1) You may change your mind about what you want to do. Even if you don’t, many others will. (2) A well-rounded education helps to produce a well-rounded individual. Learning the history and literature of our society and other societies is an important part of being a member of this society, and will help you with critical thinking skills.</p>
<p>^ My friend told me that he visited Germany, France, and the UK and he said that they at least have better education because of that. The UK is similar to the US, but Germany is much more advanced in education than in the US. They start learning for their career much more earlier- starting in high school. Yeah they might still have required reading courses, but not as much, or should I say annoying.</p>
<p>Your friend (I assume a high schooler like yourself) “visited” and proclaimed the educational systems of Germany, France and the UK better. Well, I’m sold. </p>
<p>You don’t truly know what you want to do yet, you just think you do. Reading and discussing literature is about thinking critically. If you can’t do that, your chances of making it to medical school are constrained.</p>
<p>Most areas of the world go to school for at least 6 days a week and for longer hours a day. We go for 5 days a week with plenty of time off. Even if the curriculums were equivalent, it makes sense that when teachers have more time to teach and kids spend more time in school they are out preforming us. The worst bit is that no one is that inclined to change anything. Ask any elementary or even middle school student whether they would like to go to school more and, well, I believe most of them would say no and then run away screaming. That said, America is likely the best area of the world for college level education. Why else would international students flock to the US for college then return to their home country to enter the world of work? Those who love to learn here have the highest level of education offered in their respective fields. However, when you look at the difference between an “average” U.S. student to an average international student, you will find the data that scares many.</p>
<p>That discourse aside, schools want balance and for good reason. Let’s face facts here: a math major has to be able to communicate what he has to say and for that he needs a base in Language Arts much like a Liberal Arts major has to understand finances and what not to survive in the world of work and needs math to help him/her. Sure its fine to have a forte in one subject, but everyone needs some basis in everything taught at your standard high school to make a living. Even the skills that each subject teaches will be usefull. Who’s not to say that the problem solving that comes from analyzing a text will help you solve whatever problem a patient may be suffering from. OK, a PhD will help more, but don’t deny the importance of a subject just because it isn’t what you will be majoring in.</p>
<p>OP, I have never heard of any country where kids start to specialize in their discipline starting at high school. We don’t specialize in disciplines this early so we can become versatile, well rounded people. After having a enriched experience, we then make the decision for our discipline when we are mature enough to do it.</p>
<p>@Mathcountster: I think learning about those three courses “pique” average students interests more than any other class. That said, I think they should be elective only. I HATE how the only reason I’m not in AP Spanish is the fact that I have too many required electives I’ve mostly ignored up until this year.</p>
<p>Oh, and gym classes are arguably some of the most important classes you can take at high school comming from a life skills perspective. I may not like gym, but it’s hard to deny it’s importance.</p>
<p>America bases its entire society on the concept that people are able to rule themselves. That only works if the people are well-rounded in their knowledge.</p>
<p>^^I can see that, but I work out at the gym at least 4 times a week. THAT is why I fail to see the point of those classes. My school also makes you learn the rules of multiple sports? If I need to learn the rules, I’d either play the sport or watch it.</p>
<h2>* The UK is similar to the US, but Germany is much more advanced in education than in the US. They start learning for their career much more earlier- starting in high school. Yeah they might still have required reading courses, but not as much, or should I say annoying. *</h2>
<p>I drink lots of milk. I was high school Valedictorian. Other people don’t drink as much milk. Other people weren’t high school valedictorian.</p>
<p>You can’t force kids to be motivated. China doesn’t have a great system; standardized test scores are utterly useless. There’s a reason the US has the best university system in the world and why there are so many new discoveries being made by the minute here. To be quite honest, I think the way we would become better in education is by thinking correctly (aka implement Logic Classes). I always feel like I’m doing something wrong in class, yet I can still somehow do somewhat well in my classes.</p>