The things I learned but didn't really learn.

As I was walking my little girl to preschool this morning (post on preschool to come) I started thinking of nebulous clouds (I think there are such things). And then my mind wandered to nimbus clouds (I think those are real, or maybe something from Harry Potter). At that point I started thinking of volcanoes and sedentary rocks and indigenous trees and all those other things I “learned” in school, but didn’t really learn.

We were taught so much in school that we needed to know long enough to get an A on a test and then 2 weeks later would have looked at the same test as if we had never heard of such information in our lives.

And really, if we’re being honest, we hadn’t really. We weren’t learning the information, just memorizing it long enough to pass a test. And that’s all that was expected of us anyway.

It’s silly, in my opinion, to force kids to learn anything outside of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Everything else is simply an interest. Sure, I think kids should be encouraged to explore other subjects, and maybe even gently nudged towards those they wouldn’t so willingly delve into. But really, outside of reading, writing, and arithmetic, none of it is necessary.

I am sure this will come as a huge surprise, but since my 2^nd grade class where we learned about different clouds, not once have I had a need for to know the differences.  I’ve yet to need my chemistry information, or to utilize that biology dissecting project. No one has asked me about volcanoes. And, wait…..wait for it….I’ve not had to do a single bloody calculus problem since my final exam. Go figure.

And that’s all good, because although I got an A for all those classes, I have retained nada  about any of it.

You want to talk literature or proper grammar (which admittedly I don’t always use), history, travelling, foreign countries or human rights issues, I’m your girl. I’m a butt load of information when it comes to those things. Because they interest me, so I genuinely learned them (though most on my own time, not in a class).

Guess what my college degree is in. That’s right! History and International Studies with a focus on Human Rights. Surprisingly, though really not, I didn’t major or even use any of the crap I was forced to “learn.”

I do think reading, writing, and basic arithmetic are very important, whether you like them or not. Those are three things everyone uses daily, whether you like it or not. I use them as a stay at home mom, my husband uses them as an engineer, my little sister uses them as a college student, my older sister uses them as a 4^th grade teacher, and my step-sister uses them as a waitress. There is just no way around it. (And let’s face it, those are the only thing you are tested on for the SATs. Even they get that everything else just isn’t as important.)

But all that “extra” stuff? Nope. Honestly, what a complete waste of most of my childhood. I could have been playing, learning from the world around me and doing things that truly interest me (which also seem to be tools for learning). Instead I was stuck in a classroom for 7 hours a day doing meaningless busy work that have in no way contributed to me being a successful or well-rounded individual.

I’ve learned so much in my life thus far, and I’m learning so much more each day. But it’s really sad all the things I learned that I didn’t really learn.

I just hope I can give my kids something better. Sure, many are probably rolling their eyes thinking it’s a hippy-free-love way of thinking, but if you think about it; really stop and think about it, you know I’m probably onto something here.