If that were true nerdius then that would only be because school is teaching people how to be realistic.Anyone who wants to have a job in Engineering will learn that School teaches them what they can do,and will do in the future.
Teaching people how to be realistic? "Realism" is setting your expectations lower because you aren't as talented in a particular area? Just because your talents lie in one direction doesn't mean that's the direction you should go. If you really want to be an astronaut/fireman/research chemist, you should pursue your dream, not follow the "realistic" path set for you by someone else.
No one in school ever told me I'd be good at logistics, which is what I do for the U.S. Army. And no one ever told me I should be an entrepreneur and start my own small business, which I've also done. I learned facts in school, not skills. I learned how to regurgitate information. I never learned how to think creatively or dream big. I was never taught people skills. I was never really motivated to pursue whatever I wanted to do. The modern education system (and society in general) love to tell you that you can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do, but then they turn around and tell you that to reach your goals, you need a higher education.
But what does higher education really teach you? The average tuition cost for a four-year public school degree is approximately $25,000. That doesn't include dorm or rent fees for the year, or any other expenses as a result. And for that $25,000, what do you get? You get a bunch of professors who make $40,000 a year teaching you how to make $40,000 a year. You learn to regurgitate the necessary information in order to pass the class. You don't learn to think creatively. With the exception of perhaps Philosophy and some kinds of English degrees, you really just have to copy the facts into your head and paste them onto the exam. And anyone with a Philosophy or English degree will tell you that your only options are to teach it or pursue more education.
obviously there's a serious independence lacking in youth these days
That's because parents and teachers treat kids like... kids, rather than treating them like adults. When people reach 18 in this country, they're often unprepared to run their own lives because they've never been pushed to learn independence.
Lenore Skenazy, a columnist from Manhattan, dropped her 9-year-old son in a Bloomingdale's and let him find his own way home. Then she wrote a column about it and was villified by the media. The following is a short story from Reader's Digest.
Let's Stop Scaring Our KidsThis woman is a genius. As she continues to raise her "Free Range Kid" he will learn independance and will never lack for self-confidence or the thought process needed to take care of himself in a situation.
Think about the number of Americans who can't change their own flat tire, can't change their own oil, and when presented with a tough situation, immediately crack out the cell phone and call for help. And who do they call (besides AAA)? One of those guys who can do all that "hand-on stuff" because his dad taught him a few basic skills. Or one of those girls whose mom made sure she wouldn't be that lady stuck on the side of the road, pacing in high heels and trying not to break a nail while someone else fixes her problem.
You know they don't teach basic mechanics in school anymore? You've gotta go to a vocational school (if one is available in your area), and those classes are often only available if you're part of the vocational program. They don't often teach basic cooking skills, either. So how is a young American supposed to make his way in the world if he can't even change his own flat tire or grill himself some chicken? Children don't learn life skills in school anymore. High school doesn't prepare you for life, it prepares you for college. So if you're not headed to college, what have you truly learned?
Alric
