Anyoone find the that the school curriculum doesn't work?

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I know that 99% of you hate school because of bullying. but I would like to leave any bullying factors out of this topic if I may.

The question I would like to ask is. Has anyone found that the school curriculum (system that is established.) doesn't work for you and why?

I have always been a self taught person and I can learn more in 5 minutes using google then I could in a class room all day.

One of the things that really hert my feeling and forever destroyed my faith in the school system was in second grade, We has a science project in class that day on building a small electric motor that ran off a AA battery. It was an all day thing and while it took all the other kids the day to finish, I had mine done in less then a half hour. Not only did I get mine done first but is was the fastest one as well. I even help the the other students get there running. So you would think I would get an "A". Nope I got an "F".

I'm not liking mine at the moment but for the opposite reason. I'm new to the technical side of things and would love a structured learning environment, I've had to learn everything I know about semiconductors from allaboutcircuits.com. For mechanical drives and piping, I have to do the exercise with the group or I can't do it at all, this group is always two steps ahead of me, so I really don't get the hands on practice I need.

Why did they give you an f? Was it for going ahead of the group? It sounds like something they'd do.

I'm a big fan of hitting the subject from different angles, in my case, identifying the parts, doing the math, and putting it together. But this is a new program, so there are kinks in it.

I believe the curriculum is getting progressively worse for Aspies in the states at least. There is a greater focus on group activities, socialization, and teamwork. These factors contribute to the greater isolation of Aspies. Also, there is less appreciation of intelligence. My son's school district, which I also attended, no longer recognizes traditional gifted students (based upon IQ). They now only recognize "academically gifted" students. Isolated Aspie children who are nevertheless highly intelligent may not get good grades. They are more likely to be given "special treatment" in a negative way, instead of in a positive way, in this type of environment.

Lupaluna, you may be interested in the writings of John Taylor Gatto, John Holt, and the educational philosophy of Unschooling. John Taylor Gatto, especially, reified my long-held ideas about compulsory schooling which had, until I read his book "Dumbing Us Down", been lying lonely and unspoken in my heart.

Yes, I am doing a course that I can work at my own pace and I did it in about 1/6 the time allotted and still got an A+. I was bullied mercilessly but believe it or not, that wasn't the main reason I hated school. I was just so frickin BORING and in High School our classes were 80 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I usually had the days work done in 5-10 minutes and had to sit there (not allowed to do anything else or leave) for the rest of the class. I always said and continue to say they might as well hand out orange jumpsuits at the door because it is just like a prison, complete with police patrolling the halls now. My marks were lower than expected because I felt unchallenged and was bored out of my mind.

It was extremely boring, they didn't let me go to the bathroom, and wanted me to sit still for 40 minutes. I was also having problems focusing, and other students would make annoying noises and I just couldn't think. The way they taught was JUST rote memorization, and it sucked the life out of me, because it was facts I could have learned in the 4th grade. No one sounded like they wanted to even be there to teach. I had an offer for special ed, but I never went. I was also in the gifted class, but dropped out. They DO focus too much on socializing. Several of my grades depended on group projects and public speaking. I just skipped school. They all thought I was some sort of evil child who skipped school to do drugs, but I really just stayed home and did OCD compulsions. I got more satisfaction. I ended up dropping out and getting a GED.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY[/youtube]
(All the other speakers from this Ted event also discuss education - check it out)

Everyone is aware of the problem..
I'm actually pursuing a degree, and research to hopefully change things.
My lifelong goal is to open my own school.

My largest issue with the current school system (this is in Canada) is this;
As a kid, I would be done my work way before everyone else - and I would be extremely BORED. My teachers complained constantly that I was just doodling or staring out the window - yet my Mother would tell them over and over "Just give him a challenge". Apparently my teachers were too lazy to do that, so I just coasted by barely doing anything.

In high school I had only two teachers who listened and gave me extra things to do, and they were by far my favorite teachers. One was my math teacher, who the school kept putting me with for all four years because he insisted that I be in his class - he taught me at least twice as much as the curriculum, and taught me how to learn independently. I owe him a lot, and my ability to perform in University is in large part due to his guidance and teaching.

We need more teachers like Mr. Cleverly

I enjoy it actually. I find if am done with stuff start reading things in the textbook and the teachers won't bother you or do something. Sometimes I would start calculating random things on a calculator. I actually don't find public speaking too difficult if everyone else in the class is quiet. I have trouble talking with lots of noise in the background. I find speaking in front of the whole class easier than when the class is in little groups with other people talking when I am talking which makes it hard to think of what to say over all of the chatter.

Yes! More than bullying has ever been a problem, I hate the classroom setting. I have very sensitive hearing so every noise distracts me, the lights bother me, I get headaches every day, the teachers are annoying, the course work is too slow, group projects stress me out and lower my grades... The list goes on and on.