There's a lot wrong with American educational system - at least the one I went through in Prince William County in Northern Virginia. There seems to be plenty wrong with the system in Cabarrus county here in North Carolina as well. I can't speak as to other countries.
That said, all knowledge is useful. I believe that schools bloat and suck dry areas that they shouldn't in order to conform to government programs, and I've expressed my opinions of that elsewhere, but having a basic understanding of the systems that surround us and govern our lives is not a bad thing. I may never enter into commerce, but it would serve me well to understand the surface of economics. It helps me make informed decisions, as it ought to help people who enter into the wide world at 18, although I don't know about you but I was still pretty shit-stupid at 18.
If you ask me, it's not being made to learn things you're not interested in that's the problem, but the way that it's taught. The subject matter doesn't stifle creativity - the way it's presented does. A lot of dry facts with no relation to how it applies to the outer world. It really bugs the shit out of me the way math and history especially are presented.
Also, just because people don't agree with you doesn't make them automatically narrowminded. It means they have a different opinion.
The reason people are trained in more practical subjects rather than creative ones is because the world runs on practical applications. Creativity - the arts - unfortunately do not earn enough 90% of the time to supply people with the revenue necessary to live. Some people are lucky and hardworking within that framework to produce something that many people like, OR that enough people are willing to pay big bucks for. This isn't always the case because crafts and arts are subjectively judged. What I think is beautiful isn't the same as what you think is beautiful and while you might have spent hours putting something together and fulfilling your creative urge and executing it beautifully, I'm not under any obligation to buy it or pay to see it. On the other hand, people always need tables waited, math done, bridges built, plants grown, etc.
My school had a horrible botany section in their science labs. I wish they had expanded this and I might have discovered my talent with plants sooner. My school DID have a photography program, but I only recently discovered an affinity to it. Part of this has to do with how I changed as a person over the past several years - nothing to do with anyone stifling creativity and me rediscovering it. I would never want to do photography as a real job though. It's for my personal pleasure, no matter how much of a hobby or passion it is. Some people might want to live and breathe their art. I don't - and neither do a lot of others. But more to the point, why are you letting your past dictate who you are now? You're an adult. If you want to go do something creative, go do it. Remake your life.
That said, all knowledge is useful. I believe that schools bloat and suck dry areas that they shouldn't in order to conform to government programs, and I've expressed my opinions of that elsewhere, but having a basic understanding of the systems that surround us and govern our lives is not a bad thing. I may never enter into commerce, but it would serve me well to understand the surface of economics. It helps me make informed decisions, as it ought to help people who enter into the wide world at 18, although I don't know about you but I was still pretty shit-stupid at 18.
If you ask me, it's not being made to learn things you're not interested in that's the problem, but the way that it's taught. The subject matter doesn't stifle creativity - the way it's presented does. A lot of dry facts with no relation to how it applies to the outer world. It really bugs the shit out of me the way math and history especially are presented.
Also, just because people don't agree with you doesn't make them automatically narrowminded. It means they have a different opinion.
The reason people are trained in more practical subjects rather than creative ones is because the world runs on practical applications. Creativity - the arts - unfortunately do not earn enough 90% of the time to supply people with the revenue necessary to live. Some people are lucky and hardworking within that framework to produce something that many people like, OR that enough people are willing to pay big bucks for. This isn't always the case because crafts and arts are subjectively judged. What I think is beautiful isn't the same as what you think is beautiful and while you might have spent hours putting something together and fulfilling your creative urge and executing it beautifully, I'm not under any obligation to buy it or pay to see it. On the other hand, people always need tables waited, math done, bridges built, plants grown, etc.
My school had a horrible botany section in their science labs. I wish they had expanded this and I might have discovered my talent with plants sooner. My school DID have a photography program, but I only recently discovered an affinity to it. Part of this has to do with how I changed as a person over the past several years - nothing to do with anyone stifling creativity and me rediscovering it. I would never want to do photography as a real job though. It's for my personal pleasure, no matter how much of a hobby or passion it is. Some people might want to live and breathe their art. I don't - and neither do a lot of others. But more to the point, why are you letting your past dictate who you are now? You're an adult. If you want to go do something creative, go do it. Remake your life.
![[Image: Untitled2_zpswaosccbr.png]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i1140.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn569%2Fthesummerqueen%2FUntitled2_zpswaosccbr.png)
