Used as a hot button in political debates, the idea that 98% of what you learn is a waste gets tossed around often in conversation. Most of us know it’s true that not everyone will need Algebra and Trigonometry during their life, but is it also true that 98% of what we learn is a total waste?
Democrats and other advocates looking to change the school system have long said that a large percentage of what children are taught doesn’t actually help them. Some even say that the way the lessons are taught is also problematic, allowing very little room for comprehension but plenty for competition. Some lifelong teachers point to the pressure of standardized test scores as a reason that school is a waste of time while others simply say that 98% of what kids learn is a waste altogether.
However, many of those ideas behind learning are misguided and not based in how the brain learns. Since the brain is constantly learning based on perception of it’s environment, the notion that 98% of what we learn is a waste is a bit short sighted. Learning isn’t just about memorizing the times tables and knowing when to use prepositional phrases but is also about seeing how to act in groups, learning to follow directions and developing a sense of self discipline.
Is 98% of what we learn a waste?
If 98% of what we learn is a waste, what could be taught that makes our time spent learning worthwhile? Some intellects and philosophers believe that as long as something is learned that no time was wasted. However, others believe that teaching kids more “valuable lessons” in school could help us be sure that we learn is usable.
Even among the proponents of changing the system so that 98% of what we learn isn’t a waste have differing opinions on what kind of learning we could institute that would accomplish such a task. Parents point to teachers and teachers point back to parents, but that kind of blame game does very little to change what and how we learn. If the changes did occur, would they ensure that we learn more than goes to waste?
98% of what we learn changes
More accurate than the idea that 98% of what we learn is a waste is the idea that it changes. Since most of what we learn isn’t from reading books and taking tests in school, the idea that learning is synonymous to education is the actual problem. Every second your brain is processing inputs from all of your senses. It learns something from every single input. The brain learns things and makes associations that we are not even aware of. As humans, we survive by learning. Over the years our research has taught us many things. some things that were useful immediately and some things that were not useful until years after they were learned.
What we learn from our everyday interactions is just as important as what we learn in a classroom. Looking at it from that perspective – it is NOT true that 98% of what we learn is a waste.
FAQs
some things that were useful immediately and some things that were not useful until years after they were learned. What we learn from our everyday interactions is just as important as what we learn in a classroom. Looking at it from that perspective – it is NOT true that 98% of what we learn is a waste.
What percent of what we learn is a waste? ›
Researchers found the average educated American forgets about 40% of what they learned, and uses just 37% of the knowledge and skills in their every day lives on average.
What percent of things you learn in school do you actually use? ›
Incredibly, the average American estimates they've forgotten nearly half (40 percent) of everything they learned in school growing up and only actually use 37 percent.
Is the stuff we learn in school useful? ›
According to an article called Survey: Average American Uses Just 37% Of Knowledge, Skills Learned In High School by Ben Renner, it says, “A recent study that found the average American uses just 37% of what they learned in school in their daily lives.” So, it is saying that most people say that they only use some, not ...
Is a 99 a bad grade? ›
A - is the highest grade you can receive on an assignment, and it's between 90% and 100% B - is still a pretty good grade! This is an above-average score, between 80% and 89% C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle.
Is 98 a good grade? ›
A 98 GPA is typically an unweighted score, suggesting you've earned near-perfect grades in your classes. When translated to the 4.0 scale used by most colleges, your GPA would likely be a 4.0, assuming that a 93 to 100 scale equates to an 'A' at your school.
Who invented homework? ›
The Dubious Roberto Nevelis of Venice
Roberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with having invented homework in 1095—or 1905, depending on your sources.
Is time wasted in school? ›
Most teachers and students waste 50 percent or more of their time in school. I say this with no disrespect. . . . There are, of course, various ways of wasting time we all acknowledge as such: Teachers trying to get the class to settle down so the lesson can begin.
How many hours do you spend in school from grades 1 to 12? ›
| State | Minimum amount of instructional times per school year (by grade, if applicable) | Minimum number of hours per school day |
|---|
| In days |
|---|
| California | 180 | Kindergarten=3.0; grades 1-3=3.8; grades 4-12=4.0 |
| Colorado | 160 | † |
| Connecticut | 180 | † |
48 more rowsThe person who is considered to have invented the concept of school is Horace Mann. Born in 1796, Mann was a pioneer of educational reforms in the US State of Massachusetts.
Not only do they argue that school provides training for social skills, but also for a variety of skills that are important for our adult lives that can't be found elsewhere, such as critical thinking, working in a team, time management, and how to concentrate for several hours at a time.
What percentage of kids actually do their homework? ›
| Year and selected characteristic | Percent of students who do homework outside of school | Percent of students whose parents1 check that homework is done |
|---|
| White | 95.9 | 93.1 |
| Black | 97.8 | 98.0 |
| Hispanic | 96.3 | 96.4 |
33 more rowsNormal if you hate school, if you're being bullied, if you're struggling to process the work, if the environment is too loud, bright and busy, if you struggle to find out where you're supposed to be and when.
Does school actually help you in life? ›
Schools teach us the basic subjects and skills that will benefit us in life such as English, math, science, and socializing. However, we don't learn everything that we should. Certain life skills can potentially play a huge factor in the success and fulfillment of one's life.
What percent of students forget what they learn? ›
Research on the forgetting curve shows that within 1 hour, learners forget an average of 50% of the information presented; within 24 hours, they forget an average of 70% of new information; and within a week, they forget up to 90% of what they "learned."
What was the most useless thing you learned in school? ›
10 useless things they taught us in school vs 10 things they...
- 4) How to draw a circle with a compass. ...
- 5) Pythagoras Theorem and Trigonometry. ...
- 6) Bibliographies. ...
- 7) Children shouldn't be trusted with bunsen burners. ...
- 8) Long division. ...
- 9) How to write in cursive. ...
- 10) Twinkle, twinkle little star.
The survey found that 98% of respondents believe a good teacher can change the course of a student's life. And 88% of respondents said that “they had a teacher growing up who had a 'significant, positive impact' on their life.” Even the best teacher-student relationship is dependent on the actual work in the classroom.
What is the most failed subject in school? ›
High school math, and algebra, in particular, is in crisis. Although some students thrive on the pathway to calculus, most do not. Algebra I is the single most failed course in American high schools.
What percent of students don't enjoy school? ›
Approximately two-thirds of the students reported liking school overall, and one-third reported disliking school. While the percentage of school likers decreased between Grades 7 and 9, dislike is also reported by most students as a relatively recent phenomenon.
By Makaylaon
