More than the type of high school course (or subject), what really matters is the approach used in the delivery of that course. For example, compare the impact of the same course (e.g. Calculus) under two different approaches: Advanced Placement (AP) vs the International Baccalaureate (IB) at higher level. While AP mostly develops the capacity to calculate and deliver the answer to a predefined and often explicit question, the IB approach develops the student's capacity to formulate open questions and proof/deduct novel ways to apply the Calculus toolset through a project.
Sarosh - 7 years ago
I hate to say this -- but what a ridiculous question! It is poorly worded and the conclusions you'll end up drawing from the answers will be an artifact of the survey and not the reality. For example, the question forces the respondent to choose at least one "useless" course--even if s/he finds all courses relevant in their daily jobs. Also, are you referring to uselessness in terms of content or approach? For example, I don't use any of the hard sciences in my job, but if I had never taken any science course, could I really do my job well? I doubt it. Just imagine the level of ignorance without having any knowledge of science.
Shobha - 7 years ago
You should have had the option of having all the courses being useful too ! Which is what I (and many others) would have checked. They are all important on different dimensions and are still relevant in my current job. I am grateful for having had excellent high school teachers in India....
stella ambrose - 7 years ago
This was an impossible question to answer because I have found that each of these areas have been critical to success at my job and in my personal life. In fact, there have been moments where I have wanted to re-learn and/or learn more specific information about each of these areas.
In this regard, I choose Liberal arts (Literature/history/philosophy) as this area is a less useful for my development and growth. I do appreciate the knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
Sabah - 7 years ago
It's not just about "current" job and earning potential. We need to be productive members of a global community. All these course are useful for me on a daily basis. Limiting "knowledge" from an early age will reduce our abilities to understand our surroundings and empathize with fellow living beings - human, animal, plant etc. Ask any teacher, building empathy is something they seem to struggle with most. Having a broad basic education contributes to at least having the skills to process information about issues that may not be my core interest or profession.
Anna Roumani - 7 years ago
There is no substitute for the kind of broad general education embodied in all five "courses". The question is cynical and skewed, implying that "usefulness" for one's "current job" is the absolute measure of a course's value. Besides, has anyone seen the latest Math and Science results for US High School students vs. other countries? Are we aware that US High Schools are routinely graduating students who cannot read or write above a 4th Grade level? The question is consistent with the depressing tendency to dumb down and devalue learning and thinking, paving the way for social, economic and political manipulation.
Dinesh Nair - 7 years ago
All the courses have been immensely helpful in giving me a better perspective and developing my critical thinking abilities
julian - 7 years ago
I found this categorization confusing. Language and literature were taught as a single course for me (which I found useful). History was a separate course, which I always thought was a social science (and in this case didn't find as useful). Meanwhile I never took philosophy, economics, sociology, or political science in high school.
Kazi - 7 years ago
No sure what the question is alluding to. All these courses provide much needed foundation for critical thinking, as well as understanding, defining and solving problems.
peter wrede - 7 years ago
anything related to patriotism, the grandeur of the fatherland etc felt particularly useless in today's globalized world
Leah Soroka - 7 years ago
I use all the courses....I design things (art) use math (businesses), in agriculture (sciences)..... I realize, however, later in life, that this well rounded education has been most beneficial to me in innovative overseas operations.
Fernando Montenegro Torres - 7 years ago
All the list of courses mentioned in the poll have been absolutely useful in my career, and I am very happy with the education on all these subjects I got from my High School, always grateful for all my teachers. Will you have an option in the future for what have been the most useful courses? May be I missed and you have already done this.
CB - 7 years ago
Sorry, in my experience, all courses were useful so I won't vote. My personal goal is to remain literate -- you know, at high school level -- in all of those areas
Helen - 7 years ago
I went to a great high school, and all the courses I followed have been useful in my career. The survey doesn't all for that option.....very cynical!
Mutoni Karasanyi - 7 years ago
This was an impossible question to answer because I have found that each of these areas have been critical to success at my job and in my personal life. In fact, there have been moments where I have wanted to re-learn and/or learn more specific information about each of these areas.
In the end, I chose 'Sciences...' because I do not work directly in that field. Since it is a very competitive industry, I was not surprised that it had the highest votes. However, the lack of use of the scientific method in our everyday lives is how things like 'fake news' become so widespread.
I hope this helps your qualitative analysis.
Kamano Pierre J. - 7 years ago
all courses are highly useful in my today work. However, the way each of the course was taught is what matters the most as it reveals to me as student the beauty and the usefulness of the course and its content. I still remember my history teacher who used theater to teach us ancient Egypt or my math teacher who uses road traffic to teach geometry.
In today's world general knowledge is critical to help connect with others and make the necessary connections for a better integrated knowledge.
More than the type of high school course (or subject), what really matters is the approach used in the delivery of that course. For example, compare the impact of the same course (e.g. Calculus) under two different approaches: Advanced Placement (AP) vs the International Baccalaureate (IB) at higher level. While AP mostly develops the capacity to calculate and deliver the answer to a predefined and often explicit question, the IB approach develops the student's capacity to formulate open questions and proof/deduct novel ways to apply the Calculus toolset through a project.
I hate to say this -- but what a ridiculous question! It is poorly worded and the conclusions you'll end up drawing from the answers will be an artifact of the survey and not the reality. For example, the question forces the respondent to choose at least one "useless" course--even if s/he finds all courses relevant in their daily jobs. Also, are you referring to uselessness in terms of content or approach? For example, I don't use any of the hard sciences in my job, but if I had never taken any science course, could I really do my job well? I doubt it. Just imagine the level of ignorance without having any knowledge of science.
You should have had the option of having all the courses being useful too ! Which is what I (and many others) would have checked. They are all important on different dimensions and are still relevant in my current job. I am grateful for having had excellent high school teachers in India....
This was an impossible question to answer because I have found that each of these areas have been critical to success at my job and in my personal life. In fact, there have been moments where I have wanted to re-learn and/or learn more specific information about each of these areas.
In this regard, I choose Liberal arts (Literature/history/philosophy) as this area is a less useful for my development and growth. I do appreciate the knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
It's not just about "current" job and earning potential. We need to be productive members of a global community. All these course are useful for me on a daily basis. Limiting "knowledge" from an early age will reduce our abilities to understand our surroundings and empathize with fellow living beings - human, animal, plant etc. Ask any teacher, building empathy is something they seem to struggle with most. Having a broad basic education contributes to at least having the skills to process information about issues that may not be my core interest or profession.
There is no substitute for the kind of broad general education embodied in all five "courses". The question is cynical and skewed, implying that "usefulness" for one's "current job" is the absolute measure of a course's value. Besides, has anyone seen the latest Math and Science results for US High School students vs. other countries? Are we aware that US High Schools are routinely graduating students who cannot read or write above a 4th Grade level? The question is consistent with the depressing tendency to dumb down and devalue learning and thinking, paving the way for social, economic and political manipulation.
All the courses have been immensely helpful in giving me a better perspective and developing my critical thinking abilities
I found this categorization confusing. Language and literature were taught as a single course for me (which I found useful). History was a separate course, which I always thought was a social science (and in this case didn't find as useful). Meanwhile I never took philosophy, economics, sociology, or political science in high school.
No sure what the question is alluding to. All these courses provide much needed foundation for critical thinking, as well as understanding, defining and solving problems.
anything related to patriotism, the grandeur of the fatherland etc felt particularly useless in today's globalized world
I use all the courses....I design things (art) use math (businesses), in agriculture (sciences)..... I realize, however, later in life, that this well rounded education has been most beneficial to me in innovative overseas operations.
All the list of courses mentioned in the poll have been absolutely useful in my career, and I am very happy with the education on all these subjects I got from my High School, always grateful for all my teachers. Will you have an option in the future for what have been the most useful courses? May be I missed and you have already done this.
Sorry, in my experience, all courses were useful so I won't vote. My personal goal is to remain literate -- you know, at high school level -- in all of those areas
I went to a great high school, and all the courses I followed have been useful in my career. The survey doesn't all for that option.....very cynical!
This was an impossible question to answer because I have found that each of these areas have been critical to success at my job and in my personal life. In fact, there have been moments where I have wanted to re-learn and/or learn more specific information about each of these areas.
In the end, I chose 'Sciences...' because I do not work directly in that field. Since it is a very competitive industry, I was not surprised that it had the highest votes. However, the lack of use of the scientific method in our everyday lives is how things like 'fake news' become so widespread.
I hope this helps your qualitative analysis.
all courses are highly useful in my today work. However, the way each of the course was taught is what matters the most as it reveals to me as student the beauty and the usefulness of the course and its content. I still remember my history teacher who used theater to teach us ancient Egypt or my math teacher who uses road traffic to teach geometry.
In today's world general knowledge is critical to help connect with others and make the necessary connections for a better integrated knowledge.