Summary

The author of the article critiques the traditional education system for focusing on rote memorization of seemingly irrelevant information rather than teaching practical life skills.

Abstract

The article titled "The Education System Does Not Care About You" expresses the author's dissatisfaction with the current education system, which they believe emphasizes memorization of useless facts over valuable real-world skills. The author reflects on their own schooling, noting that while they did acquire essential skills like reading, writing, and basic mathematics, much of the curriculum was filled with irrelevant content, such as analyzing ancient poems and memorizing details about long-deceased artists. The article argues that the internet has made the memorization of facts less critical, and the time could be better spent on learning about personal finance, critical thinking, economics, health, and social skills. The author suggests that the education system, influenced by industrialists like John D. Rockefeller, is designed to produce compliant workers rather than well-rounded, prepared individuals. The piece concludes with a call to action for readers to subscribe to the author's articles and consider writing on Medium themselves.

Opinions

The author believes that the majority of information taught in schools is not useful in real life.
They argue that the education system wastes time on impractical subjects that could be better spent on valuable life skills.
The author suggests that the internet has diminished the need for memorizing facts that can be easily accessed online.
They criticize the education system's failure to teach financial literacy, critical thinking, and other essential life skills.
The article implies that the education system is more focused on creating obedient workers than on fostering independent thinkers, referencing John D. Rockefeller's influence on its design.
The author encourages readers to seek out and learn the practical skills that the education system omits.

The Education System Does Not Care About You

Why do we learn so much useless stuff at school?

I hated school.

I had the feeling that 95% of the things I learned were unnecessary.

A few years after graduation, I can say that my feeling was right.

Most of the stuff I learned is useless.

What I Learned At School

To be fair, I also learned some useful skills.

First and foremost, I’m thinking about reading and writing. Being able to express yourself well and understand written words quickly are both priceless skills.

I am also grateful for the knowledge of foreign languages and basic mathematics that I acquired at school.

But that’s where it stops. Apart from the aforementioned skills, I had to learn an incredible number of facts by heart, most of which I can no longer remember today. But that’s not so bad. After all, there is the Internet.

In the age of the Internet, the usefulness of memorizing facts that can be looked up on the internet is questionable, to say the least.

We wasted so much time that could have been spent learning valuable skills that can be used in the real world.

I had to analyze 500-year-old poems in 3 different languages during my school career, I memorized facts about artists who have been dead for 800 years, and I spent years in religion class without learning a single thing I will ever need again.

Learning for its own sake.

The two most common questions asked in my class were: “Can I go to the toilet?” and “Will this be on the exam?”.

We did not learn important things that would help us live a better life. We learned to pass the test. And to obey.

What I Did Not Learn At School

I didn’t learn how to handle money in school. I also didn’t learn how to invest, pay taxes, or choose insurance. Hell, after I graduated from high school, I couldn’t even explain what a stock is.

I also didn’t learn how to think critically, how to question things, how the economy works, how to stay healthy, how central banks create money, or how to gain social skills.

But I could analyze poems in three different languages. Congratulations.

What Is The Goal Of Our Education System?

The well-known entrepreneur John D. Rockefeller was one of the founders of the education system as we know it today.

The goals of this system can be seen in the following quote from Rockefeller.

I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers — Rockefeller

In short, the education system is designed to create white-collar and blue-collar workers who dully go about their work, making the business owner rich.

This is the main goal of education. Not to prepare you for life in the best possible way. Otherwise, you would learn many of the mentioned things that I missed in the curriculum when I was in school.

Thanks for reading!

Wait a second. You should get my articles in your inbox. Subscribe here. Maybe you also want to start writing on Medium yourself and make money. I made $3400 in my second full month! You only need a membership for $5 a month. If you sign up with my link, you support me with a part of your fee without additional costs.

The Education System Does Not Care About You

Why do we learn so much useless stuff at school?

What I Learned At School

What I Did Not Learn At School

What Is The Goal Of Our Education System?

Thanks for reading!

5 Things You Will Regret On Your Deathbed

This might change the way you live your life

Look Better Than 97% Of Men By Doing These Simple Things

You don’t even need the best genes. Trust me.

I Read 12 Books On Becoming Rich. Here’s What I Learned.

5000 pages. You get the lessons in 5 minutes.