"There's something wrong with the world today/The lightbulb's getting dim"

I think that maybe LW's last post rubbed off on me as far as a serious topic goes. Heh. But today's featured rant is: school. The evil monstrosity that is public school. Well, not quite. But you get what I'm saying... :/

First off, I want to talk about my school's despicable math books. At my school, the math book we use is called CMIC, or Contemporary Mathematics in Context. I have it memorized from screaming it in agony in my nightmares. The book is full of made up math concepts, with made up names that are basically irrelevant to everyday life in every way. It is like the most retarded math book you could ever use. I have pretty much not learned anything from it. Really and truly. And I'm a good student; even though I'm not the greatest in math, I'm fully capable when it is taught correctly, and, you know, when the things I'm learning ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE. Yeah it definitely helps to understand what I'm supposed to learn. I mean, really, it goes on and on and on about stupid crap like friggin matrices. Like it has entire chapters dedicated to this stupid matrix things and how to multiply them and whatever.. What?! Are you joking me? Look at the rest of the world, every person in the work force today. Running our country, etc. How much do you want to bet that NOT single one of them knows how to multiply a freaking matrix. I mean really. (Unless it directly relates to their work, obviously). Most adults I've told about this math book don't even know what a matrix is. O_o Seriously. Last year, I had a really good teacher and she didn't teach directly from the book as she realized herself that the book stuff didn't make any sense so she'd translate it per se for us, you know make work sheets separate from the book and all. And guess what. I actually LEARNED something last year. It was amazing! I was so happy. The year before, we worked directly out of the book and I nearly ended the year with a C+. Which if you know me that is like /really/ bad. The questions are vague and the book doesn't explain the concepts very well at all. It is completely ridiculous. It's great to know that one day when my entire generation is running this country we'll all know how to multiply a coupla matrices but we'll have no idea how to like make change or whatever. Isn't that promising? (I should clarify that the matrix thing isn't the only thing out of the books that is totally pointless to learn; it's just the main thing I remember, as I try to forget because I hate it so much). It worked perfectly to teach math, just basic plain math. We don't need clever background stories to put the stupid concepts into something concrete. 2+2=4. Don't beat around the bush.

Second of all, why in the WORLD do I need to take a freaking art class? Let's put it out there on the table: I am the world's worst drawer. Also, whatever I do for a career and go to college for and get a degree WILL NOT have ANYTHING to do with art, trust me. So. Please explain to me WHY the stupid school is FORCING me for take a whole year of retarded art classes. I mean really. That is helpful knowledge. There are like 5 other classes I would RATHER take but can't. Because to graduate from my school and go to a 4 year college at least, you have so many requirements right? That includes 1 year of art (if I recall correctly). It's good to know that the stupid administration or whoever is making me waste my time with an art class I don't even care about but have to pass in order to keep my GPA up and that has nothing to do with the rest of my life.So it's definitely helping me, right? Oh, yeah. totally. I just hate art. Like I signed up for photography, which counts as art obviously, and then my second choice was calligraphy; both of which don't require the stupid "principles of art" basic art class or whatever as a prerequisite, which is the whole point that I signed up for those classes because I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY don't want to take that basic art class. But it just so happens (of course, this is my luck) both of those classes are senior classes, meaning seniors get first pick, juniors get next pick and sophomores get last pick. Yeah. So joy for me I probably won't get in and they'll probably make me take that wretched art class. :( Granted, I don't know any of this for sure yet as I have not yet received my schedule for this year. I'm more just worrying about it. A lot. Mostly the point of this rant was just that I think it's stupid that we have to waste our time and waste our education with stupid classes that aren't even relevant to our intended careers or whatever.

I guess this all sounds pretty anti-authority or whatever (I have once been called that, yesh *rolls eyes*), but I really don't intend it that way. I just hate stupidity. I detest it. And a lot of school administrators(etc) are very stupid. The public school system is, I think, corrupt in some ways. School is very important to me, as it's the only thing I have going for me. I really don't like school, not at all. I despise school. But education is important, and when it is wasted or done wrong, nothing good comes of that. Obviously. And it needs to be fixed. Don't even get me started on the stupid standardized testing. Oh gawd. I shall save THAT rant for my next blog (if I remember). ;D

Yours truly,

Colorful Cameo :P