Why School Sucks
A few months ago as I scrolled through my Facebook feed I came across a video by Prince Ea (a motivational Poet) entitled “Why School Sucks.” The topic of his post is so controversial that the video has racked up over 36 million views on Facebook and shared almost 1 million times. The issue raised by Prince Ea is not only contentious but highlights a necessary problem that plagues many millennials today.
As kids we were [forced] to go to school, many times against our will, because school served a “great purpose.” With a degree on your hands the possibilities were endless. The world and all it has to offer was in your grasp. School was and is still seen by many as the golden ticket to riches, happiness and a fulfilled life. However, with the advent of computer and internet technology over the past decade, the formal school system is becoming more and more obsolete.
In the recent US Democratic Primaries, one of the biggest selling points of the Bernie Sanders campaign was to make “college both tuition and debt free.” With such an incentive, of course, college attendance figures will rise, capitalists will have a bigger pool of educated candidates from which to choose and most of all, millennials would be relieved of college debt payment; hence contributing more to the economy. After Bernie Sanders “lost” the Democratic primary race however, his rival, former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton picked up the baton and rallied for the same policy. This selling point has garnered a lot of support from millennials and college prospects who would greatly benefit from such a bill being passed. What these policies have failed to address however, is the changing dynamics of education as we know it and how it will affect our future. As a past participant in the formal school system, this is what I have observed:
College is overrated
As an individual who has attended one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world, I have experienced first hand the true meaning of overrated. Do not get me wrong, it was a good school with Professors who were doing their best, but I learnt nothing there that I could not have learned elsewhere or online. Many students view college as a fuck fest, endless raves and little school work; a break from stuck up parents and strict religion. It is less about education or networking and more about excitement, thrill and adventure. Point being, what you get in college nowadays can be obtained by visiting the club on a Friday night. Unless you are studying a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) major, almost anything can be learnt outside of college.
Unnecessary curriculum kills drive
How many times have you or your colleagues been held back by their tutors because you did not “pass the class.” You might be studying a Science major, yet you have to pass an English Literature elective to go on to the next level. How stupid is this? Majors should be tailored to the necessary courses one needs to excel in that field. Hence, limiting the amount of time divided on other courses that are not relevant. This will increase drive, passion and dedication, and these pupils will progress much faster. Unnecessary college courses hold back students while sucking their pockets dry, which kills drive and motivation. When all your peers are graduating before you and you are tapped out financially, how can you focus? Cutting back on unnecessary curriculum and only focusing on the courses that matter to a major will increase productivity and success rates while reducing unnecessary years spent in school.
School does not prepare you for the real world, experience does…
As an entrepreneur, I have had first hand experience of this. My business partner and I had to suspend operations at our restaurant company this past summer. The pain and regret was real tough to overcome, but one thing I noticed the most was that my education did not prepare me for this downturn. All those years spent in school racking up debt and wasting energy on things I was not passionate about resulted in a failure. School did not give me a shoulder to cry on, school did not hold my hand, school did not help me pray. School was no where to be found. School failed me as much as I failed my business. It was a waste of time and resources which maybe would have paid off better if all those resources were placed in my business from the start.
In my opinion, school sucks! Not only for all the reasons I mentioned above but mostly because in this changing technological landscape, many schools are lacking the necessary ingredients to help one succeed. Maybe Google and Lynda.com should start handing out degrees, because they are doing a much better job.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the education system?
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One Love,
Dave Anthony
