Why Do I Need to Know?

March 9, 2014

While reviewing school work, has your child ever posed the question, "Why do I need to know this?" This question should be answered by every school teacher prior to starting a new lesson. If the teacher is unable to adequately answer this question, the teacher is either incompetent or the subject matter is insignificant.

This question is often asked when a child is struggling to solve an intangible math problem. The trouble with mathematics is that the curriculums of most school districts are structured for higher leveled students. Practical math skills such as balancing a check book, preparing household budgets, or financing a loan are sacrificed in favor of abstract algebraic concepts like polynomial expressions, quadratic equations, and calculating the slope of a line.

Observe the reaction that is displayed by a young cashier when you attempt to pay for an item costing $4.10 with a five dollar bill and a dime. Instead of being returned a crisp one dollar bill, you are more likely to be on the receiving end of a "deer in the headlights" stare. I suspect that the vast majority of young bowlers are unable to keep score. They rely solely on the automation that is provided by the bowling alley.

Basic math skills are lost because most of the lessons taught in high school mathematics are structured for students who may one day aspire to career in engineering. How about some math that the rest of us can use?

I often wonder why it is required of students to participate in two years of foreign language study. Would this subject not be better served as an elective? Very few students recollect much of what they have learned in a foreign language class. High school foreign language programs are not equipped to develop students to speak the language fluently. People who are able to converse fluently in a foreign language are able to do so because the language is spoken in the household, the person spends significantly time in a foreign land, or the individual just has a knack for picking up foreign languages. Pope John Paul II was able to converse fluently in many languages. I doubt he mastered any one of them in his high school courses.

There are those that will argue that the main reason for studying a foreign language in high school is to become more cultured. This would result in making traveling abroad more desirable. Conversely, being forced to select one of three possible foreign languages is not likely to increase the desire to visit a foreign land. Traveling abroad is done for many reasons: climate, scenery, adventure, etc. If a student is interested in learning to speak a foreign language they will most likely invest in learning it on their own. The two year high school program will not be sufficient.

As a replacement for foreign language study I would allow students the option to choose American Sign Language (ASL) as an elective. This is a universal language that can have a practical purpose for many situations. It would improve overall communications skills significantly since only a small percentage of our meanings come from the words we utter. Our facial expressions and body language are what more accurately conveys meaning. Basic knowledge of a signed language can be a useful communication tool for firefighters, police officers and other professional civic servants. It is a must when working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in any setting.

Perhaps time would be better spent learning our native English language in place of a foreign language. Today's students are required to take English in all four years of high school. But they are not studying the English language. Most of the curriculum is used to study English literature. Studying literary giants like Shakespeare, Milton and Dune are important; however, it is considerably over done.

Many students struggle with writing. The age of technology has all but destroyed the ability to write. When was the last time anyone wrote a letter? Do learners even know how to write a letter? Email is fine and can be efficient but it is not private. Technology has created a whole new language. Proper grammar has been replaced with a new language of hieroglyphics. "Thanks" is now spelled "thanx". Love is "luv". Because is "cuz". "What" is "wut". Noah Webster must be turning over in his grave.

Some of the answers offered to inquisitive students that question why they need to learn something are: because it is needed to be accepted into college, it will help you someday, it develops your mind. EXCUSE ME, but these reasons are total bull. It sounds like the only reason you need to know is so you can teach other people who don't need to know. If mind development was the main objective then why not offer classes in crossword, sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles?

Many times the most truthful answer offered by educators to this question is simply because it is going to be on the test.

Ray Pascali