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Unread 05-05-2007, 14:51
Salik Syed Salik Syed is offline
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Re: Interesting Quote

Quote:
Originally Posted by CommanderRachek View Post
I absolutely agree. In fact, that is exactly my point. Kids who are intellectually motivated don't need the grade to keep themselves productive, so why burden them with irrelevant work when they try to do something they actually like? In my experience, schoolwork has mostly just gotten in the way whenever I've wanted to do something interesting, like learn an instrument or read a particular book or build a robot. This is not to say that I'm entirely ungrateful for my public education. There is no doubt that I have learned a great many facts in these last twelve years, and facts are the basis of reason, so I am glad to know them. However, the spirit in which these facts were taught to me was one of basic uncuriosity, with the motivations of the vast majority of my teachers and administrators centering around standardized tests, and their expectations were that my motivation be my grades.

As it happens, grades have never been my motivation (though I do try to keep them acceptable to my parents, mostly for their sake), which explains the tremendous drop my grades took during and after the winter and spring of my tenth grade year, when I discovered my school's FIRST team. I had found something that I liked and that I could learn something while doing (a big plus for me). As such, my grades took a another knock down from their already low standing on my list of priorities. Ignoring school in favor of robotics (or music or the stage crew or any number of things I like to do) has always been a choice I have made, and personally I have no regrets. I have had a productive and fulfilling four years in high school. In contrast to myself, I have watched a great many very smart people spend their whole of their lives slaving away at stuff they know is meaningless for the sake of someone else's priorities.

What my priorities are is not my team's mentor's problem, and thankfully he realizes this. If someone on the team starts to suffer academically, it is entirely his or her lookout. For a team to introduce grade-based restrictions is to shut out those students for whom grades are not a motivator or priority, not to mention all those students who can't get good grades for one reason or another.



Grades are not a reflection of motivation or how goal oriented you are, they are a reflection of what you choose to make your motivations and goals. If you make school your top priority, you will get good grades, and if you don't, you won't. There's no way around that.

Really, good grades are a measure of how well you can play the system, which means doing busywork, brown-nosing, and generally giving over your own wants to someone else's wants. One of the main reasons I like FIRST so much is that it is an environment where I can succeed to some degree without having to do that.



I couldn't disagree more. Yes, grades do (unfairly) effect some people's perceptions of you, and having an exceptionally high GPA can get you scholarships and such, which are nice. But that scholarship is not going to make you happy any more than the GPA itself did.

As for how "most people aren't amazing": I guess that's so, but that doesn't mean everyone has to have the same definition of success, or that that definition must include good grades and a brand-name college and a high paying job. Personally, I don't call it success to sell yourself out of an opportunity to do something you love in exchange for a two car garage.
You bring up some interesting points! I think I will change my position... slightly.
I agree kids who are motivated don't need to be dragged down by busywork. Unfortunately kids who will learn on their own are a minority and thus our school system is the way that it is. I do see change ... I know our school offers AP courses/Honors and if you truly want to learn those at least place you in a class with *slightly* more motivated people.

And I see where you are coming from when you say that not everyone has to have the same goals to be successful. That is often the viewpoint many teens have ... that "I don't want to get good grades, I don't want to cave to socities standards, I want enjoy life blah blah blah."
But the fact is ultimately you will become a member of society and so you have to (somewhat) cave into societies standards of success (getting a high GPA etc.) You say it now that you don't want money and fancy cars and just want to enjoy life. I'm not saying money is the key to happiness... what I am saying is: Why sell yourself short? Why cut off those possibilities? Ask the people who are flipping burgers for a life if they would want a fancy car and a big house. Perspectives change as you get older, just remember you don't know the answer to everything... especially not the meaning of life
getting a good GPA is not very hard... it takes maybe 6 hours extra a week spent on school!
Certainly no one will argue that being wealthy in and of itself is a BAD thing

"I have watched a great many very smart people spend their whole of their lives slaving away at stuff they know is meaningless for the sake of someone else's priorities"
I guess my core disagreement with you is that GPA sucks away time that could be better used doing other things
... really it doesn't... do a cost benefit analysis:
6-7 extra hours spent in school /week == 1 to 1.5 Grade points
1 to 1.5 Grade points == The difference between going to college or not.
getting a 2.0 up to a 3.0 or 3.5 is an immense difference ! Even if you are not the type to go to college...
You will ultimately want to do some kind of education correct? (technical school etc.) The better you
do in HS the easier it is to go where you want.
... and you will need to suceed once you are in technical school as well, so you might as well get some practice.
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Last edited by Salik Syed : 05-05-2007 at 15:05.
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