Your observations are refreshing, since, as a thrice graduated university student, I can look back at the schools and see more “nursing” and “hand-holding” styles of teaching than is healthy for our minds, egos our professional futures. Let me say here that I think the problem lay with both the student and the teachers, or teaching systems. And this is putting the blame as much on my shoulders as on anyone else’s since I never was the greatest highschool student, or undergraduate college student either. It wasn’t till I was in graduate school the first time that I “got the lead out” and began serious studying, but, even then, sad to say, I wasn’t the best student, and I can look back and see my “soft points” as a student. I guess, in my “not-so-humble-opinion”, the fault for our poor educational system lies not as much with the system, although it’s got plenty of faults, as it does with our entire culture that is devoted to electronic media entertainment that has long ago encroached upon our schools, and our pathetic morals (or lack of morals entirely). I could add plenty of more “faults” that I see as I look over the problem, but those two are the first and foremost. And this includes the internet entirely. I know it’s a great source of “information”, as is seen in the innumerable referrals to Wikpedia when someone actually comes to YA and tries to get others to do their homework for them, but when you have to stoop to Wikpedia as an information source, well, you might as well turn on your tv and watch the History Channel and all it’s derivatives to get a real and true picture of history in all it’s directions. God help us if you do. But, I guess I’ve gone on long enough for you to get the drift of my response. I must say that your question is very refreshing in that, as I read it, I read a young person actually caring about their education, and willing to speak up about it. It bodes well for the future of our society. I hope you have a lot of friends with whom you share your sentiments. God Bless you.

LOL! No, it’s not just your high school. It’s the American school system to a T. They have to cater to the lowest denominator and are bending over backwards for the lazy or low IQ students to keep their passing average the same. American schools put out a message that smart kids, responsible kids, and AP kids don’t matter. They don’t need help, they don’t need nurturing, but hey, they should be stuck with all the other kids and left to learn at the rate of the slowest person in their classroom, because America is all about IQ equality! I agree that high school students should already know what you are talking about, and were they high school students in Europe they would know that and pretty much everything you learn in the first two years of college, as far as the General Ed requirements go. America really needs to talk a look at where they are failing their most prominent students and why and why they feel the need to keep everyone on the same pace instead of having smarter, faster kids in a faster-paced learning environment and those who are struggling in a slower-paced environment.

I completely agree with you. By sixteen or seventeen, pupils– who are young adults as opposed to children– should be old enough to organise their own work and worry about the consequences if they don’t because if they’re not, you have to wonder why they’re wasting their time in school. Schools don’t adequately prepare pupils for the harsh realities of university where lecturers don’t know every students’ name nor do they give a toss if students are handing in assignments or studying.

This means people are going into university still stuck in the high school mentality of expecting teachers to be on their case and get a sharp shock when they are given the freedom over uni only to be under immense pressure come exam time or when they are being tossed out because they’ve not handed in an essay on time.

I think the problem with schools is that they’re more concerned with how the school looks in exam league tables and the like and less about how preparing pupils for the independance of university.

While it’s deplorable that high schoolers are still pampered, it isn’t that detrimental when they get to college. Many freshman level professors will still allow for the late assignments and will put up with the various excuses from students. Additionally, some professors even give extra credit to make up for poor grades.

However, you’ll be relieved to know that eventually it will catch up to the lazy people as upper-level professors are less tolerant than the freshman/soph level profs.

Gees I haven’t had something like that since at least freshman year. Honestly first day of school and I already had essays and math worksheets. Our teachers leave it up to the student, if you’re not willing to find your teacher when you’re out and ask for an assignment, too bad for you. Some teachers will deduct ten points for everyday late, others will just give you a zero if its not in on time. I am in level one and honors classes at my school, so teachers won’t give you any slack. However I have friends in level 2 classes whose teachers sound similar to yours.

Yup. They try to scare you about the “real world” high school is the real world, too. People play favorites, act on biases, and don’t grade fairly. I mean, I’ve turned a paper in TWO MONTHS LATE and STILL got a B on it…but that’s because I was cool with the teacher.

My school actually doesn’t require us to shower after gym class. Gym is the last class(elective class for the last 2 periods) of the day, so we go home and shower

It’s the feel good don’t make them feel bad liberals that started all that….When they implemented the graduation test here..the first thing was that it challenged as racist and too hard for the those on medication for depression and other fantasy ills.

Why do you think over 50% of college entrants end up in remedial classes their first year.

That doesen’t happen in my school the teacher only bothers the student that are getting F’s and D’s as for the note book you got me there.

I don’t know about your school but that seems like there setting you up for failure if they treat you like that

And if your on of the F’s and D’s student now you know why