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The New Coffee Room

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  3. What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?

What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?

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  • MikM Offline
    MikM Offline
    Mik
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

    “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

    HoraceH markM B 89th8 4 Replies Last reply
    • MikM Mik

      The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

      HoraceH Offline
      HoraceH Offline
      Horace
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      @Mik said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

      The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

      The disconnect between life skills and all formal education topics, is an interesting one. What the actual fuck, formal education? But that said, I was taught about the miracle of compound interest early, in a home economics course, and it's a formal education lesson that imprinted on me.

      Education is extremely important.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • MikM Mik

        The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

        markM Offline
        markM Offline
        mark
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        @Mik said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

        The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

        This 100%

        1 Reply Last reply
        • George KG George K

          In my case, a strong understanding of statistics. It was never a required course, and beyond p-value, I have little understanding.

          JollyJ Offline
          JollyJ Offline
          Jolly
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          @George-K said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

          In my case, a strong understanding of statistics. It was never a required course, and beyond p-value, I have little understanding.

          I agree.

          I'm still not too good at it.

          “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

          Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

          1 Reply Last reply
          • Doctor PhibesD Offline
            Doctor PhibesD Offline
            Doctor Phibes
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

            I was only joking

            JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
            • HoraceH Offline
              HoraceH Offline
              Horace
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              My math journey was strange. I flunked my first tries in college, not that the word "try" fits with what I actually did. But in my career, I became the go-to guy who knew all about calculations and numbers. Because I was naturally good at it, and because advanced math really never comes up, at least in my experience.

              Education is extremely important.

              MikM 1 Reply Last reply
              • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

                JollyJ Offline
                JollyJ Offline
                Jolly
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                @Doctor-Phibes said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

                Something Aqua talks about a lot, that I also feel is important, is a strong liberal arts education. I was subjected to literature, art appreciation, a wee bit of logic and some theology in college. And while I'm not nearly as deep as Jon or Horace, I can actually understand what they say, so the education helped. Sometimes.

                “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
                • AxtremusA Offline
                  AxtremusA Offline
                  Axtremus
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  How to survive a different political system that is not effectively some sort of free-market-ish capitalistic representative democracy.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • JollyJ Jolly

                    @Doctor-Phibes said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                    From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

                    Something Aqua talks about a lot, that I also feel is important, is a strong liberal arts education. I was subjected to literature, art appreciation, a wee bit of logic and some theology in college. And while I'm not nearly as deep as Jon or Horace, I can actually understand what they say, so the education helped. Sometimes.

                    Doctor PhibesD Offline
                    Doctor PhibesD Offline
                    Doctor Phibes
                    wrote on last edited by Doctor Phibes
                    #13

                    @Jolly said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                    @Doctor-Phibes said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                    From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

                    Something Aqua talks about a lot, that I also feel is important, is a strong liberal arts education. I was subjected to literature, art appreciation, a wee bit of logic and some theology in college. And while I'm not nearly as deep as Jon or Horace, I can actually understand what they say, so the education helped. Sometimes.

                    It's an interesting point to consider. The flip side of my education is that I learned quite a bit more science and math than most US undergraduates get. When people talk about 'calculus' or 'physics' here, it's typically not that complex. That being said, I've forgotten almost all of what I learned since I never use it, as trying to help my son during his first year of mechanical engineering quickly demonstrated.

                    I was only joking

                    JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                    • George KG Offline
                      George KG Offline
                      George K
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      I see Coursera offers a free course in statistics. I may look into it.

                      The guy that operated on my hand said that he's taking a calculus course, just for the fun of it (!).

                      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                      JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                      • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                        @Jolly said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                        @Doctor-Phibes said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                        From the age of 16 I was taught absolutely nothing about the arts or humanities. It was 100% math and science. It was a failing of the British education system that you had to specialize so soon. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

                        Something Aqua talks about a lot, that I also feel is important, is a strong liberal arts education. I was subjected to literature, art appreciation, a wee bit of logic and some theology in college. And while I'm not nearly as deep as Jon or Horace, I can actually understand what they say, so the education helped. Sometimes.

                        It's an interesting point to consider. The flip side of my education is that I learned quite a bit more science and math than most US undergraduates get. When people talk about 'calculus' or 'physics' here, it's typically not that complex. That being said, I've forgotten almost all of what I learned since I never use it, as trying to help my son during his first year of mechanical engineering quickly demonstrated.

                        JollyJ Offline
                        JollyJ Offline
                        Jolly
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        @Doctor-Phibes said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                        That being said, I've forgotten almost all of what I learned since I never use it,

                        I'm hopeless. If I had taken P-Chem, I'd have a chemistry major. I can barely read the Periodic Chart nowadays...

                        “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                        Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • George KG George K

                          I see Coursera offers a free course in statistics. I may look into it.

                          The guy that operated on my hand said that he's taking a calculus course, just for the fun of it (!).

                          JollyJ Offline
                          JollyJ Offline
                          Jolly
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          @George-K said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                          I see Coursera offers a free course in statistics. I may look into it.

                          The guy that operated on my hand said that he's taking a calculus course, just for the fun of it (!).

                          Ten years ago, I got a Series 6, a 63 and a 65 ( I think..). I thought about getting a 7, but didn't , because I didn't need it (I didn't sell individual stocks or ETF's). My mind is not good enough for that today.

                          My hat is off to you. Passing a Stats course today would be like hitting a baseball over a 400 foot fence for me.

                          “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                          Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • CopperC Offline
                            CopperC Offline
                            Copper
                            wrote on last edited by Copper
                            #17

                            We called it sadistics, but it wasn't that bad.

                            Somehow I managed to never take a Chemistry course, that might be fun. I could have used more music and golf education.

                            And our entire generation missed out on DEI.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG Offline
                              George KG Offline
                              George K
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              Thinking about undergrad, besides the required math (Calculus), chemistry, biochemistry, organic, and various biology courses, I had.

                              Language - German.
                              Geography
                              Economics
                              Philosophy - lots of it.
                              Literature
                              Art History
                              Something Russian, but I can't remember - literature?

                              And I was able to weasel my way into two quarters of Grad-level music history.

                              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • jon-nycJ Offline
                                jon-nycJ Offline
                                jon-nyc
                                wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                                #19

                                I think in general statistics and some basic financial knowledge are probably the biggest gaps in US public education relative to how useful both are just to be alive in the 21st century.

                                I never had stats that I can recall though I went through Advanced Placement BC Calculus in high school.

                                In college I took a highly mathematical probability class but that’s different.

                                About two years ago I completed the Coursera Biostatistics program done in conjunction with Johns Hopkins given I was getting involved in therapeutic development.

                                After that set of courses I knew more than the investigators but of course less than actual biostatisticians.

                                Only non-witches get due process.

                                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • HoraceH Offline
                                  HoraceH Offline
                                  Horace
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  I sort of love probabilities and statistics, and I wish I knew more about them. Hopefully someday. I have a vague memory from 25 years ago, where I worked out with pen and paper the probabilities of the birthday paradox. Because on some random night with my friends, we were talking about that. I showed the paper to the rest, and one of them predicted I'd be rich someday.

                                  Education is extremely important.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • HoraceH Horace

                                    My math journey was strange. I flunked my first tries in college, not that the word "try" fits with what I actually did. But in my career, I became the go-to guy who knew all about calculations and numbers. Because I was naturally good at it, and because advanced math really never comes up, at least in my experience.

                                    MikM Offline
                                    MikM Offline
                                    Mik
                                    wrote on last edited by Mik
                                    #21

                                    @Horace said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                                    My math journey was strange. I flunked my first tries in college, not that the word "try" fits with what I actually did. But in my career, I became the go-to guy who knew all about calculations and numbers. Because I was naturally good at it, and because advanced math really never comes up, at least in my experience.

                                    Same with me. Algebra is foul witchcraft, but geometry and pretty much all other non-scientific math is my huckleberry. In a 40 year tech career I never needed higher math. An understanding of user behavior, enterprise needs and processes, and communication skills served me much better.

                                    I did take statistics in college but never had much use for it.

                                    “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • MikM Mik

                                      The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

                                      B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      blondie
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      @Mik said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                                      The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

                                      Yes I so agree. I’ll add on taxation. If I were an American, I’d also like to learn to navigate my life & health insurance.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • B Offline
                                        B Offline
                                        blondie
                                        wrote on last edited by blondie
                                        #23

                                        When I was 30 I had to take a couple of biostatistics courses. I bloody cried it was so hard. I spent more time on this than my other courses. As a result my thesis proposal really sucked

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • MikM Mik

                                          The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

                                          89th8 Offline
                                          89th8 Offline
                                          89th
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          @Mik said in What's the one thing you feel your education lacked?:

                                          The financial life cycle for most people, and how to build wealth, a rudimentary understanding of one's legal rights and responsibilities. We send kids out into the world with no real clue how it works.

                                          Yeah I was going to say financial literacy and the basics of the legal world. Both a learned on my own after graduating. I guess one could argue that's also something parents should teach their kids, I know I will.

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