I hit that wall at U.C. Berkeley over the English requirement. I didn't know how to write an essay on "Odysseus" and "The Iliad" and say something intelligent about them. I was doing fine in math and physics. In retrospect, my high school English teachers focused on doing well on SAT's, not teaching me how to write.
Parents: Make sure you're kids can write before they get out of high school because it's a crucial skill
Perhaps the most valuable classes I took were high school English. I'd never thought that writing weekly essays, compositions, and book reports would prepare me to write a book about computing. After seeing it on several best-seller lists, I called my high school English teacher and thanked him for all his time and encouragement.
And not just writing: he made us perform Shakespeare. Really handy when you're interviewed on TV and have two minutes to summarize your book. Or when you're invited to do a keynote speech at a conference.
Yep, I learned to code in 1965 (assembler & Fortran II on our high school's IBM-1620). Learned calculus, organic chem, and basic electronics as well. But nothing came close to three years of terrific (and challenging) high school English classes.
I thank your English teachers too because your book is one of my favorite books and an example for me of excellent writing. You told a good story and to me that is the most important thing.
A better curriculum would meet you halfway. Write about physics or math, not about ancient classics.
I remember kids in school complaining about math, "we're never going to use this!" Analyzing ancient literature is something you're actually never going to use.
> I remember kids in school complaining about math, "we're never going to use this!"
They probably aren't going to use it, which is why their investments in lottery tickets don't turn out well :-(
I remember hiring a contractor to build an elliptical patio of a certain size. He staked it out, and soon a couple pallets of pavers appeared on the driveway. Something didn't look right. So I measured the major and minor axis of the ellipse, and computed the area. It was 30% smaller than the contracted amount. I then did a little math on the pavers. 30% fewer than was needed.
So I was being overbilled by nearly half.
I asked the contractor about the discrepancy, and he apologized for the "mistake" (ya right) and the bill was adjusted.
I bet the contractor noticed over time that he could shrink the size of the work, and the customer wouldn't notice. So he'd shrink it more for the next customer, and so on, till it got to a whopping 30%.
But if I didn't know high school math, I would never have determined I was being way overbilled.
> I remember kids in school complaining about math, "we're never going to use this!" Analyzing ancient literature is something you're actually never going to use.
Just like any particular math course, you probably won't use your analysis of ancient literature directly. But school isn't training; it's not about learning direct skills, like a training course in a new application at work. It's about learning how to think critically, using may different tools, and about learning about the world.
By analyzing ancient literature, you gain several things: You gain ability in thinking critically about texts - possibly the most essential skill in a post-truth Internet world where we are deluged by texts of varying intentions and truth. You gain skill in writing, by studying how the best authors before you wrote. And not least, you gain exposure to a culture and ideas far outside your own, giving you context and perspective on humanity and on your own culture and ideas.
> Analyzing ancient literature is something you're actually never going to use.
Ancient literature, yes, but there are a frightening amount of people who could deal with a reintroduction to ideas like 'unreliable narrators' in the age of social media.
You just gave me an idea because I like ancient history. I'll pretend I'm a freshman and actually write an essay on one of those books. I was never able to do it and failed the class. I've always felt bad about it. Actually writing the essay might be a cathartic experience! I'm retired, I have the time.
Parents: Make sure you're kids can write before they get out of high school because it's a crucial skill