# Things You Learned in School **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665 "2020-08-21T13:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/21 "2020-08-21T20:29:07Z")
Can a more perfect union be formed? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/22 "2020-08-21T21:12:12Z")
I’m careful to teach my students the difference between dillydallying and lollygagging. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/23 "2020-08-21T21:19:43Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What do you say if someone is very furious or very hideous or very tiny? > [@kayaker](#): > > “furious beyond belief”, “nauseatingly hideous”, “microscopically tiny”? That’s not changing the word it modifies. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/24 "2020-08-21T21:46:24Z")
Separate has “a rat” in the middle of it. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/25 "2020-08-21T22:10:28Z")
It’s easy to believe that maybe 90% of all the “information” that you were exposed to in school went in one ear and out the other (often all within the span of the class period). But I had an experience that taught me that I actually retained what might be considered inane information. I used to tutor these jr. high and high school students. It was mostly in math, but this one gal was having difficulty with this history lesson. The lesson had to do with european contact/trade with China. I’m like “here we go…” In some previous chapter it had mentioned the various countries that had established some trade with China, and in the chapter she was having trouble with, it had something to do with the city of Macao. So she was stuck remembering which country had established trade there (initially ?), and out of some remote corner of a closed “file” in my brain, the name “Portugal” pops up ! As I was driving home that night, I kept marveling that I’d remembered that obscure tidbit. And then the irony of it hit me: the ONLY purpose knowing/remembering that particular obscure tidbit had served me in the 40+ years since high school was…to pass it along to yet another high school student ! (Is this the “value” of all that stuff they taught us back then ? Merely to “propagate” that same knowledge ???) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/26 "2020-08-21T22:58:04Z")
I hate to tell this, but I was ‘kinda’ the bully in 3rd grade. I grew up with brothers. I learned to fight or do without. I didn’t like doing without. My 3rd grade year was marred with Stanley the Creeper. He fancied me. I hated him. One day, I’d had enough. I punched him square in the middle of his face. Bloodied him up good. I was punished at school and home. I did not care one bit. Stanley still wanted and followed me around. From a safe distance. I learned to not put up with foolishness. Also that year I couldn’t stay in my seat. Teacher took away my chair for several days. I learned I like to sit. In highschool I learned it’s not a good idea to have the same Teacher your smarter Sister had last year. I also learned that I could pass keyboard class and never go to it. Thx, Patty Ann for doing my keyboard lessons. I’m forever in your debt. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/27 "2020-08-21T23:09:12Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > And then the irony of it hit me: the ONLY purpose knowing/remembering that particular obscure tidbit had served me in the 40+ years since high school was…to pass it along to yet another high school student ! I think you discovered a large percentage of the education system right there. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/28 "2020-08-22T01:04:34Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Separate has “a rat” in the middle of it. A rat, in particular, which if in the house, may eat the ice cream. “A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream” – How to spell Arithmetic. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/29 "2020-08-22T01:07:59Z")
In a certain junior-high shop class, whenever someone did something dumb, the teacher would exclaim to the whole class: > [@Mr. Dowd](#): > > That’s dumbness! You know what dumbness is? DUMBNESS IS A DISEEEEEASE!!! You can DIE from dumbness!!! ETA: Hey stupid DiscoBot! If I put five or ten exclamation points, I believe I meant five or ten exclamation points!!! !!! !!! !!! ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/30 "2020-08-22T01:24:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Separate has “a rat” in the middle of it. In our high school science lab, there was a big sign that said: _LABORATORY_ _Use the first five letters, not the last seven_ I’ve never seen anyone observe these directives in a lab, but it is the way I always remember how to spell “Laboratory”. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/31 "2020-08-22T03:21:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My 3rd grade year was marred with Stanley the Creeper. He fancied me. I hated him. He’s a rich Medical Professional now, and fabulously wealthy. You Fucked Up. Shoulda listened to your Daddy. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/32 "2020-08-22T03:59:46Z")
Yep. I screwed up. And I have all these teeth. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/33 "2020-08-22T04:35:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Can a more perfect union be formed? They certainly thought so in 1787. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/34 "2020-08-23T00:04:44Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > What do you say if someone is very furious or very hideous or very tiny? > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > “furious beyond belief”, “nauseatingly hideous”, “microscopically tiny”? > > That’s not changing the word it modifies. And I left high school to pursue a postdoctoral degree in biochemistry, so what I learnt is good enough for moi. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/35 "2020-08-23T00:15:57Z")
The only teacher I really learned anything about Shakespeare from was my ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Baxa. One thing he pointed out was how long some of the plays were, and how they had been trimmed sometimes, to please a patron, or to fit a political view. Sometimes the darker bits were cut, sometiimes the humorous ones. Mr. Baxa compared this to making movies from a book, when a book was more detailed than could be depicted easily on screen, or when a director had a particular vision. My other English teachers just plodded through the play being used. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/36 "2020-08-23T00:44:30Z")
Heck, I learned that from, “Adam-12.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/37 "2020-08-23T02:55:25Z")
Never comment on a classmates personal appearance. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/38 "2020-08-24T14:41:37Z")
Thank you for that! For some reason, I always struggle with that word. I will never again. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/39 "2020-08-24T15:09:29Z")
I believe it was my uncle who taught us to spell “occupy”. “Oh, see, see! You pee. Why?” ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665/40 "2020-08-24T15:34:55Z")
I remember being taught in the first grade that a forensic anthropologist (the teacher didn’t use that particular term) could distinguish a male human skeleton from a female human skeleton by counting the number of ribs. You know, because in the Bible it says that God took a rib from Adam and used it to create Eve. Ever since then girl skeletons have one more rib than boy skeletons. The teacher was absolutely serious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-learned-in-school/918665.md?page=3)