I did actually see Zefferelli’s Romeo and Juliet quite a while ago, and didn’t like that one, either. The only character in the play I’ve ever really had any use for is Mercutio, and he dies about halfway through. And I’m not really too fond of Shakespeare in Love, either.
However, there are several film adaptions of Shakespeare’s other plays that are excellent. Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing is brilliant, as is most of his Hamlet. The most recent adaption of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was very well-done. There are others, but I don’t feel like listing them right now.
Count me in the “there are no useless high school subjects” camp. (There are, however, useless classes, largely because there are useless and uninspiring teachers and/or the occasional highly disruptive fellow student. In my case, trig fell into this category. I used to read sci-fi hidden behind my trig book in class. I’m sure the teacher wondered why I was visibly crying while he explained trig identities. It wasn’t fear of math; it was the end of Flowers for Algernon. He was truly an awful teacher with no people skills.)
You never know when a random bit of knowledge will come in handy. I did well in all subjects except P.E. (where I tried my darndest, but let’s just say I’ve never been what one might call a naturally gifted athlete), and even though I knew very early on that my natural inclinations were more toward the humanistic side of things rather than the scientific/technical, I still liked chemistry, physics, and yes, with the exception of the awful trig teacher, math. Now I’m sure glad I paid attention in HS chemistry…because even though I work in the legal field, it’s awfully difficult to make a convincing argument to INS that your client the Ph.D. chemist should get a green card for his amazing achievements if you don’t understand what a chemical reaction is.
As for P.E.: I never minded the concept of making time for physical activity, but it would have been far less awful if the gym teachers paid more attention to making sure the, ummmm, less gifted athletes weren’t picked on so much and actually got to participate without feeling crappy about themselves. It might have made some of us actually enjoy the experience rather than dreading it. (Well, I confess to wishing I’d had room for another academic elective instead of being pummelled on the baseball field.)
And for those of you who think foreign language requirements are stupid, especially those of you who intend to pursue advanced degrees: a) IMHO studying a foreign language helps you understand the structure of English much better! And b) reading knowledge of a foreign language will give you greater access to professional literature in your field. (Plus, one of my favorite guilty pleasures is eavesdropping on people who think I don’t understand them in public places. It’s very educational.)
The OP criticized PE. I didn’t spot it at the time, but looking back, when I was at school, half the point of PE was the teaching of both group and team behaviour.
I agree totally with Eva. I was in the same boat. Academically I did fairly well, but in team sports, I just couldn’t fit in. I used to umpire in cricket, though.
That’s actually very interesting you mentioned this as Home Ec was the only subject I could think of that was worthless. Basic chores and “life skills” I learned at home (including my admittedly modest cooking skills), first aid I learned in health class. I never understood what burning cup-cakes had to do with “real life”. I think you do raise and interesting point about budgets/banks/leases etc…and you could add “how to take care of a kid like yourself” to that list (I don’t mean you’re a kid, Matt, but rather the kid taking the course)…however I suspect these things would not “stick” to a 16 y.o. These things are probably best learned through life itself…hopefully with someone older and wiser to guide you. ;j
I agree with the other posters that while PE can be miserable if you get a lousy teacher, it should probably be emphasized more not less…but that it should be made as “entertaining” as possible for the kids. I had some really good PE teachers that made that one hour the best hour of the day.
PE: PE at my school consists of us sitting outside on the bleachers in warm weather, or sitting inside out of sight of the PE teachers in cold weather. It’s also a good time for anyone to go and smoke.
Honors English: I’m learning nothing in that class. If we were actually learning something, though, it would be useful.
Math Analysis (Pre-calc): It is never, ever, ever going to apply to my life.
I would certainly disagree that calculus is required for every worthwhile profession.
But I agree that math is a very worthwhile subject. It’s only too bad that it’s hard to find good teachers of it. As an example, an old friend of my mother’s was a grammar school teacher; and she just could not get arithmetic. In order to teach it, she would just stay a section ahead of the class in the book, and memorize it.
No wonder a lot of kids learn to avoid math early on.
Life is full of surprises. And, as has been pointed out, the point of a math class at that level is not to teach you math, but to teach you how to think logically.
What you just might discover is that you don’t think it will apply to “real life” because you don’t yet understand how it does apply to real life… I’ve yet to meet a person who said “boy, I really wish I didn’t learn all of that calculus!”
I have, however, met plenty of people that have trouble correctly calculating annual rates of change, or the APR on their loan, or any number of things that they assume are simply divined through animal spirits and tea leaves.
I can see your future. You will be confused by the different credit card offers. You will have to trust the banker when he tells you that this mortgage is better than that one. You will not be able to tell if it is better to get the 0% financing or to have the sales price be $1000 less.
to that list (I don’t mean you’re a kid, Matt, but rather the kid taking the course)…however I suspect these things would not “stick” to a 16 y.o. These things are probably best learned through life itself…hopefully with someone older and wiser to guide you. ;j