Yes, it is very important, part of devloping into an aduilt.

 

I have no opinions on High School. I never went. Schooling, in the 60's, in the outback was interesting - It was a large ugly sideband radio, that mostly didn't work. I was 80 miles from the relay, and 400 miles from the school. I learned NOTHING until I joined the military. So, for me, back then, School was a total waste of everything.

Theo

 

bronco351,

I hope you never have to find out just how important a HS diploma is.

You've obviously been very fortunate, and I'm sure it's not all luck, but should anything ever happen that caused you to lose your business, or say prevented you from doing anything mechanical, and I hope it never does, the harsh reality of being a high school drop out would very quickly set in.

As has been pointed out here, a HS diploma has pretty much become the BARE MINIMUM qualification for employment in our society. Regardless of your true knowledge and abilities, without that piece of paper, you aren't technically qualified to do 90% of the jobs out there, and you don't want to work in the 10% you are qualified for, because you can't make a living at them.

IMHO, in this day and age, nothing is more important in life than finishing high school. A HS diploma gives you a basic standing in society, both in terms of employment and social status.

Waxy

 

My father dropped out of school in 8th grade to farm full time. Lost his first farm when he got DRAFTED first round to go freeze his *** of in Korea with little yellow men try to stick a bayonet in his ribs. He admitted that was the first sign that maybe he would have been better off staying in school. By the time he got out of the army he was 22 and had nothing to show for the hard work. On the other hand if he had gone to highchool and college he could have been 22 with an education that few had in 1953.

He always regretted not having at least a high school diploma, felt it limited his opportunities outside of his sole area of expertise (farming). At one point he was embarrassed to admit he wouldn't serve on the local school board because he didn't feel that an 8th grade education gave him enough credibility to help direct school curriculum. IF you have a definate plan of action there might be the rare occassion where dropping out of school might work for you. But dropping out to play your gameboy or Xbox full time while thinking your future will take care of itself because you're "special" (in your own mind) is just plain stupid.

 

My experience has been... that the people that say a HS diploma is not important, are the ones that do not have one.

 

Everyone is forgetting one thing....COMPUTERS!!! honda now makes a robot that can walk, climb stairs, dance even. You can bet your bottom dollar that is our future. How hard do you think it will be for one to turn a wrench for example? It can already open doorknobs, thats the same range of motion. Do some people succeed without schooling, yes. Do some people get everything handed to them from their parents hard work, yes. But lets compare the people that have degrees compared ot the people that don't with their average salary....and if you noticed, i said degrees, not diplomas. That speaks for itself! I hated school just like the rest of people for the most part, but i will still work at getting ahead and learning new things!

 

I just graduated highschool last year, I think it is NOT a waist of time. Eventhough I have to take all the same classes in college. I still think its VERY important. I want to open my own buisness, and i dont want to work hard for the rest of my life. I cant do that without highschool

 

bronco351,
....The question was "Is high school important?". Well that depends on the individual and their circumstances. The social interaction is a very important aspect of developement, which can be substituted with a comparable family or personal life.
...Is the diploma important? Absolutely, diploma or GED equilvalent. At least in todays society....I think Waxy summed it up pretty good.
...Sounds like you have been blessed with good fortune, however, Im curious what your debt to income/ratio is...remember, possesions do NOT define the character or your success in life. Count your blessings
...By your own definition you are a Grease Monkey...somebody who works on motor vehicules for a living. (I guess they call 'em Automotive Technicians now a days)
...I have missed out on many opportunities in life due to my lack of higher formal education, and find myself at the ripe young age of 43, hoping I can retire at 65 and not have to eat dog food to survive...
just my $0.02 (in summary)

 

As a teacher, yes in high school, do I think that everybody needs to go through it? NO, but that is not a decision that I can make about education. It is mandated by the government that all people need to go to school until the age of 16. I think that there are some items that you need to know and develop better understanding of for the future. I teach Biology, but I do not think that all a person needs to know is in the realm of science. I try to make people think critically and develop their own ideas and thoughts. To establish and develop a better study skills and ways to cope in tougher times during school. High school can be a great time, but it is only what you put into it. I personally think that it is great that a person that got through high school now has a business and is a successful person, but as stated here. NEVER stop learning, because if you do you are killing your intellectual self. I myself squeaked by in High school and college, but I now use what I had to learn the hard way to assist my students. Materialistic items are not the total judge of success for a person.

This is just my opinion.

 

its a big waste of time. and for the people that say school is the same thing as having a job...thats not true at all. i dont have a care at all about school but when it comes to my job, i respect everyone and make sure ive done my job right and the best i can. the only classes i care about at school are shop classes. i just cant wait til i graduate in may so i can get outta there and have more time to work.

 

I'll bet that tune will change after 5 or 10 years on the job.

It'll be more like "Working sucks. I sure miss high school, no real cares or responsibilies, all my friends around, my biggest problem in life was a math exam, ahhhhh, those were the good ol' days."

Waxy

 

High school in itself isn't that important- most public school students aren't going to learn much unless they go beyond the scopes of their courses. However, without high school, you won't get into college. Anyone who drops out of high school is working against the odds--- luck will be their greatest benefit. Most people who drop out of high school aren't going to go anywhere. The ones that do MUST have had help or a "break" from someone- no matter what way you look at it. Keep in mind I am talking by today's and the future's standards- so it doesn't matter what your dad did.

If you really are wondering if high school is important think of it this way- There are A LOT of people who barely pass high school and end up being some of the most successful people. It's not their grades or knowledge that made them successful; its their diploma that got them the opportunity to work where they want or in a field where they are more willing to learn. Of course, with bad grades you won't get into a good four year (or longer college) but most tech schools only care about a diploma.

I don't believe anyone who says high school is hard to pass (I am talking with a D or F)- they are full of it. I am by no means a gifted smart person, but I try hard, and it gets me good grades. If you don't want to work, drop into the special ed classes or the lower classes and just get by. Do what it takes because the Diploma is the most important thing- not grades.

 

O-YEA

 

High school is important for sports. Nothing beats high school sports.

 

high school IS IMPORTANT
I didn't think so when I was there, but after ten years sometimes you realize how STUPID you once were.
mainly it proves to others that YOU CAN FINISH WHAT YOU START
our schools do need to focus more on learning and way less on things like sports. I think we NEED more vocational and trade schools at the high school level. I went to a trade school for auto mechanics where I spent half my time in shop, if not for that, I wouldn't have graduated.