What was the subject you learnt at school that you never had to use in life?

Archery

Algebra, science, P.E

Trigonometry and Algebra, neither has been any use to me. I am 75 and have never needed either of them. The cookery classes were slightly more useful, starting off with cocoa and toast, building up to the grand finale making a Christmas cake!..not a lot of use, nothing about making good wholesome everyday meals!..hated school, loved adult education where I got most of my further education. I feel we learn what we want, when we get to choose the things we are really interested in.

I was going to mention those tables with old-fashioned units that we learnt in primary school- rods, chains and furlongs, gills, pints, quarts, bushels etc. However, as someone said, they often come up in crosswords and quizzes so it was not entirely wasted. The role of log tables and slide rules was replaced by the calculator but I had to plot logarithmic graphs in my first job. Used geometry a lot in building work and to calculate the height of my neighbours' trees.
The thing I wish I had been taught was to touch type. Then perhaps it wouldn't take me so long to type messages like this!

The rosary.
Irish language
PE
algebra
geometry
dormitory rules
bathroom rules as you had to get in the bath wrapped in a towel
being brainwashed
silence from 8 p.m. till 7 a.m.

As you probably guessed, it was ten years of convent boarding school.

I can't say that any of my schooling was wasted, apart from games lessons and gym.

I'm sad about the bad press that maths is getting. Although not a particularly good maths student at school, a willingness to use and learn further maths opened many doors during my career. I'm grateful that I persevered, despite a shaky start. However, I don't think anyone ever told me that studying maths was pointless and I hope no-one will say that to my GC.

There is a focus on how to learn in many primary schools now & study skills / academic tutoring in some secondary schools. I could have benefited from that. I am a "learner" but found the school learning I experienced was not a natural skill I had! I had some dreadful teachers who would not get far today but also some brilliant people who helped me a great deal. Quality teaching goes a long way!

As so many others have said...

Algebra
Trigonometry
Logarithms

most other subjects have been useful at some time or other.

I went to a boarding school that was advertised in the school's marketing literature as a "college for young ladies". We had lessons on etiquette (including how to address various members of the nobility and Royal Family), flower arranging, how to arrange your weekly menu with your cook, how to hire and fire domestic servants and similar topics. I recall one lesson where we had to wear a cocktail glove on the left hand, and take the glove off the right hand. In the left hand we were to hold the right glove between the 3rd and little fingers, a cake plate (with cake and cake fork) between the middle and 3rd fingers, and a wine glass (full of water) between the thumb and index finger. We had to walk around shaking hands with each other saying "How do you do?", and not drop the cake or spill any liquid. I've never had to do that at any party I've attended, and I've never met the Queen or any other royalty, so the etiquette lessons were pretty much wasted, apart from having instilled in me a rebellious streak and hatred for inherited priviledge.

Narrowboatnan I was going to agree with you about dishcloths, I didn’t knotany .in my day binca was the thing. We were a family of 4 girls Somy mum had soooo many binka table mats she could have started a shop. Not sure if it was binca or binka so I’ve hedged my bets.

However it is now being said that it may be difficult to find young people with the manual dexterity to become surgeons as they don’t do much except swipe.
My sister teaches in an Arab country and she says the young children come to her not even able to use a pencil to write!

I have not used needlework, most maths, physics, chemistry and sport. I accept, though, that that's because I was absolutely useless at them. I'm sure all of these subjects are important and could have been useful to me if I had even a rudimentary understanding of them.

Subjects which have been more useful to me are English, French (though I can't really string many sentences together but have quite good vocabulary), Art, History and Geography. Later on, shorthand and typing enabled me to obtain employment throughout my working life (though I hated office work).

Why would pre school children have to know how to use a pencil?? It is not necessarily a good thing.

However it is now being said that it may be difficult to find young people with the manual dexterity to become surgeons

Being said by who?????

There are many reasons for doctor shortages but that is not one if them!

Writing doesnt teach you nearly as much dexterity or proprioception as dressing yourself, brushing your teeth, eating, even going to the loo! Im not aware of any app that has replaces any of those!

Pecs, didn’t your grandchildren do colouring in?
Mine could write their name and a few more words before starting school. Interesting to discover that some of you don’t feel that being able to write is important.

Can’t tell you the name notanan but I read the Times- must have read it there. Not the reason now but in the future?

Interesting to discover that some of you don’t feel that being able to write is important.

There are plenty of lifeskills that you dont need to be doing by three!

Hockey, netball, and tennis have been no use at all in any way and I disliked them most of the time.

By 5? Where did 3 come from?

Reception starts at 4. Compulsary school age is 5 but reception entry age is 4. Often kids have only just turned 4 when they start reception so in order to be writing before school they would have to write at 3 and IMO 3 yr olds time can be better spent doing other things. Plenty of time later for writing.

Most kids turn 5 during reception year, and are 5 going into yr1.

So key stage 1 starts at 5. But school starts at 4. Although some do defer a year.

Catechism not a subject on it's own of course but part of religious education which figured large in catholic schools back in the day. Anyway a complete waste of my seven year old's time, it's never helped me in any of the jobs I've done ever!

Sewing, God I hated it, still do, can just about manage sewing a button on and will only do it if I have to.

I have a keen interest in history but have learnt far more since leaving school. In fact if you carry on reading all your life you never stop learning imo.

The best life skill I learnt at school, making a roux for a basic white sauce, for that I will always be eternally grateful.

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Geometry and trigonometry has been unused.

I got to choose if I wanted to learn French or German and chose German language. Little did I know then how useful it would become as I went to live in Germany when my husband moved with his job.

I did sciences at grammar school. Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Physics baffled me from the first. However I revised it so well thatI got a 9 in GCE O level. Equivalent to an A. Wonders will never cease. !!!!
Never needed to use any of it since as I got degrees in Fine Art and Humanities

Is that tongue in cheek BBbevan?

A 9 in GCE was the worst fail wasn’t it?

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