Gransnet forums

Education

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

(187 Posts)
Evie64 Thu 15-Aug-19 03:04:38

I spent (after various other jobs) over 20 years working in Primary Care as a manager. Did I ever use what I learnt and studied so hard for in O level exams? e.g. geometry, algebra, biology, physics, chemistry, sin/cosin & tan (whatever the hell they were?), geography, history, RE, cookery etc. I used maths and english mostly, although I love geography and history and english literature, but it had no bearing on my career choice. The cookery came in handy, but what school subjects have we all taken but never used again since we left?

Lucca Thu 28-May-20 18:57:33

Bookbinding And weaving.

Lucca Thu 28-May-20 18:58:36

Boarding school in wales... until I rebelled and came home to local grammar school, which had ......boys ??

Chewbacca Thu 28-May-20 19:02:09

Hmm, that's a question that's got me thinking..... I've gone through all the subjects I did and I think that, at one stage or another in my life, I've pretty much used them all. I suppose, if I'm pushed to choose something, it would be that I've not had much use of pi. And it's a pity I spent so long learning the chemical elements off by heart because I've not had much use of them either, apart from when I'm watching Pointless.

varian Thu 28-May-20 19:11:31

Latin, Religious Instruction, and PE, especially hockey and anything involving ball skills were all a waste of time.

I loved maths and all of it, even the triginometry, proved useful.

MadCatWoman1 Thu 28-May-20 19:14:24

I dropped a lot of the subjects I didn't like or felt weren't going to help me - we had subjects we could choose from and some we could drop, for the last 2 years at senior school.

I dropped:

geography, Frech, R.E., cookery, needlework, physics.

I chose: chemistry, social studies, typing, shorthand, art.
(and got C.S.E.s in all). Obviously, English, Maths and some form of P.E. were compulsory.

Liaise Thu 28-May-20 19:58:11

My class in 5th form learned how to make a cinder privy in Domestic Science. I haven't needed to use these skills yet and you don't see many cinders these days.

growstuff Thu 28-May-20 20:16:20

Yes, a 9 was the worst grade at O level. A 1 was the best.

MerylStreep Thu 28-May-20 20:27:59

Lucca
Bookbinding That came in handy for me as that is my trade. And hand/ machine sewing books.

BBbevan Thu 28-May-20 21:15:14

Not in 1959. Calendargirl 9 was equivalent to an A going down to 1. They changed it later to As and Bs etc. I still have the postcard sent from school with my results

ClementRudder Sat 30-May-20 14:06:12

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Laughterlines Sat 30-May-20 14:33:06

In all my years of travelling and living in France and Spain I have never had to use the phrases “my French exercise book is on the table” and “the cow walks down the road”

I have certainly needed “where is the nearest WC” and “how much does 2 beers cost please” but we didn’t learn that at my school 60 years ago. Pity would have been useful.

3nanny6 Sat 30-May-20 14:38:05

Never knew why we needed to do physics and chemistry in school it was boring. Also why did they make us vault over those silly horse vaults in P.E. lessons I fell going over it once and fractured my wrist and would never go over it again.

Lyndylou Sat 30-May-20 16:32:42

I quite enjoyed Maths even algebra, but up until the last few weeks I have not had a need to use it (algebra that is). However my DD took one look at my DGS's set Maths work and said "Take it to Nana". So we have had several interesting and somewhat frustrating sessions together expanding and simplifying equations. I am not sure if he will ever use it except maybe with his own GC!

I am, however, developing a strong aversion to someone called Mr Hegarty, he rushes from one point to another without giving things a chance to sink in properly. I hope that is not the way they teach in school these days.

My rusty French skills are also being called to work at the moment. Last week some basic translation and learning to tell the time in French went quite well. This week the work is - research the life and achievements of Jean-Paul Gaultier - think of general international fashion labels - learn key words for clothes - design your own lock-down outfit and label it in French! Bearing in mind my GS is SEN and needs extra help on practically everything, heaven help us!

Callistemon Sat 30-May-20 16:40:43

Some scientists, doctors chemists including industrial chemists, engineers, architects etc may disagree with you, 3nanny6!

As DH constantly reminds me 'Physics is a lovely subject'.

Hockey - what was the point?
I probably haven't used history although I'm more interested in it now, perhaps because it was made so boring at school.

H1954 Sat 30-May-20 16:41:24

Sines, cosines and tangents! ? My grammar school Maths teacher was one of those who only ever bothered with pupils who were talented in the subject and couldn't be arsed with helping those of us that struggled! Consequently, myself and many of my peers slipped further and further behind! I guess these days parents would challenge the teacher, back then there was no such opportunity; we were just cast as thick!

Whingingmom Sat 30-May-20 19:11:07

Things I’ve never found useful -
Italian Unification
Lists of Kings and Queens
And like other posters, trigonometry

MerylStreep Sat 30-May-20 19:19:33

Callistamon
Hockey-what was the point Well, it gave you the opportunity to get your own back on a few of the bitches. By accident of course ?
I loved it. And not just the accidents?

threexnanny Sat 30-May-20 20:26:04

A lot I learnt in Domestic Science has become outdated eg the correct order to wash your silver , glass, cutlery etc. If it doesn't go in a dishwasher I don't own it. We also learnt how to make beds pre fitted sheets and duvets, and making custard from scratch.
Other than that the maths and games lessons as already mentioned have not been used. Nor have I ever needed to dissect a frog!

Callistemon Sat 30-May-20 22:43:45

MerylStreep
It's not that I didn't like sport - just horrible hockey.

quizqueen Sat 30-May-20 22:53:39

Don't think I've ever needed Hooke's Law or anything else we did in Physics. I was scared of the Bunsen Burners.

TrendyNannie6 Sat 30-May-20 23:00:57

Algebra hurdling,Long jump.well I suppose the later two would come in handy if you were being chased by a bull

growstuff Sat 30-May-20 23:39:21

I went to a very academic grammar school. I never learnt anything remotely practical and I can't say I've ever had any regrets.

I learnt about topics which I would never have encountered in my family life and have enriched my life.

growstuff Sat 30-May-20 23:40:27

PS I hated PE, which is a shame because it did put me off physical exercise for years.

twiglet77 Sat 30-May-20 23:54:19

Trigonometry and algebra seem to have been a pointless waste of time, never needed to think about either of them since O levels.

I wish I'd paid much more attention in physics.

Everything else has been useful at some time, if only to a tiny degree, though only in personal life and never career-related.

maddyone Sun 31-May-20 00:05:56

Pottery. I failed the O level. I wasn’t surprised. I passed other subjects that were more relevant.