[zamalek]

That quote is basically how I learn. I know concepts, not facts and recreate the facts as I need them. That being said, it's definitely not how everyone learns and I would classify it as bad advice: schools have the correct learning strategy for the vast majority of the human race, so stick to that.

If you are one of the outliers (as you have said you are) you would have figured this all out a long time ago, even if you cannot articulate it.

[lotsofmangos]

Schools massively vary in learning strategies though. Saying to stick to schools rather than teaching yourself, as a learning strategy, is a bit like saying to stick to food from shops rather than trying to grow your own, as an eating strategy.

[ctdonath]

If you're new to growing your own food, I indeed highly recommend you initially stick to food from shops as you start learning to grow your own, transitioning gradually as your skills improve and can rely more on yourself. If you completely & abruptly stop buying food, relying entirely on your own farming, with no transition period, trust me you'll starve.

Likewise, stick to schools initially until you are sure you've got a solid grasp of core concepts, as taught & validated by people who know what you don't but should, then start transitioning away as your education can stand on its own. I've known too many "self taught" people who, while yes they can function in industry, suffer gaping glaring holes where early formal thoroughness would have closed them.

[zamalek]

I went to 5 in my youth (moving cities/countries) and they didn't vary much - however, they were all situated in Africa and in many ways we are very backward here. Maybe that's why I have that perception.

What you say does make sense.

[lotsofmangos]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were sort of similar to my high school, as for the most part it was the basic model of regimented desks, rote learning, streamed classrooms and strict delineation of time into subjects with little crossover.

As far as I can tell, this model was initially developed for training the middle ranks of the aristocracy in how to be officers in the army, and it only ever really works if you are allowed to beat or drug the children as otherwise it is almost impossible to get them to pay attention while sitting still in rows for an entire day. Which is probably why our classrooms got smashed up by bored pupils fairly regularly.

On the other hand, I have a mate who went to a Steiner school, which he describes as 'the first school he didn't burn down' and there it is an entirely different model that is centered around development rather than training. If I had any kids I would be looking for a school for them that was more in line with that kind of environment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_education

[zamalek]

It's actually strange how much of modern society is inadequate. First ROWE[1] and then Waldorf education (an interesting read, thank you). We somehow turned assumptions into facts for so many facets of society and it's taking us decades to undo that mistake.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROWE

[lotsofmangos]

We have a habit of reaching local maxima in some slightly hilly fields and then declaring them to be the highest mountains possible.