'Hey Bill Nye, Why Do I Have to Go to School?' #TuesdaysWithBill | Big Think

'Hey Bill Nye, Why Do I Have to Go to School?' #TuesdaysWithBill

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Bill Nye the Science Guy says we all go through a phase of disliking school. But that's because adolescence is a tough time in life for everyone. Thankfully, that phase is only temporary.Bill Nye the Science Guy says we all go through a phase of disliking school. But that's because adolescence is a tough time in life for everyone. Thankfully, that phase is only temporary. In the meantime, it can be helpful to look at school not as a place you're forced to go (though of course you are — it's called tough love), but as cage you can escape through sheer repetition.

The only way to learn subjects like algebra and geometry is through doing repetitive tasks: completing equations, solving for 'x', memorizing the bizarre words that biologists make up — Golgi body, reverse transcriptase, etc. But learning these concepts will empower you to think abstractly. It's a skill that will improve your existence for the rest of your life.

Bill Nye's most recent book is Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World.
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BILL NYE, THE SCIENCE GUY :

Bill Nye, scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor, is a man with a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society, to help people everywhere understand and appreciate the science that makes our world work. Making science entertaining and accessible is something Bill has been doing most of his life. In Seattle Nye began to combine his love of science with his flair for comedy, when he won the Steve Martin look-alike contest and developed dual careers as an engineer by day and a stand-up comic by night. Nye then quit his day engineering day job and made the transition to a night job as a comedy writer and performer on Seattle's home-grown ensemble comedy show “Almost Live." This is where “Bill Nye the Science Guy®" was born. The show appeared before Saturday Night Live and later on Comedy Central, originating at KING-TV, Seattle's NBC affiliate. While working on the Science Guy show, Nye won seven national Emmy Awards for writing, performing, and producing.

The show won 18 Emmys in five years. In between creating the shows, he wrote five children's books about science, including his latest title, “Bill Nye's Great Big Book of Tiny Germs." Nye is the host of three currently-running television series. “The 100 Greatest Discoveries" airs on the Science Channel. “The Eyes of Nye" airs on PBS stations across the country. Bill's latest project is hosting a show on Planet Green called “Stuff Happens." It's about environmentally responsible choices that consumers can make as they go about their day and their shopping. Also, you'll see Nye in his good-natured rivalry with his neighbor Ed Begley. They compete to see who can save the most energy and produce the smallest carbon footprint. Nye has 4,000 watts of solar power and a solar-boosted hot water system. There's also the low water use garden and underground watering system. It's fun for him; he's an engineer with an energy conservation hobby. Nye is currently the Executive Director of The Planetary Society, the world's largest space interest organization.
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TRANSCRIPT :

Aaron: My name is Aaron. I want to know why I have to come to school because I hate school.
Bill Nye: Aaron, many of us go through a phase of hating school. And generally you'll hate school because I'm looking at you, you're living at a time where you feel like you don't fit in and this time will pass. I know everybody tells you that but it's true. And it's also possible that you have a teacher that you're not crazy about. And so you'll get through this. Now if it's algebra, I'm looking at you estimating how old you are. The thing about math and algebra, trigonometry is you have to practice. There's just no way around it. You have to do it over and over. And you might be picking school just to be rebellious. We all go through a rebellious phase. But I guarantee you if you learn algebra you'll be able to think abstractly, not just about numbers but about all sorts of things and this will benefit you greatly in life.

It looks like you're sitting in a lab. It looks like you're sitting in a laboratory setting there. It looks like a biology class. There's nothing cooler than biology. In biology you have to memorize things because biologists, by long tradition, just make up words. They're crazy for making up words. Who doesn't love reverse transcriptase? Who doesn't love a Golgi body and so on?

[PKblaze_Twitch]

To be honest I still dislike school despite being out of it. It was a hellish time for me personally. Not only was I an outcast, being bullied for many years but everything just dragged. At numerous points I suffered with depression and missed significant periods of school. Still did fine in regards to grades though so...yay...I guess.

[trifacto]

The correct answer was: "Just be born rich. Then you can fail constantly and be a complete idiot and still become a success."

[nevad]

The reason why we hate school is because we spent 13 yrs not learning shit you just sit down listen to a teacher talking until the bell ring

[schroonsjozef]

Didn't even answer the question really. In what could have been a very deep discussion about the value of education in our society, the answer here is "well, ya need math sorta, and remembering stuff is cool too".

[MrMac]

Some people never fit in....but that's life.

[DeepValueOptions]

You need to go to school so that society can keep you being just the same as everyone else

[andrewgodly]

My school hating phase lasted 12 years

[lineikatabs]

"Because otherwise you'd vote for Trump!"

[hko]

The solution to every school problem is to learn algebra.

[artytomparis]

I'm 50. School sucks. Hated it. Still hate it. It hasn't passed.
Science class was great. Art class was usually great.

Isn't it true, Bill Nye, that he doesn't legally have to go to school !!

[noneofyourbusiness]

"this will pass" well i'm in college and it hasn't passed

[Jedran]

The reason I can't stand school is how the most successful students are held to the example set by the worst student in the class...

[NaeOnYT]

I think I benefited from growing up in a different generation. None of my grandparents finished high school for a variety of reasons, so I grew up very aware that my K-12 education was an incredible gift that I should be thankful for, something that wasn't always guaranteed.

[makzmakz]

The answered question was "Hey Bill Nye, why do I have to learn algebra"? He didn't the answer the original question.

For the record, "going to school" is not the same as "learning algebra". You can learn algebra without being forced to enter the mind numbing hell hole of political correctness known as the public school system.

[randompersoncookie]

The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

[jock]

Reverse transcriptase and golgi bodies is the least of his worries when he goes on to be asked to memorise a ridiculous number of proteins and genes that really isn't that relevant in the modern day instead of focusing on priciples, processes and pathways. But schooling isn't really about critical thinking or anything like that.

[Thirstlivingwater]

math is important. I always practice math and science cuz that's the only thing i was good at but I didn't know what to do with it. After high school I made some very bad decisions with drugs, parties and crazy ex gf. However after I recovered, I went back to college and because I was so good with algebra and in math in general, I am now able to become a physicist, a chemical engineer or bio engineer or a computer engineer etc. All these choices and careers make lots of it. Thank God I was always practice math cuz now the sky is the limit

[WarBeasty]

That's "endoplasmic reticulum", Bill. (I paid attention in biology class. LOL)

[FC]

Social anxiety caused me to drop out of high school as soon as possible.

[emancoy]

My issue is that some teachers puts me to sleep. LOL