FabSwingers.com forum: Do you value education?

By *arc Polaris OP Man
22 hours ago

Birmingham

Following on from a different thread, just don’t ask, I am wondering as adults do you value education?

When I was at school I didn’t exactly give it my all, just enough to get by.

Looking back I realise that it was due to lack of interest in the subject matter.

As an adult I’m always thirsty to learn new things even if it just builds up knowledge rather than it being for a specific purpose.

I know I value education a lot more now than I ever did.

Back to the title. Do you value education?

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By *enuine_J87Man
22 hours ago

Eastleigh

Mostly yes but also a bit no.

These words were said on every parents evening throughout school “he has so much potential but he just doesn’t want to listen or try”

All I wanted to do was mess around and make people laugh, being a joker gave me 100x more joy than learning.

Then when I leave school and go to college, I think hmm I should have tried harder and absorbed more information! Why did I waste those years not learning.

But here’s where the no comes in… a lot of what you learn does become essentially useless information, other than a pub quiz, learning history hasn’t elevated my life, learning trigonometry hasn’t boosted my career… why wasn’t I taught about working, taxes, mortgage interests, so many things I will need in just a few years

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By *rHotNottsMan
22 hours ago

Dubai & Nottingham

Yes massively, all types. But agree much of the curriculum at GCSe and even A level is outdated, but it has its purpose, but there should be other stuff & other options at that that level.

I'm mid 50s and currently studying for my third degree, but also hands-on skill learning from experts, often 1-on-1, has been a big part of my learning for decades.

Stay curious, banish boredom, keep

Learning

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By *reyToTheFairiesWoman
22 hours ago

Carlisle usually

Formal and official education? Not generally no.

People who take the time and effort to learn about things independently, I value that.

Recency is relevant. You learned something thirty years ago and that's it, you've never looked to see what's changed in the field or furthered it? Meaningless 💜

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By *anielleCD94TV/TS
22 hours ago

Cheshire

Similar for me. I just coasted through school really. Did ok, but certainly didn't excel as much as I wished I had.

Since my mid twenties I've always strived to learn new things, be it the basics of a new language, psychology, or just general knowledge, just to name a couple.

Sometimes I do find it hard to switch off as I feel like I should always be consuming something educational or along the lines of self development

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By *htcMan
22 hours ago

Not really. Because education does not get you always far in life and alot of the stuff you end up learning is not needed in life or the world.

I only really value certain parts of the education but honestly I learnt more from documentaries than my school years.

Some education is valuable but alot is not.

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By *ivorced123Man
22 hours ago

port

Yes I value education, it offers the potential to change a person’s life course but also it can provide the skills to evaluate information and come to a reasoned decision.

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By *lirtyFilthWoman
21 hours ago

Troublesville

I definitely value education and am very grateful for it. I retrained at the age of 49 to be a bricklayer.

Every day is a school day so they say. I grateful that I have the capacity to learn and enjoy doing so.

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By *ellsOMan
21 hours ago

hull

For me, I didn't value it, I was somewhat lost in a sea of mediocre in terms of schooling, I worked from 16 but may have advanced further or quicker if I'd taken education more seriously

However, my daughter starts Uni in September and I cannot drum the importance of it to her enough, she has a wonderful future ahead of her and employers nowadays look for graduates, in some ways I envy her

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By *ealitybitesMan
21 hours ago

Belfast

I value it up to a point but turned my back on all forms of education when I was 19 and a vindictive teacher directly fucked up my chances of going to university along with a handful of other students.

I was an average student and as such had to work extra hard to get the results I needed and those 7 years of graft were meaningless because of his actions after we had reported him for inappropriate behaviour.

I have never been able to even consider studying anything since that happened and because I was going to Art college I haven't drawn or painted in the subsequent 42 years.

I valued education for my kids and supported them in their studies but never pushed them or encouraged them to go further and have no regrets as they are all well balanced individuals.

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By *ino200Man
21 hours ago

Bournemouth,london and Sienna

Not as much as some but as value doesnt really have a meaning for me ,i value knowledge ,i value history,i value places of interest and the history behind them

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By *obilebottomMan
21 hours ago

All over

Formal education and lifelong learning are not quite the same thing. Both very necessary imo to make you a confident, rounded amd well adjusted person. Sadly formal education often focuses on tech skills and not always those that make us more adaptable, refined and able to appreciate fully societal values. The lack of fundamental values that we see all around us point to both family and education errors. I have always valued education whether it's use was explicit or implicit in life. I have been lucky to have been afforded that from young age and throughout life. Not everyone is so though and is important we recognise the impact that things like upbringing and lack of opportunity can have on some people and do our best as society to support them. UK has one of the highest NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) population and has been rising. We also have become (again imo) less caring society, mostly due to political rhetoric, towards minorities and the most vulnerable in our society. Constant headlines about work shirkers, the disabled ascwell as xenophobia are trying to mask political failures. I see the lack of understanding of the issues certain people face daily. Even in here the lack of compassion if often astounding. 'I pay my taxes and therefore' attitude is arrogant and selfish if you can't have compassion of how others struggle in life. Education is often a good way people can improve their lives but not the only one. Lifelong learning, greater societal awareness and plenty of compassion go a long way too.

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By *ynamite500Man
21 hours ago

Angus

Absolutely I value education...life is one biiiig bloody learning curve! I don't necessarily believe in qualifications as you can have an academicly cleaver person who is actually thick as shit. I don't have a lot of qualifications however, some academics have told me I'm highly intelligent apperently. It doesn't mean anything to me as you can either understanding, digest and recall information or you can't. I think education is valuable to the individual. Everyone is different.🤔

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By *yprusdreamWoman
21 hours ago

Cyprus

I didn't value education as much as I should have done during my school years, although in saying that I did well in my exams etc. I did however value it more when I became the educator, I had the ability to see the potential in my students and targeted my lessons in a way which would encourage them to learn and absorb the information given. Each student is an individual who learns very differently to another student and should be treated that way.

I studied my own degrees in areas in which I had a huge interest so valued those more than anything I ever studied in school and chose my modules that would be beneficial for me as an educator.

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By *arc Polaris OP Man
21 hours ago

Birmingham

Some great responses so thank you. I did fear this thread was going to fail and I wouldn’t learn anything 😂

Some great points have been made about realising the importance of learning now we are older and our children will hopefully benefit from our hindsight.

When I mentioned education it was a general term for learning in a formal and informal setting. I know that trigonometry wasn’t everyone’s favourite and saw very little use cases for it but when I started in engineering I used it everyday so without that grounding I would have been behind.

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By *ynamite500Man
21 hours ago

Angus

"I didn't value education as much as I should have done during my school years, although in saying that I did well in my exams etc. I did however value it more when I became the educator, I had the ability to see the potential in my students and targeted my lessons in a way which would encourage them to learn and absorb the information given. Each student is an individual who learns very differently to another student and should be treated that way.

I studied my own degrees in areas in which I had a huge interest so valued those more than anything I ever studied in school and chose my modules that would be beneficial for me as an educator. "

Really good point.... inspiration is the number one factor...to spot an individuals talent and expand on it..it's all about finding our own niche and developing it... especially when there is a natural interest...the limits are endless then.🤔

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By *yprusdreamWoman
21 hours ago

Cyprus

"Formal education and lifelong learning are not quite the same thing. Both very necessary imo to make you a confident, rounded amd well adjusted person. Sadly formal education often focuses on tech skills and not always those that make us more adaptable, refined and able to appreciate fully societal values. The lack of fundamental values that we see all around us point to both family and education errors. I have always valued education whether it's use was explicit or implicit in life. I have been lucky to have been afforded that from young age and throughout life. Not everyone is so though and is important we recognise the impact that things like upbringing and lack of opportunity can have on some people and do our best as society to support them. UK has one of the highest NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) population and has been rising. We also have become (again imo) less caring society, mostly due to political rhetoric, towards minorities and the most vulnerable in our society. Constant headlines about work shirkers, the disabled ascwell as xenophobia are trying to mask political failures. I see the lack of understanding of the issues certain people face daily. Even in here the lack of compassion if often astounding. 'I pay my taxes and therefore' attitude is arrogant and selfish if you can't have compassion of how others struggle in life. Education is often a good way people can improve their lives but not the only one. Lifelong learning, greater societal awareness and plenty of compassion go a long way too.

My dissertation fir my masters degree was centred around the NEET cohort and how to support and engage the ever increasing numbers and the numbers back then were staggering. A lot more should be done to combat this but unfortunately the government just doesn't set aside the funding for this to happen, if anything the government cuts in education makes it more likely that these numbers will just rise as there isn't the resources to identify those at risk of becoming NEET in order to put plans in place to stop it happening.

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By *igerFiestaMan
21 hours ago

Huddersfield

My teachers didn't care as the school closed right after I left. There were so many substitute teachers taking multiple classes and repeating the same lessons and nobody seemed to be bothered. I took lessons far too seriously, became a prefect and teacher's pet, and I never cared or took the time to just enjoy childhood and the daft things you could do as a young teenager. Education is important, but if I could repeat those years I would have embraced those carefree days and noticed the girls more, especially the two who had a crush on me, but I took little notice at the time. If I could send a message back in time it would say 'open your eyes and look around you!'

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By *hamallamadingdongMan
20 hours ago

London

I value education. The opportunity to learn anything is a blessing and a right for everyone. Formal education isn't fit for purpose. They don't provide us with the skills we need to become self sufficient adults. The school of life is harsher. I like learning new skills and applying them. It's just about finding time and sometimes money to fund it.

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By *arc Polaris OP Man
20 hours ago

Birmingham

"My teachers didn't care as the school closed right after I left. There were so many substitute teachers taking multiple classes and repeating the same lessons and nobody seemed to be bothered. I took lessons far too seriously, became a prefect and teacher's pet, and I never cared or took the time to just enjoy childhood and the daft things you could do as a young teenager. Education is important, but if I could repeat those years I would have embraced those carefree days and noticed the girls more, especially the two who had a crush on me, but I took little notice at the time. If I could send a message back in time it would say 'open your eyes and look around you!'

Do you think it shut because they knew they would never have another student as good as you so just gave up? 😂

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
20 hours ago

East Sussex

Yes and I have continued to study both formally and I formally ever since. I enjoy learning but it has to be things I'm really interested in

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By *lue Eyed JokerMan
20 hours ago

Always on the move

I value more what people DO with that education

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By *eightsB4DatesMan
19 hours ago

north east

Can’t speak on further education but normal school I don’t it’s an absolute load of shit

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By *WB85Man
19 hours ago

Staffordshire

I didn't value it when I should have, and so had to re sit exams as I got older to get where I needed to be.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing isnt it.

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By *annyDanielleMan
19 hours ago

Street, Somerset

More than i did while i was in it.🤪

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By *onn8955Man
19 hours ago

wakefield

Much the same as you OP.

As a child no. As a teenager even less so.

However, as an adult I had the opportunity to go to Uni later in life (mid 30s!) and thrived.

I definitely think its something I had to mature into too.

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By *athomMan
19 hours ago

South Coast

I always did just enough for school and technical exams for my qualifications, I prefer practical skills.

I feel sorry for the youngsters now who have been sold a pup on the value of degrees in certain fields and are and will be in debt for years to come.

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By *onin25Man
19 hours ago

Durham

Yes, but what's right for one person in terms of education isn't right for the next. People have different aptitudes, learning styles, ambitions, and academic learning doesn't suit everyone. But we should all learn in the way that suits us best if possible.

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By *asper1987Man
18 hours ago

Glasgow

"Following on from a different thread, just don’t ask, I am wondering as adults do you value education?

When I was at school I didn’t exactly give it my all, just enough to get by.

Looking back I realise that it was due to lack of interest in the subject matter.

As an adult I’m always thirsty to learn new things even if it just builds up knowledge rather than it being for a specific purpose.

I know I value education a lot more now than I ever did.

Back to the title. Do you value education? "

I do find myself way more keen to learn things now than in the past, in school the subjects weren’t what caught my interest and now with access to all the online platforms like yt or nebula and more you can learn tons of new things. I haven’t watched a series in years but finding myself watching documentaries and travel videos. My life changed as now I got so many more topics of conversation to discuss at social gatherings. That’s also because I don’t give a damn about football, and I find smart people more sexy.

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By *asper1987Man
18 hours ago

Glasgow

Also want to add that UK’s rate of functional illiteracy increased dramatically in the last 15 years. It used to be under 5% and now is over 25%, so technically one of 3 brits is functionally illiterate. Not blaming any government but we’re heading in a strange direction, so to answer your question. Yes, more than ever.

Ironically, I think AI will make education even more valuable. Not because facts will become harder to find, but because independent thinking will become rarer.

Throughout history, societies have always had people who produced knowledge and people who simply followed it. AI could widen that gap. The people who understand how to question, verify, reason and create will thrive. Those who outsource all of their thinking to AI risk becoming dependent on it.

In a strange way, I think we’re heading towards a kind of digital feudalism. Not with kings and peasants, but with those who build and understand AI, those who know how to use it critically, and those who simply accept whatever it tells them.

Education isn’t just about memorising facts anymore. It’s about learning how to think, challenge assumptions, spot misinformation, and ask better questions. AI can give you an answer in seconds, but it can’t replace curiosity, judgement, or wisdom.

So yes, I still value education. If anything, I think it’s about to become the single biggest advantage a person can have. Or disadvantage, depends on how people decide to use it.

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By *4bimMan
18 hours ago

Farnborough Hampshire

let more about life when i got out into the real world.

school i felt didnt prepare me for it, not enough about finance. the importance of a starting a pension early etc and i still didnt know what i wanted to do when i left.

once out you see people for what they are, it takes tme but everyone reveals themselves in time.

seems the things you need to know, happen to late. time i have now i use it wisely which is why i dont have much of it to give away

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By *aked beachMan
16 hours ago

Just A Stranger In A Strange Land.

Most of the lessons were a waste of time unless you had a love of the subject, History, Geography, Science for example, English and Maths are important for obvious reasons. What Education does do that is important is it teaches you how to learn. If you can’t do that then you will struggle through life.

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By *arc Polaris OP Man
15 hours ago

Birmingham

"Also want to add that UK’s rate of functional illiteracy increased dramatically in the last 15 years. It used to be under 5% and now is over 25%, so technically one of 3 brits is functionally illiterate. Not blaming any government but we’re heading in a strange direction, so to answer your question. Yes, more than ever.

Ironically, I think AI will make education even more valuable. Not because facts will become harder to find, but because independent thinking will become rarer.

So yes, I still value education. If anything, I think it’s about to become the single biggest advantage a person can have. Or disadvantage, depends on how people decide to use it. "

I was trying to avoid the politics aspect and u still will but you raise a really good point about the ability to independently think

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By *aFemmeCoquetteWoman
14 hours ago

Somewhere in the middle not the.....

I do, be that academic or practical. And especially the right education for the person and the career path you want to follow. What I dont value is the financial burden it can put on people to get degrees to help lead to those careers or even lead to nothing basically a degree for a dgreees sake.

Fortunately a lot more vocational degrees are being run as apprentiships with have financial support from the government for any age, I have just come to the end of one myself and through my employer, it certainly wasn't something I ever thought I would do, when i was finishing my gsces and was deciding what my next steps were education/career wise, there was no way my parents could have supported myself and my stepsibling through university at the same time (we were in the same year at school) and I would have unlikely been able to get much in grants due to their income, so I decided to ease that burden and left went into work. Now to progress in my chosen field education is definitely a big part of being able to do that and I will definitely continue to keep on learning.

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By *arc Polaris OP Man
13 hours ago

Birmingham

"I do, be that academic or practical. And especially the right education for the person and the career path you want to follow. What I dont value is the financial burden it can put on people to get degrees to help lead to those careers or even lead to nothing basically a degree for a dgreees sake.

Certainly financial cost in later life are a thought that needs addressing. That has what has stopped me getting the degree everyone thought I wasn’t clever enough for.

You are doing amazing and I hope you are as proud of yourself that I and others are of you

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By *uri00620Woman
12 hours ago

Croydon

"Mostly yes but also a bit no.

These words were said on every parents evening throughout school “he has so much potential but he just doesn’t want to listen or try”

All I wanted to do was mess around and make people laugh, being a joker gave me 100x more joy than learning.

Then when I leave school and go to college, I think hmm I should have tried harder and absorbed more information! Why did I waste those years not learning.

Kids do learn these things and you know, many are even less interested than other parts of the curriculum. Things like mortgages seem a life time away to them. They are more interested in the now. Even talking to year 9s right now about starting gcse courses in year 10 is a hard sell because it's after the summer holidays and even now is something they don't want to concern themselves with.

Some say themselves they want to learn about taxes etc, however, when it comes to do it they actually don't. Certainly not up until GCSE anyway, maybe A Level age is different?

Whilst much of what they learn isn't directly used in any career they may enter, the skills may well be. You mention History but evaluation and analysis to name just 2, are certainly useful tools across many careers. Pub quizzes aside, aren't people generally more interesting when they are knowledgeable about "stuff" no?

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
11 hours ago

Central

I always have but haven't always behaved like I do

I've lost out, especially with Latin, as I didn't apply myself enough, when it was easiest.

If something is on a plate, you often don't value it. Plus, when younger, life seems like it's going to be forever

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By *ermite12ukMan
7 hours ago

Solihull and Romford

My last 4 out of 5 jobs. Stretching from 2008 through to the present day. Without the qualification I gained in 1995. I would not have been able to apply for.

To answer the question, I certainly do value education: In that hopefully, before I go. If my gdaughter expresses an interest in furthering her education. More than happy to fund it. But education is no longer cheap which is another reason to value it, imho.

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By *xSirenaxxWoman
4 hours ago

Gloucestershire

I do value education, and more importantly the opportunities in life to learn and grow as a person.

With my kids, I’ve always tried to instil the importance of working hard, both at school and in whatever they’re passionate about, because nothing in life comes easy or free. For me, effort has always mattered more than raw results. I’ll look at the effort scores on a report before the grades.

You can improve results over time, but that willingness to put the work in is what really sets you up for life.

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By *ellhungvweMan
4 hours ago

Cheltenham

"I do value education, and more importantly the opportunities in life to learn and grow as a person.

You can improve results over time, but that willingness to put the work in is what really sets you up for life."

I am with this

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