Is there anything you learned in school you still apply in daily life?

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

Think for yourself, because the conventional wisdom is sometimes much more conventional than it is wise.

[oldmanfan]

Mr. Scheib at Franklin Junior High.  Math teacher who told us never to add “and” when talking about a number.  Example:  242 is two hundred forty two, not two hundred AND forty two.  I say it his way almost 60 years later.

Edited July 23 by oldmanfan

[Augie]

14 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Mr. Scheib at Franklin Junior High.  Math teacher who told us never to us “and” when talking about a number.  Example:  242 is two hundred forty two, not two hundred AND forty two.  I say it his way almost 60 years later.

 

Geez, now I don’t know if I inhale or exhale on my backswing…..

 

I’m pretty sure I don’t throw the “and” in there. Yeah, pretty sure. 

 

But maybe sometimes…..? Maybe throw in a sloppy “‘n”?  🤷‍♂️

Edited July 23 by Augie

[Draconator]

My high school Music Theory teacher and Orchestra conductor, Bill Staebell, was a bassist in LA before he moved back to Buffalo to teach in high school. He was my first bass teacher. The very first thing he taught me I still use some 40 years later. On the lower, wider frets, use your ring a pinky finger together. I do this and it makes playing the bass easier and more enjoyable (with someone of my limited hand size). The only songs this doesn't really apply are songs played by Geddy Lee. Natural Science for example. 

[muppy]

I took the OP very literally. YES I still apply things I learned in school to my daily life.

 

1. Be on Time

 

2. Wait your turn

 

3. I still put on my listening ears and thinking cap. don't you?

 

4.  RESPECT AUTHORITY

 

5. Be nice to bus drivers

 

6. Don' Cheat.

 

and finally

 

7. do your homework!

 

 

[Bills4everNY]

I learned in grade school to always check hole in the water faucet where the water comes out before you put your face in it and press the handle for a drink of water. I do that to make sure nobody put gum in it so the water squirts you in the face.

[Fleezoid]

9 hours ago, muppy said:

I took the OP very literally. YES I still apply things I learned in school to my daily life.

 

1. Be on Time

 

2. Wait your turn

 

3. I still put on my listening ears and thinking cap. don't you?

 

4.  RESPECT AUTHORITY

 

5. Be nice to bus drivers

 

6. Don' Cheat.

 

and finally

 

7. do your homework!

 

 

 

OMG! I'm 0 for 7! I'm a horrible person. 😬

[Augie]

3 hours ago, Fleezoid said:

 

OMG! I'm 0 for 7! I'm a horrible person. 😬

 

But….in a perfect kind of way, so there’s that. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

20 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

Mr. Scheib at Franklin Junior High.  Math teacher who told us never to add “and” when talking about a number.  Example:  242 is two hundred forty two, not two hundred AND forty two.  I say it his way almost 60 years later.

Exactly!  The correct way.

*
EDIT: I seem to recall the only correct place to hear 'and' was when you were talking money, between the dollars and cents:

$24,378.43 is

"Twenty four thousand, three hundred seventy eight dollars AND forty three cents."

And every elementary school student in the sixties and seventies could 'make change' for whatever currency was presented in payment for a restaurant or grocery store bill.  I watched a Denny's on Maple Rd. in Amherst grind to a halt, when the computerized cash register went down.  Even those paying cash had a time trying to settle up.

Edited July 24 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[SoTier]

My school district had an indoor swimming pool -- a very rare thing for schools in Catt County back then -- and all kids in grades 5-8 had to take swimming.  I learned to swim, not just doggy paddle, but do the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, etc.   It's a skill you never lose even if you don't swim regularly because you become comfortable in deep water.

 

I learned writing skills from my ninth grade English teacher, Miss Anderson.  I learned that sentences are complete thoughts not just a bunch of words strung together and ended with a period.  I also learned the use of the correct homonyms (like there, they're, their) and why and when to use apostrophes.

 

I learned how to make three point turns in driver ed, a skill which comes in handy since I've never met a back road I didn't want to explore.

 

Math taught me how to think logically, a pretty necessary skill for a computer programmer.

 

 

 

 

[BillsPride12]

On 7/22/2025 at 9:45 PM, Simon said:

This is intriguing me.  Is it worth checking out?

[Simon]

19 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

This is intriguing me.  Is it worth checking out?

 

I haven't read it in 30 years but I thought it was great when I did and I get the sense it's the kind of thing that will hold up over time. He's a really good writer and it's chock full of simple, sensible wisdom.

It was a massive seller back in the day that probably gets reprinted frequently so I'm guessing you could find a used copy of it for under $5.

I would say that yes, it is definitely worth checking out. If it turns out to be not your thing, you can always pass it along as a thoughtful gift. 

[SoMAn]

The basics. Reading, math, and writing.
I’ve rarely, if ever used Algebra, biology, or chemistry. Writing is probably the main skill I’ve been able to utilize for so long.
I had a third grade teacher who preached good penmanship. I was eager to please and a perfectionist who attempted to execute cursive writing as it was displayed on the charts posted above the chalkboard.  My very nice penmanship came in handy in high school when I frequently forged my mother’s writing to create get-out-of-class excuses. 
I still have great penmanship. Ironically, my wife’s writing is often illegible. We could make a fun party game out of guessing the words/items she’s written on her grocery list. 

I may sound like just another boomer here, but I think it’s a shame so many schools no longer teach cursive. I believe there will be few letters or personal written records saved in a drawer and read years later.   The younger generations only send texts with little substance and most of their personal thoughts will be lost forever. 
 

[Augie]

20 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

The basics. Reading, math, and writing.
I’ve rarely, if ever used Algebra, biology, or chemistry. Writing is probably the main skill I’ve been able to utilize for so long.
I had a third grade teacher who preached good penmanship. I was eager to please and a perfectionist who attempted to execute cursive writing as it was displayed on the charts posted above the chalkboard.  My very nice penmanship came in handy in high school when I frequently forged my mother’s writing to create get-out-of-class excuses. 
I still have great penmanship. Ironically, my wife’s writing is often illegible. We could make a fun party game out of guessing the words/items she’s written on her grocery list. 

I may sound like just another boomer here, but I think it’s a shame so many schools no longer teach cursive. I believe there will be few letters or personal written records saved in a drawer and read years later.   The younger generations only send texts with little substance and most of their personal thoughts will be lost forever. 
 

 

This is touching on many levels. Since our kids were young, and now well into adulthood, my wife has only asked for one gift from our boys. She has a collection of handwritten notes from our kids going back decades, and they are far more precious than any little trinket or costume earrings. They are among her most prized possessions. 

 

We are on vacation in a cabin at a resort on a lake, and all three of our grandkids are here, along with their families. It’s complicated, but it’s also beautiful. Some of them I will meet for the first time tonight. She got tee times and massages for all the right people, a full day at the pool with a cabana…..and this is her birthday gift to herself. That feels like a different generation. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

 

I haven't read it in 30 years but I thought it was great when I did and I get the sense it's the kind of thing that will hold up over time. He's a really good writer and it's chock full of simple, sensible wisdom.

It was a massive seller back in the day that probably gets reprinted frequently so I'm guessing you could find a used copy of it for under $5.

I would say that yes, it is definitely worth checking out. If it turns out to be not your thing, you can always pass it along as a thoughtful gift. 

First Edition was in 1986.  Just imagine how this would get ripped today!

 

Share everything?

 

I asked my wife this question today, I knew the answer before she could even speak it:

 

"Share, be welcoming, & wait your turn."

 

 

[Another Fan]

1 hour ago, BillsPride12 said:

This is intriguing me.  Is it worth checking out?

I had a boss over 10 years ago that had a poster in his office with that saying and some of the reasoning spilled out.

 

I remember thinking at the time it made perfect sense.  It's funny too I remember he was a big NY Giants fan.    And I still remember being happy at least the Super Bowl posters he had in his wall were from Super Bowl 21 not 25! 

Edited July 26 by Another Fan

[SoTier]

4 hours ago, SoMAn said:

The basics. Reading, math, and writing.
I’ve rarely, if ever used Algebra, biology, or chemistry. Writing is probably the main skill I’ve been able to utilize for so long.
I had a third grade teacher who preached good penmanship. I was eager to please and a perfectionist who attempted to execute cursive writing as it was displayed on the charts posted above the chalkboard.  My very nice penmanship came in handy in high school when I frequently forged my mother’s writing to create get-out-of-class excuses. 
I still have great penmanship. Ironically, my wife’s writing is often illegible. We could make a fun party game out of guessing the words/items she’s written on her grocery list. 

I may sound like just another boomer here, but I think it’s a shame so many schools no longer teach cursive. I believe there will be few letters or personal written records saved in a drawer and read years later.   The younger generations only send texts with little substance and most of their personal thoughts will be lost forever. 
 

 

Cursive is simply a method of handwriting, and in the 21st century, it's obsolete just like hieroglyphics.   Aside from signing checks or documents, most people simply do not use cursive, and there's no legal requirement that signatures be in cursive.   You can print your name or scribble it and declare it your signature.   You can also simply "sign" an electronic document by checking a box that says the check mark or X is your electronic "signature".

 

People still write down their thoughts, big and small, but it's done in electronic media.   People write manuscripts, doctoral theses, speaking notes, meeting notes etc on electronic devices rather than on paper.   People stopped writing letters when they could simply pick up the receiver of their land-line telephone, dial a number, and hear their friend or relative or associate on the other end of the telephone line, which happened long before the advent of cell phone.

[Augie]

Nobody has mentioned hiding under their desk to survive a nuclear explosion, so that is good, right?