High School for Grown Ups

I want to go back to high school.

Not because I had fun with all my friends, or because life was so much easier back then (or so it seemed), but because at this point in my life I'm now interested in learning about the stuff we learned about in high school.

Now, if I sat in American History, I would take an active interest in learning the history of our country. I think my questions would be quite different than they were back then. Same goes with American Government. It sure would be nice to know how things are supposed to work at the government level.

Remember all those math teachers who told us we would use those math equations some day? I found myself wondering the other day how to figure out how much dirt fits in a five gallon bucket (0.77 cubic feet filled to the top, by the way). Square stuff I'm good at, round not so much. I could use those old math equations right about now. Instead, I looked it up on the internet where they gave me the answer, but I still don't know how to figure it out.

Geology was my favorite science class. I loved learning about all the different kind of rocks and how the earth formed. I would love a biology class too--minus the frog dissection. Did they have a class on studying the different kinds of plants and flowers? I want one of those, too.

Then there were the fun classes: choir, music theory, drama and art history. I could use some music theory knowledge right now so I could figure out what the band I sing with is talking about when they say, "Is that a dominant seventh with a 'G' bass chord?"

In home economics we would be able to learn how to bake "gluten-free", sew that cool denim purse that's now back in style, and perfect our embroidery and crocheting skills.

This time around, I would take shop class. I want to learn how to use a table saw and build a piece of furniture, and not be afraid of power tools. Oh, yeah, I would take auto shop class, too. 

Plus I think the ultimate perk would be that you had to exercise about an hour every day and the personal trainers were free back in high school! Just, please, no more gym uniforms?

If I could go back now, instead of it being about getting the "A" and keeping up the GPA, it would now be about actually learning the content of the class. Instead of wondering why we had to learn all this useless, trivial knowledge, I see now that it's important to know where we came from and how we got where we are.

I understand that I could just as easily pick up the books or browse the internet to find all the information I need, but it's just not the same. First of all, I don't have the time. I simply can't afford to quit my full time job for a part-time one in order to go to school full-time. Second, looking stuff up on the internet or reading a book is different. It's not a structured class, run by a person who specializes in a particular subject, with a curriculum set in place, and your fellow students thoughts to help expand your knowledge. 

We need a high school for grown ups. Maybe we could start one for people who are retiring. I would love to do that when I retire. Unfortunately that's not going to be for many years.

Until then I expand my knowledge from shows on The History Channel, PBS and other TV shows. Painting class is next. Time to go learn how to paint "little happy trees" from Bob Ross.