[Feldkurat_Katz]

I finsihed algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus I and II, chemistry and physics by the time I was 16. I turn 45 next week and not a single one of those subjects ever helped me earn a living.

When ancient Greeks were learning and researching geometry and astronomy, it didn't contribute to commerce either. Two thousand years later, it made it possible to navigate ships across the oceans and led to Kepler's and Newton's discoveries of laws of motion.

It is very frustrating that the general public (that includes our congressmen and senators) thinks the purpose of education is to teach people skills (as in vocational education) instead of teaching them how to think.

By the way, I recently had to install a round mirror in a narrow corner. To determine where I need to drill holes, I used trigonometry.

[Gabz]

Your choice to only take part of my comments, and out of context at that, relegates your comments to the category of unworthy of response - but I am feeling magnanimous this evening.

My comment was specific to ME earning a living - nothing more, nothing less. I earned my living reading, writing, and speaking....not using the math and science I learned in school.

As to your mirror - congratulations. I have no idea what type of math or science I use when cooking, or gardening, or installing drywall, or painting, or roofing, or putting up siding - I just know that I am using either or both math and science to do any of them..............but that's not how I earned a living.