Just a few hours ago, I took my New York State Real Estate Salesperson’s Exam for the second time – because the first time I took it – I failed. On Friday, I am taking my school exam for the second time – because I failed that the first time as well…

…now I remember why I hated school so much.

When I was a student, school was the last place I wanted to be. Not because the work was difficult, or the day was long – but simply because I never enjoyed the educational experience. Granted, everyone needs school to learn how to exist in this world, but most of what they teach is completely useless in regular society.

When I was in school, I learned everything from psychology, to chemistry, to social studies, to mathematics – to sexual education. And while some of that is, of course, necessary to understand and absorb – some of it is not. For example, I have been many things in my career, I have been, among other things, a marketing director, press secretary, editor-in-chief, graphic artist, and television host. Not once in any of those professions did I ever need to know The Periodic Table, the Id, Ego and Super Ego – or the fact that Pi equals 3.14159265. I really hate the fact that students are forced to learn information that they are tested on that, in their own lives – will never be used. I think that if students were only taught what is necessary and interesting to them – as well as what they need to know to pursue the career of their choice – the absentee rate among students would be a lot less than it actually is.

I remember when I taught journalism to the students at John Dewey High School and, during one particular class, a student asked me if they could learn more about journalism in school or in the workplace. With the school’s principal standing in the back of the classroom – I told the student not to bother attending college – but rather to go get her experience in the newsroom – and I can still remember the look on the principal’s face when he heard my answer.

Take this real estate test that I just took for example. Sure, I have to know real estate in order to get my license, but even the instructors who taught the classes told us that most of what we learn during the course will never be used once we are licensed real estate agents. If that is true, then why teach it to us? Why waste the time of both instructors and students by making us absorb completely useless information? Wouldn’t it be more practical to teach us what we need to know when we proudly hang our licenses on the walls of our new real estate offices? Call me crazy, but I have no room in my brain for useless information.

Based on my gut instinct, I think I passed this test. I recognized a lot of the questions from the last exam – and realized that a got many of them right when I checked the book after the test. If I did pass, and I do pass my school test this Friday – then I am a licensed real estate agent – and I can finally start making some serious money. But once I do become a licensed real estate agent, I must endure a 22-hour continuing education course one year after licensure…

…does it ever end?