Which is it better to be, street smart or academically smart?

A lot of things, mostly socioeconomic factors.

The parent is single, has a job or two jobs and the jobs are not exactly forgiving when missing work, legitimate or otherwise. Then you have the peer pressure from the neighborhood and the philosophy of the get rich quick schemes that range from drugs to other nefarious avenues. The kid wants to support his parent and will do so at the price of education. So the parent tries to do the best they can yet the world, the neighborhood, has other ideas. That is why local gangs become more like family than actual family sometimes. And it is a constant struggle by parents in economically deprived neighborhoods on why recidivism exists, compared to suburbia, for instance where it is much lower, despite more drugs in suburbia than in urban areas.

There is no doubt that schools in the poorest of neighborhoods can produce bright kids and that should be encouraged. However, what you don't get is that it takes ten times the effort in an economically deprived neighborhood than in suburbia where your biggest worry is the Vinte expresso or the regular expresso. You do not have to choose on a daily basis whether food or rent is paid, medical bills or rent is paid, etc. And that is the difference here. The opportunity is far less frequent than in suburbia for a variety of reasons, and most of the suburbia have no clue what it takes to survive in such an environment.

 

Not really. Do you really think there are the same programs at Knippa high school as at Allen High School? One has some 100 students or so, the other, more like 2000 or more. The opportunities are not the same, relatively speaking.

 

I would argue the quantum physics person would survive longer because he or she would be smart enough to get out of the ghetto. The so called street smart guy would likely fall victim to the culture of the street and forever remain stupid or dead.

 

For me street smart. Academically smart only has value in an academic field. Survival to me means understanding how the world works not questioning why it works the way it does.

 

I disagree. For instance if you need to make change or calculate a percentage you don't need calculus you need simple division one is Street smarts the other is academic.

 

ALL of which are choices, and nothing whatsoever to do with the system, or your schools. Parents working long hours is never an excuse. I've known far too many uneducated brown migrant parents who worked insane hours, then sacrificed their own sleep and free time to ensure their kids would be educated out of poverty. It's a choice. And many of those families lived in really bad areas, because it was all they could afford. Their kids did not join gangs unless the parents were utterly irresponsible. It's a choice.

Ask a parent of a recalcitrant child why they chose not to do what's required, and you'll have the answer. Ask directly .. as in "when you came home from work at 8pm after your 12hr shift, did you watch tv .. or did you sit attentively with your kid while he did extra study?". Then ask them WHY they chose tv instead of educating their kid out of poverty. It's not freaking easy, for anyone. People don't do it because they don't want to do it. They expect it to be easier than that, with no input from themselves.

PS: It's never about money. This level of commitment and diligence costs nothing but the parents' free time and comfort.

 

Never said they are not choices except where you live or if you have a medical disability or something out of your control. However, that does not negate the same opportunities from one area to the next. Considering that public education is primarily financed by property taxes, sales taxes, and/or income taxes, yes, it boils down to money and why there is a disparity in public education between urban and rural areas. And yes, money is a key component. If you have enough financial resources to be secure in your needs, you are not going to have to worry about food, rent, or other necessities, like those "uneducated brown migrants" you are speaking of. And yes, they do make the sacrifices for their kids, but you don't have that in suburbia, do you? Their "sacrifice" might be to not go out to a 5-star restaurant once a month or something similar, which is definitely not the same as the sacrifices that the "uneducated brown migrant parent" is sacrificing, such as coming here illegally, for instance, hint hint.

A parent who is working in the type of job you are describing is severely restricted in using their phone to make personal calls. These types of jobs that pay hourly do not have many benefits and they can be replaced a lot easier and quicker than any other job category. Hence, they are not going to be calling their child to see what they are up to. That would be going against the policies of that company and will be distracted from their work, which may cause them to be fired, especially in a at-will state like Texas. That being said, the "uneducated brown migrant parent" will rely on other family members to help with their recalcitrant child, who may have AHAD or something similar but cannot be properly diagnosed because of that cost money.

 

Perhaps, if they managed to get out of the ghetto, that'd be a miracle. However, what if socioeconomic status plays a major part in the ability, opportunity and desire. Here is a video that explains it well, the how, why, when, where, what and who is and is affected. In very simple terms, losers breed losers 99% of the time.

 

http://www.politicalforum.com/index...demically-smart.601879/page-2#post-1073598095

 

Yes, but do they possess the ability to be educated? http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/which-is-it-better-to-be-street-smart-or-academically-smart.601879/page-2#post-1073598095

 

Yes indeed. BTW, did you watch the video in post #33?

 

Yep.

 

Book smart. You can youtube what you need to learn at any given time or read a book and understand it. Thugs get away with being thugs because people are too well mannered to do what needs to be done with them. In a survival situation, they are going to have a hard time gaming the system when the system no longer exists.

 

Depends on where you live, obviously.

 

It does, most definitely. As those in poorer communities do have access to education, but there is a lack in the quality and focus on the student's end result. They don't get their heads filled with visions of grandeur, rather, visions filling their heads of holding down a minimum wage job, if lucky and not of a supreme court judge as an example.

 

I have been called a programming genius and I knew how to change a tire before I stepped foot on a University campus and my summer job during University was to work for a student painting company. You seem to think that learning only takes place during the years in college. For most people that is only 4 years of their life. A tiny fraction of your life. Lots of learning can take place before and essentially a lifetime of learning can take place after. How and what you choose to learn is up to the individual.

 

Correct.
For the purpose of this demonstration, I'll use my own experience in life.

Growing up as a kid in the 70s & 80s, Aus was challenging. Being bullied for most of my schooling years took a toll on my education. I completed high school to the minimum requirement of year10. I'm not sure what that is equivalent to in the US but years 11 & 12 you'd be a senior in high school. I was a borderline minus average student due to the psychological effects of the bullying. I eventually enlisted in the army and spent 14 years there. These years were my street smart years. From school to the army. After leaving the army and a couple of jobs, I began my academic smart years. I taught myself over a few years and began my own investment business. No clients, just for myself. I've been doing this for the past almost 8 years on a professional level, 13 years if you count the learning curve.
The point is, that the system can and will bring people down and keep them there if they allow it to. Also, you can have the best of both worlds street & academic smarts, but it ain't easy getting there. As there are many hurdles to overcome, within yourself and the environment.

 

Here we go.
Good for you, if you recognised the fact that the example I used was based on an individual and not a collective. There is a difference, are you keeping up with the bouncing ball, I hope so? My opening statement contained an analogy, you know what that is right? well, that's what I used to kick start this thread.
What you're referring to that you quoted me on was already explained. To further the point, no, education doesn't just occur in college as I did cover the classroom and the lecture hall to cover all of the areas that one would partake in a typical life in education. Was that not expressed clearly enough for you, or did you lose track of the ball then?

The point of this thread is not about the length or type of education, it is about "Which is it better to be, street smart or academically smart?". Are you caught up now?
So far, the conversation has led us to understand that the main factor of a street-smart person is based on socioeconomic factors. Watch the video, you might begin to catch on. Shall we try again?

 

I am still confused at the point you are trying make. I think the problem lies is your changing meaning of "street smarts". I took it to mean what you said in your first two post.

I took your meaning of street smarts to mean life skills. Things like changing a tire, painting a wall, changing your oil filter, catching a fish, setting up a tent, how to grow food etc... Skills that are not usually taught in college but people can learn on their own or from other sources.

If that is your meaning then I stand by what I said because I do not believe people are simply placed in a "street smart" or "academic smart" box. Everyone possess both. College only takes up a very small percentage of your life. The majority of your learning will come before and after college. Plenty of time for the college grad to learn many life skills as their life progresses. I have learned countless life skills since graduation. As an example I have recently been learning how to solder and build small electronic circuits. I have combine that with 3D printing and that enables me expand my horizons on what I can make.

On the flip side someone that did not go to college could have spent their time learning a trade, apprenticing a skill, going into business, becoming an artist, enlist in the military. They can spend those earlier years building the foundations for their career and develop many life skills but they are also not limited. They can read books, watch videos, do research, engage in self study, learn from others and develop academic smarts throughout their life. Learning does not stop. Everyone possess both "street smarts" and "academic smarts". It is not binary. You confirmed that with your own life example of joining the military to develop life skills and now moving on to develop academic skills.

Now this is where it gets confusing. Starting on post #33 you seem to focus on the socioeconomic impact on the opportunity to learn, which your initial post specially eliminated from the discussion.

The implication of that video is that socioeconomic status limits the opportunity for some to attain higher education so depending on your socioeconomic situation you may face additional hurdles. I doubt anyone will dispute that but even the video you posted admits socioeconomic status is a construct encompassing many environmental influences. In other words the answer is much deeper than this catch all explanation.

BUT again even if we assume that socioeconomic status limits some people to only "street smarts" these same socioeconomic limiters may also limit the range of life skills those impacted may be able to learn. For example a kid growing up in the ghetto may never get the opportunity to go camping, learn to fish or hunt, learn to start a fire, put up a tent, row a boat. They may have limited travel opportunities which opens the door to learning about other cultures, peoples, behavior etc... It is quite possible they learn life skills that other kids growing up in middle class suburbia may never learn because they are not in the position too or given the opportunity.

So my opinion on "street smarts" / life skills is, no matter what your background is we all learn some regardless or if someone goes to college or not.

I think your question is may be centered on the idea that the person who goes to college may not learn the same type of life skills as the person who does not. You are wondering if the type of life skills learned by one can be consider better than the other. I think that is next to impossible to answer unless you gave a specific example. If you are drowning you wish you knew how to swim, if you lost or hurt in the woods you may wish you knew how to camp or first aid.

 

If you want to live on the streets like an animal, it is better to be street smart.

If you want to live like a civilized human being and enjoy the finer things life has to offer, then it is better to be academically smart.

I happen to be both. I grew up on the Compton border and had to deal with the Crips, the Bloods, and the gang that became MS13. But I went on to get a college education with degrees in physics.

Because I understand physics and engineering, I use it every day. And that's why I get paid the big bucks.

 

I not only get paid the big bucks, I have spent most of the last 25 years working from home.

 

The thread opener is what it is. I gave my opinion/interpretation. Obviously, as anticipated, the discussion/argument changed course, to further illuminate other factors brought by participating members. My understanding/interpretation of "street smart" is contained here. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=street smarts. As you've pointed out, there are certain skills you consider to be part of the package.

...continuing on from the above. When you consider a person's background (socioeconomic), Many things take place or are in place, psychological factors affect the outcome of an individual and in turn, affect the educational standard. However, because of the background surrounding the underprivileged what they lack academically, they gain in other areas such as survivability on the street/bush, burbs/city etc. Whereas an academic, spoon-fed all their life, great education and career would never consider or even contemplate being in the shoes of the street smart guy. This is where my argument is, which is better? A conundrum? It's all about the perspective taken. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it's a picture that has many pieces to it that makes it. Watch the YT video on post #33. This is partly what I'm banging on about.

As I stated early, the initial post began as the picture that the jigsaw puzzle made. As the member's posts began to come in, more pieces of the puzzle arrived. So if there are two people each from different socioeconomic backgrounds. One from the good side of the track blessed with everything. Then the underprivileged, a broken dysfunctional home, violence in the air around them living every day in fear. Given a situation of living on the street, who'd be better off? Or would an underdog be able to mingle with wall street muppets? each would bring certain qualities to the table, but what is the table set for? Who would benefit, who not? Would have the advantage, who would not? Situation and circumstance. As stated by

For many, this is difficult, once in the rut, it's hard to get out. As for myself, I got out of the rut and live the sentiment of the quote by SB.

This is what resonates with me https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=street smarts. (It's the same link as above). If you take the basic form, the rest is up to the individual's perspective to ascertain what is and isn't for them. As there are many variables.

 

Agreed.

Agreed.

Good for you. Now you beat them over the head with your degrees hey? My environment wasn't as bad as dodging gangs. But being bullied on a daily basis, I learned to fight the hard way. After doing the hard yards for 29 years, became semi-retired @ 48 after educating myself in investing and trading. Living the dream.

Any other skills? Make furniture, fix a motor or any of these https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=street smarts?