Why do so many courses have so much rubbish that you don't need to know?

Perhaps because courses are not designed specifically for you. They are designed for people who want to study in a particular field. So elements you think are rubbish, may not be considered rubbish by other students. Plus, if you can’t communicate well you will have problems in just about any job. Even the most reclusive occupations require effective communication at some point. Similarly, Occupational Health and Safety is an important part of any workplace. If you ever want to work in a management position you will have to have an idea about this topic.

Do you mean that there are requirements for your major that don’t appear to be related to that major? What is you major/area of study?

Because a basic working knowledge of these subjects are necessary to work in any field whether large corp. or own business.
It’s like eating spinach – just do it and you’ll see the benefits down the road.
Business Law is another one frequently mandated.

Primarily because you have no way of knowing TODAY what will be valuable knowledge NEXT YEAR. So they teach you a lot of stuff that will prove to be valuable in the future.

“all sorts of rubbish.”: You mean like (politically correct) History as authorized and approved by the Department of Education (which happens to be chaired by politicians) for your country, state, or county?

@Charles – What exactly is this “politically correct” history that you talk about?

So, since you know what you need to know, why the hell are you wasting time in classes?

Clearly you don’t trust your teachers, so why are you studying with them?

I was just working on a syllabus for the next course I’m teaching, and I almost forgot to include the “useless rubbish” section. Thanks for the reminder!

Personally, I like the useless rubbish best. Make it a big section, @nikipedia, and I’ll sign up!

It’s called a “fill-in”. When the course runs out of actual basic information, they use whatever is handy to fill-in the empty space.

We had this a lot in my police academy.

Please tell me what a police officer needs to know about the Chinese language? I have only made one traffic stop with a Chinese driver in all my years. No, I did not understand his language or him….mine. We both gave each other smiles and I let him go with a warning in English.
Try reading a Chinese drivers license sometimes. Its a challenge.

This was a fii-in.

Just to expand your general knowledge. What seems useless today, may be important at some other time of your life. That’s kind of what education is all about. Open your mind and let it all pour in. Your capacity may be greater than you think it is.

Because knowledge of ccupational health and safety and, communications is the sort of rubbish that will actually get you a job. Just because you are unable to see any benefit does not mean that it is worthless.

I have taken zero classes that include occupational health and safety. They’ve all had a communications aspect, especially in writing classes, but so does every single interaction I have with humans, ever.

What are you studying?

I’m training for a new job, and it’s nearly identical to taking a course. As mentioned elsewhere, it’s for the MRDD. Now, do I really need a quiz on hand-washing? Sounds like “rubbish”, to me, eh? Well, if you play the tape all the way through: you want to give e. coli to a developmentally disabled individual who already has a compromised immune system. So yes, as much as you think that your learning “rubbish” and stop paying attention you can harm someone – or yourself – by deeming something crap.
Oops ain’t gonna cut it.

I tend to thinks its actually to make up the hours required to be able to call this a certificate 4 level and charge the amount of money that they do.
Yes I can communicate, yes I have done the OH&S component of every course I have ever signed up for.
I also sat in a class over the weekend when we had done all that was on the agenda for that day and people who had to travel a long distance home were held back just so we could make up some more hours.
I’m studying Bowen Therapy, I do need to know about the muscular and skeletal system, also the nervous system, but I’m not studying to be a doctor or a nurse. I don’t need that much detail. I don’t need great detail about the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.
I also dont need a whole day and $300 worth of, keep your area free of hazards, don’t lift heavy things etc.