Honestly, I think this is a discussion along the lines of the 'relay-run'...whats better-whats important. There will always be a discussion somewhere and there will always be folks who have an idea how to do something better/more efficient AND there will always be those who don't take advice on how to make things better/more effecient.
BUT-as far as your comment obowl about math...well, I gotta disagree! (nothing personal here-just a discussion
) Sure, in school there were things we learned that I will NEVER use in my life...i.e.figuring out the co-tangent of something-or-other...and that was really dry stuff that made my head swirl. In my apprenticeship here in Germ one of the tasks we had to learn was how to cotton-up and wire a gerbera and when wiring a leaf there were things we needed to do that NO florist will EVER do when wiring a leaf. But, so what!!! I know how to do it! Of course it won't make me more savvy or proactive in my shop, just as learning French in highschool won't be of any use to someone who wants to become a woodworker!! In Germ we call it "Allgemeinwissen"= general knowledge. My opinion? You can NEVER have enough of that!!
I agree with your comment about learning speed/competence and sponge-like qualities, but no genius has fallen from the sky! Experience comes with time. My first bq that looked half decent took me half an hour to finish!! Of course my boss told me back then that I'd have to LEARN to do it faster, but again, I wasn't born a florist...I had to LEARN!!
I don't think its a schools job to teach a student how to deal with everyday life...such as having a thick skin and having a willingness to learn general knowledge...thats our parents job! In an ideal world all parents have influenced their kids to WANT to do this. My advice to students? Take what your learning as a good basis into this industry. All the stuff where you think "do I really NEED to know this?"...take it in stride. You may voice your opinion...everyone is entitled to one...but in the end its more than likely that you're not going to change a tutors mind (unfortunately sometimes!!) and just think...once you've got the basics down pat, you're off on your own to create your own style and to wow the world with your general knowledge!!
Oh, and as far as calculators go..THANK GOD they were invented..but I'm still happy that I can multiply 6 x 1,60 in my head!
my two cents...for all its worth!