Many educators today feel pressure to teach to the test and emphasise academic subjects over more practical ones. In my opinion, this approach is overtly short-sighted and practical skills, play an important role in a well-rounded education.
Those who support a singular focus on academics can point to its tangible outcome in higher test scores. A good example of this would be accelerating academic progress at inner city schools. There have been numerous reforms in the last several decades to help the poorest performing districts catch up. The results have been uneven at times, but overall more students from impoverished or troubled backgrounds can now go to college, often being the first person in their family to do so. Passing exams have the very real benefit of giving them opportunities outside of menial work and, in the most extreme cases, crime.
Though there might be a case for overemphasis on academics in select districts, learning practical skills is an important part of becoming an all around person. Those who possess certain skills, such as a sharp memory and logical thinking, will perform better in academics like math and physics. This means that these skills are rewarded and may become over-developed at the expense of skills related to practical work such as spatial thinking and multi-tasking. Graduates who know how to please their teachers and get good grades in academic subjects will find themselves lacking in real world skills. Adding in practical skills goes a long way towards making this a reality.
In conclusion, the argument for academics only applies to niche segments of society and learning practical skills has tremendous benefits. Schools should find ways to balance both despite external pressure from the government and parents for the reductive measure of higher marks
Many
educators
today
feel pressure to teach to the
test
and
emphasise
academic
subjects over more
practical
ones. In my opinion, this approach is
overtly
short-sighted and
practical
skills
, play an
important
role in a well-rounded education.
Those who support a singular focus on
academics
can point to its tangible outcome in higher
test
scores. A
good
example of this would be accelerating
academic
progress at inner city schools. There have been numerous reforms in the last several decades to
help
the poorest performing districts catch up. The results have been uneven at times,
but
overall
more students from impoverished or troubled backgrounds can
now
go to college,
often
being the
first
person in their family to do
so
. Passing exams have the
very
real benefit of giving them opportunities
outside of
menial work and, in the most extreme cases, crime.
Though there might be a case for overemphasis on
academics
in select districts, learning
practical
skills
is an
important
part of becoming an all around person. Those who possess certain
skills
, such as a sharp memory and logical thinking, will perform better in
academics
like math and physics. This means that these
skills
are rewarded
and may become over-developed at the expense of
skills
related to
practical
work such as spatial thinking and multi-tasking. Graduates who know how to
please
their teachers and
get
good
grades in
academic
subjects will find themselves lacking in real world
skills
. Adding in
practical
skills
goes a long way towards making this a reality.
In conclusion
, the argument for
academics
only
applies to
niche segments of society and learning
practical
skills
has tremendous benefits. Schools should find ways to balance both despite external pressure from the
government
and parents for the reductive measure of higher
marks