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  • Essay / Benefits of Promoting STEM Education and the Liberal Arts

    In many modern societies, there has been a push for schools to emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Although this educational trend has many societal benefits, such as new technologies and scientific advancements. However, the flaws are just as numerous. Although scientific test results may seem appealing, they don't tell the whole story. To combat this growing problem, a more comprehensive style of education, such as liberal arts, should be adopted. As more countries promote the sciences, there should be an equally strong push for the liberal arts. A more well-rounded education is important not only for those working in STEM fields, but also for society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Today's society is increasingly dependent on technology. In turn, many countries have felt the need to train more people capable of working in these fields. For example, the Wall Street Journal recently published an article about Japan and its recent educational reforms. Japan's goal "is to transform Japanese government-funded universities into world leaders in scientific research or schools focused on vocational training" and, therefore, to limit the study of the humanities and liberal arts ( Obe 2). The Japanese hope to model schools like the California Institute of Technology and maximize their technology staff. However, in doing so, the impact on the humanities and social sciences would be immense. Culture and history would no longer be taught and could be lost forever. Simply studying and creating technologies for the sole purpose of doing so benefits neither society as a whole nor the individual. Is it really necessary to put television screens in our cars? What consequences would this have on society? Questions like these are why the humanities and social sciences are an essential part of any school, college or university. A school system devoid of the human aspect of life is imperfect and incomplete. Additionally, countries with a high percentage of technology companies are not necessarily the most economically successful. In Fareed Zakaria's Washington Post article, he illustrates economic and educational differences from a national perspective. Zakaria recognizes Sweden and Israel as countries with a large number of high-tech companies that have also developed STEM fields. He also relates this to an international study of foreign economics and technological advancements. Israel ranked first, the United States second, and Sweden sixth in providing the world with technological advancements. Contrary to popular belief, this did not allow them to reach a high economic position. In the study, “all three countries rank surprisingly poorly in the OECD rankings. Sweden and Israel performed even worse than the United States in the 2012 assessment, ranking 28th and 29th, respectively, among the 34 most developed economies” (Zakaria 7). Israel and Sweden have made giant strides when it comes to their STEM programs. Because of their science orientation, their children perform very well on standardized tests. Even if the test results and their technological output look good on paper, they do not have the true desired effect on their respective societies. For.