In many modern societies, there has been a push to emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields in schools. Although there are many benefits to society such as this educational trend, such as new technologies and scientific advances. However, there are just as many flaws. While science test scores may seem attractive, they don't tell the whole story. To combat this growing problem, a more comprehensive educational style, such as Liberal Arts, should be adopted. As more and more countries promote the sciences, there should be an equally big push for the liberal arts. A more well-rounded education is important not only for those in STEM fields, but for society at large. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Today's society is increasingly reliant 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 education reforms. Japan's goal “is to transform Japanese government-funded universities into global leaders in scientific research or schools focused on professional training” and, as a result, 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 technology-ready staff. However, in doing so, the effect on the humanities and social sciences would be immense. Culture and history would no longer be taught and could be lost forever. Studying and creating technology simply for the sake of it is neither beneficial to society as a whole nor to the individual. Is it really necessary to put TV screens in our cars? What consequences would this have on society? Questions like these explain why the humanities and social sciences are a necessary part of any school, college, or university. A school system devoid of the human aspect of life is imperfect and incomplete. Furthermore, countries that contain a high percentage of technology-based companies are not necessarily performing the best economically. In Fareed Zakaria's Washington Post article, he illustrates the economic and educational differences from a national view. Zakaria recognizes Sweden and Israel as countries with a large number of high tech companies that have also pushed STEM fields. He also links it to an international study on foreign economics and technological advances. Israel ranked first, the United States second, and Sweden sixth in providing the world with technological advances. Contrary to popular belief, this did not lead to them having 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). Both Israel and Sweden have made great strides when it comes to their STEM programs. Because of their focus on science, their children do well on standardized tests. While test scores and their technological output look good on paper, they do not have the desired effect on their respective societies. To effectively engage and transform children into well-rounded adults, we must embrace more liberal education. All-encompassing educational styles have been highly regarded for centuries. From the time of.
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