2022-01-01 19:52:11
#Essay180 #Writing #Task2
Agree / Disagree
Q: Some people say that at all levels of education, from primary school to university, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.
Do you agree or disagree? Answer: Many concerned parties believe that schools currently place too much emphasis on theory and do not properly cover practical skills. I am in agreement that schools should be focusing less on rote learning of facts.
Proponents of more traditional education limited to accumulating facts argue this forms the basis of shared knowledge in society. An illustrative example of this would be the teaching of national history. Although information such as dates and names is not necessarily important in itself, the fact that the majority of the population shares the same knowledge allows them to connect and communicate more easily. A person who makes a reference to a certain year, event, or figure can communicate instantly and deeply with anyone who recognizes the same information. This extends beyond national boundaries and can also unite disparate cultures.
However, it is more important for students to learn skills with practical import. This can include but does not have to be limited to learning skills like cooking and woodworking, which are not traditional academic subjects. The curriculum could also be broadened to critical thinking skills. For example, when I studied at Bard College, a liberal arts institution in upstate New York, I was initially surprised at the emphasis placed on learning the skill of thinking itself. My past courses in high school were more about memorizing information but my university teachers were wary of simple memorization, facts, and terminology. Instead they sought to break down key concepts related to thinking and instruct students on how to read text closely and think for themselves.
In conclusion, though teaching facts can be useful for social cohesiveness, I believe the value of more useful skills is greater. There must always be a degree of balance but schools should prioritize the latter methodology.
Total words: 297
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