Benefits of Promoting Stem and Liberal Arts Education

Introduction

In many modern societies, there has been a push in schools to emphasize the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). While there are numerous societal benefits to this educational trend, such as new technologies and scientific advancements, there are also significant flaws. While test scores in the sciences may look attractive, they don’t tell the whole story. To combat this growing problem, a more well-rounded style of education, such as the Liberal Arts, should be adopted. As more and more countries push the sciences, there should be an equally large push for the Liberal Arts. A more holistic education is important not only for those in the STEM fields but for society as a whole.

Technological Reliance and Educational Reforms

Today’s society is becoming more and more reliant on technology. Consequently, many countries have felt the need to educate 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 its government-funded universities into either global leaders in scientific research or schools focused on vocational training and, consequently, limit the study of the humanities and Liberal Arts (Obe, 2015). The Japanese hope to model schools like the California Institute of Technology and maximize their tech-ready personnel. However, in doing so, the effect on the humanities and social sciences would be immense. Culture and history would no longer be taught, and they could be lost forever. Simply studying and creating technology for the sake of doing so is not beneficial to society as a whole nor the individual. Is it really necessary to put TV screens in our cars? What consequences would this have on society? Questions like these underscore why the humanities and social sciences are a necessary part of any school, college, or university. A school system lacking the human aspect of life is flawed and incomplete.

Economic Implications of STEM-focused Education

Furthermore, countries that contain a high percentage of technologically based companies are not necessarily doing the best economically. In Fareed Zakaria’s Washington Post article, he illustrates the economic and educational differences from a nationwide view. Zakaria recognizes Sweden and Israel as countries with a large number of high-tech companies that have also pushed the STEM fields. He also relates this to an internationally based study of foreign economics and technological advancements. Israel ranked first, the US second, and Sweden sixth in providing the world with technological advancements. Contrary to popular belief, this did not lead to them having high economic positions. In the study, “all three countries fare surprisingly poorly in the OECD rankings. Sweden and Israel performed even worse than the United States on the 2012 assessment, landing overall at 28th and 29th, respectively, among the 34 most-developed economies” (Zakaria, 2015). Both Israel and Sweden have made significant strides in their STEM programs. Due to their focus on the sciences, their children score very well on standardized tests. While test scores and their technological production appear impressive on paper, they do not have the truly desired effect on their respective societies.

The Importance of Liberal Arts Education

To effectively engage and transform kids into well-rounded adults, we must adopt a more liberal education. All-encompassing styles of education have been highly regarded for centuries. From the days of Plato to modern philosophers like William Cronon, the benefits of Liberal Arts have transcended time. Cronon especially notes the benefits and helpfulness the Liberal Arts endows upon its students. His list of ten benefits is extremely relevant to modern society and the workforce. His ideas are echoed by Zakaria. Zakaria notes that simply teaching math and science is not enough. It will not matter “how strong your math and science skills are, you still need to know how to learn, think and even write” (Zakaria, 2015). This speaks volumes to the Liberal Arts. It is not necessarily what you learn in college, but how you think and grow as a person by seeing more than one perspective. That is one thing STEM education may not teach you. Additionally, Liberal Arts education fosters critical thinking, creativity, and empathy, which are essential for addressing complex global challenges.

Conclusion

As many countries begin to advance towards STEM, there needs to be an equally large focus on the Liberal Arts. It is possible to learn a lot in a STEM field while being part of a Liberal Arts school or higher education institution. However, there is a difference between learning only your field and learning about your field relative to the world around you. The real value of the Liberal Arts lies with the beholder and what it truly means to be a complete human being.

References

Obe, M. (2015, September 16). Japan’s push for STEM education. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-push-for-stem-education-1442443656

Zakaria, F. (2015, March 26). Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-stem-wont-make-us-successful/2015/03/26/3b5e6a8c-d3e3-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html