Should education focus more on theoretical knowledge or practical skills? This a very contraversial topic and this question has been asked all over the world for a long time but it seems like theoretical knowledge is taught quite a lot more in schools in this century. But is it really the right choice?
Theoretical knowledge is more focused on specific work fields. For example the pisagor theorem is a mathematical formula taught in schools all around the world. But can we say that adults or even teens use this knowledge in the day to day life? I’ m pretty sure the answer would be no. The only area this knowledge would be used in is if you are going to become a mathematician or something of sorts but obviously not all of us are going to be mathematicians right? Formulas, equations, topics, knowledges we learn on physics, biology, maths aren’t going to be usefull to everyone yet we all have to learn these and also are expected to completely understand and apply these things. People have different predisposition to different lessons so I don’t think it’s fair to teach everyone theoretical knowledges.
Many students who graduate from highschool don’t actually have many essential life skills but they do know the first and second law of newton which they won’t even really be using anywhere unless they become physicians. I’m not saying students shouldn’t learn these, actually they should just not everyone. Some people really don’t like physics but they are great at biology and they still have to learn physics. Is it usefull for that person to learn physics? I don’t think so I think they should learn the basics of it but then go with whatever they are more predisposed to.
So I think that we should prioritize and focus more on practical skills from elemantary school and middle school then at highschool kids should be able to have more control on what they want to learn and be able to learn theoretical knowledge in the fields they chose and college is already a place where the students can choose their major so I think it can stay the same. Overall I think practical skills should be focused on too.