Science and Math.

Why are Science and Math being pushed right now as so important? As an English Major and History buff, this really puts me off. Being creative is just as important. I felt the same way in the 80's and 90's when there was a huge push by Republican Presidents to promote Literacy. I think the education push shouldn't have an emphasis put on select subjects, and I believe the problem in America lies with both parties and not just one agenda seeing as they both have missed the boat on the topic for the last 20+ years.

you never know when you need trigonometry at the gas station

Well, I just have to say that history has no place in this argument if that's what you're implying. You do not need it nearly as much (not at all, I say) as the others.

" Well, I just have to say that history has no place in this argument if that's what you're implying. You do not need it nearly as much (not at all, I say) as the others. "

It's cuz we're falling way behind other countries in those areas, according to a whole bunch of statistics. Creativity is important, yes, but it won't save us from the Chinese Army and their Power Armor.

We're pushing math and science because other countries have been doing so for decades and they're turning out some brilliant scientists.  A great majority of them still choose to study/work in the US though ;p

Having more people working on the cure for cancer is probably more beneficial to a society than having more people make art.

The push for science and math probably has to do with the fact that the US scores very low in science and math literacy compared to most nations.

" @tdk08 said:

" Well, I just have to say that history has no place in this argument if that's what you're implying. You do not need it nearly as much (not at all, I say) as the others. "

Nah, we've nothing to learn from our past, have we? "

Our education system is not quite as well rounded as other nations' (and not quite as good overall). No country wants to be left behind while others churn out scientists and mathematicians that pave the way to the future. Creativity is definitely important and not something to just throw aside, but, at the same time, it is worth it to have a good balance.

" Why are Science and Math being pushed right now as so important? As an English Major and History buff, this really puts me off. Being creative is just as important. 

" @diz said:

" @tdk08 said:

" Well, I just have to say that history has no place in this argument if that's what you're implying. You do not need it nearly as much (not at all, I say) as the others. "

Nah, we've nothing to learn from our past, have we? "

Nope. Tell me the last time you've used anything you learned in a history class in real life. (Jeopardy doesn't count) "

Because science and math are critical to the evolving development of our society.

History should be a top priority in our schools.  After all, who are we if we don't know our history? 
 
American's especially should be well educated in the Constitution, and the nation's founding.  Our nation is unique in the sense that so much responsibility is given to each individual in this country.   

I would dispute that 'being creative' is as important as 'being useful'.  The problems we face are going to be solved by scientists and mathematicians, not by somebody painting a nice picture or talking to me about my feelings or whatever.  
 
Why are they pushing math and science?  Because too many kids are taking almost worthless degrees (made worthless by virtue of the fact that so many are taking them, rather than the subject itself) just because they think they will be easy, and are really only taking them in the first place so they can live it up at University for a few years (subsidised by the tax payer of course).

History is kind of our collective memory, and is important to remind us who we are, but only science will help us move forward.

idk either. when am i going to need algebra?  i hope that i don't need to learn how to add X's sometime in life. 
 
it is because the US school system isn't great compared to other countries.

" @diz said:

" @tdk08 said:

" Well, I just have to say that history has no place in this argument if that's what you're implying. You do not need it nearly as much (not at all, I say) as the others. "

Nah, we've nothing to learn from our past, have we? "

Nope. Tell me the last time you've used anything you learned in a history class in real life. (Jeopardy doesn't count) "

" History should be a top priority in our schools.  After all, who are we if we don't know our history?  American's especially should be well educated in the Constitution, and the nation's founding.  Our nation is unique in the sense that so much responsibility is given to each individual in this country.    "

" In science aren't you learning from those who come before us. Thus we are simply "standing on the shoulders of giants" liek tesla :D "

Science and math are important in just about every aspect of your life, whether you acknowledge it or not. And the purpose of learning a subject isn't just to memorize facts about it; you also learn critical thinking skills, get exposed to things you would not have otherwise, and maybe even apply these skills and ideas into areas you are more interested in personally.

Although History is important, I find math and science much more critical in terms of staying ahead of the curve. If we fall behind in science and math the future of the country is at stake, where as history will keep repeat itself because we fail to learn from it.

The way I look at it every subject is a derivative of science because English is the study of the language and content, namely literature, of a culture (the world or a specific nation) and math is a tool developed by people in order to calculate the world around them.  History is a collection of the past as formulated and verified by evidence and evidence based thinking.  Hell "social studies" is a misnomer because it's just science but studying human products such as economy, psychology, sociology etc.  So one way or another you can look at something in a scientific manner so pushing science is never a bad thing in my eyes.  The only problem I have is the way we have compartmentalized subjects and wholly separate and distinct from others.
 
If you took your history, you would know that America has had the motivation to push Math and Science before (i.e. The Cold War) and this time it's for the same reason: international competition.  Being industrialized nations, our virility in the international field in terms of economy and such is directly related to our scientists and engineers.  As a result schools around the nation have a seeming pressure put on them to emphasize Math and Science in order to produce more engineers and such to compete with countries like India and China.
 
I've always felt that the statistics behind American test scores was biased and really not the reason you push any one subject.  Test scores is an issue of the states scrambling to plug up this hole or that in their system based on the score and what they can get from the government as a result of said score.

I believe all forms of education are necessary its just that math and science are dubbed the more "important" subjects. Average people will most likely use these two subjects the most, but i dont think its exactly a smart decision, it looks so bad when someone can't point out where Great Britain is on a map or when some doesn't know how to pronounce Czechoslovakia in social studies.

Maybe it's just that a lot of kids these days aren't interested. I'm going to a Math Science Center around here, so I could agree that it isn't really pushed in normal school.

All great points. I guess I just don't trust the reasons behind why it's being pushed. I see the gov't wanting math and sciences at the forefront not for good, but for control purposes. I just don't see the American gov't as benevolent I guess. There is always an ulterior agenda when it comes to who runs this country. That is why I think that balance is necessary, because it is usually the journalists and people who write historical books that remind us of how we need to keep our leaders in check in this country. I think that math and science are just as important, but whistle blowers tend to be more zealous and cut of a creative cloth more often than not.