Thread: Most/least important subject(s)

The sciences (biology, chemistry, etc) is the most important subject field as our society depends on it and it provides a myriad of employment opportunities.

Mathematics comes in second as it is objective and requires logic.

The least important subjects in my view are arts, music, and gym. They are simply subsidized hobbies and don't have many job fields open for them, which is why they should not be emphasized as much as math and science.

that is a very nice explanation of your opinions, but is not objectively true

the main reason PhysEd/Health is becoming more strongly emphasized is the younger and younger age at which children are becoming obese, and the high percentage of obesity in america. also, STDs are spreading like wildfire on college and highschool campuses, and health classes help with preventing that through sex education.

the arts are a hallmark of civilization and although i think that society could survive without them, without an appreciation for the liberal arts many people loose sight of why they study anything at all, they cannot see the betterment of the world.

science is the one subject that if we lost all of our knowledge of we would be back in the stone age, so perhaps the arguement can be made that it is most important, however if we lost any of our subjects of study our culture would take a drastic hit and change dramatically(no doubt for the negative).

i never advocated the science and math should be the only subjects taught. all subjects should be taught, but the most emphasis should be put on science, the most important one.

as a matter of philosophy in education i think that the use of any emphasis is bad. putting emphasis on one subject forces all students to participate in a subject matter they may find quite difficult.

i'm more for schooling systems that are more elective based, with only basics of math, science, english, and history being required. for instance students should understand everything from arithmatic to algebra 2 before leaving highschool, beyond that they simply may never use pre-calculus or calculus in their preffered career. people should have a basic grasp of the physical laws, chemistry, and some of the important parts of biology, wheras going into quantum physics and microbiology may not benifet students at all. the same can be said about excessive study of english and history in a school.

while in an elective based school everyone gets the basics but more advanced courses are offered in place of the basics or alongside the basics for students who have gained an interest in the arts, sciences, math, literature, or history, amoung other subjects. and as students often find it difficult to discover their interest unless exposed to them, that is what i believe elementary education should be about: teaching the foundations of things and exposing children to each subject so that they may decide what they are interested in.

Originally Posted by jduster

The sciences (biology, chemistry, etc) is the most important subject field as our society depends on it and it provides a myriad of employment opportunities.

Mathematics comes in second as it is objective and requires logic.

The least important subjects in my view are arts, music, and gym. They are simply subsidized hobbies and don't have many job fields open for them, which is why they should not be emphasized as much as math and science.

So let me get this right. What you are saying, is that the only reason we should study anything, is to arrive at the place where we can earn some money. Is that close enough?

Social Studies first, Gym last

Originally Posted by jduster

i never advocated the science and math should be the only subjects taught. all subjects should be taught, but the most emphasis should be put on science, the most important one.

I would vote for English (or other appropriate first language). If this was implemented we might not see sentences, such as yours, filled with so many errors.

English (in the US) and Math. One, the other, or both is required for all learning, understanding, and communications on every other subject.

Using the OP's reasoning, philosophy is the most important, being the science of science (litterally).

Personally, I find all equally important when educating children.

Ill agree that art is completely useless in all shapes and forms.

Music is good for emotionall stimuli etc but serves no other purpose, again useless.

They are being tought because you can make a living out of it and lots of people are interested in it, thats all. Not because its practical or serves the progress of mankind :P

Philosophy isnt something that can be tought i think. People tend to either have critical thinking or not. Have you ever heared of someone who ever started or stopped with critical thinking?

I think your title is a little vague though OP, what are you getting at?

Whats important is highly subjective. If you think of scientific progress exclusively i guess you can say that chemistry, math etc are the most important. But if those who study it loves music and art, wouldnt these - granting the scientist happiness indirectly be just as important for that scientist to produce results?

I think all subject are very important for us and in life we not know when we need one of them subject. If they are not important so they not include our course. But we select and give important which subject which are we like. So according to me all subject are good and all are important in our life only keep this in our mind when i study.