Despite the fact that practical and specialized knowledge are still highly needed, many educational institutions still offer the teaching of such subjects as history and social studies which are academic in nature. This trend has both benefits and drawbacks which will be further elaborated.
To start with, studying academic subjects are highly essentials in building comprehension of our natural and social environment. Many of these subjects are based on the theoretical framework drawn from our direct observation of the world we are living in. For instance, history is taken from what had happened earlier in our past so that people can learn the valuable knowledge about our past and not to repeat or make the same mistakes. This will definitely have practical implications in decision-making process.
On the other hand, there are some important lessons in life that can not be acquired just by studying subjects in class, such as leadership and communication skills. These can only be learned by having a hands-on experience by directly interacting with people in the real world. One can never be a true leader if he has not led a group of people to reach its goals. Also, many forms of communication such as having a dialogue with others, presenting in front of audience, or sending business letters shape one’s practical skills. That is why it is also beneficial for a person to learn these skills in preparing them for the real-life challenges.
In conclusion, both practical skills and academic knowledge have their own importance in shaping a person’s education. Academic subjects provide theoretical framework while the practical knowledge is acquired through vocational and specialist skills.