Mathematics has long been recognized as the mother of science and communication skills is one of the most essential aspects of human interaction. While numerous people argue that an education institution should emphasize more on the learning of numerical, others claim that common social skills are more crucial in certain professional settings.
Advocates of focusing on interpersonal skills assert that such abilities as problem solving, decision making, and communication must be taught from elementary school. Acquiring practical knowledge among peers would be easier; the earlier the students get to learn human competence, the more advantageous they will achieve in the mere future. For instance, teamwork and communication skills can help employees collaborate effectively and resolve conflicts at work place. Moreover, problem solving skills are particularly valuable in adult life where people tend to misunderstand each other frequently. Therefore, having the ability to articulate thoughts into conversation well could tackle any arising problems.
Conversely, critics who claim that school time is limited to paying attention to complex problem solving skills could leave students at a disadvantage, such as unable to fulfill higher education standards and future employment. Furthermore, practical skills can be acquired in society and through real life situations, while mathematical concepts are difficult to gain elsewhere.
From my perspective, despite all the concerns about struggles of implementing interpersonal skills and numerical learning, the institution should prioritize both types of knowledge equally. To illustrate, teamwork tasks can be used in any classes, including math and science.
In conclusion, despite mathematics being the fundamental subjects in an educational setting, interpersonal skills should not be overlooked. To reach balance in teaching, schools should integrate activities that develop practical skills into academic classes.