Quote:
Originally Posted by BrendanB
We can't have a functioning society without either.
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Actually, we kind of can.
There's already plenty of art, movies, etc out there that's already been made. If people want to make more art, then good for them, they should do whatever they like to do most. But even if art was suddenly not taught in schools, people could still find creative outlets. I hate art classes and such, but I still like drawing and stuff sometimes. Yet improving technology does more good for the rest of the world, and it absolutely needs strong organization and funding if kids are going to learn it. Are there private art schools? Yes. Private music lessons? Yes. Are there private technology schools? No. If technology isn't taught in schools then many students won't be able to learn it anywhere else.
So if we didn't put government funding into art, we would still be a functioning society. If technology education stopped, however, we'd be in DEEP trouble come 15 or 20 years.
There's art programs in public schools, and that's fine, but STEM should always get equal or better emphasis. I don't care if there's kids who don't know how to play a musical instrument or play a sport, but I do care if we have a generation of people who don't know how to use a multimeter, or don't know the difference between a Philips and a flathead screwdriver, or would believe you if you said that dihydrogen monoxide was a dangerous chemical that should be banned. That's what Dean Kamen's working towards, and few things are more noble.