In many countries around the world, there are certain laws that require parents to send their kids to school for certain years, which is known as compulsory education laws. But why does school exist in the first place?
In today’s article, we’ll provide you with a brief guide that walks you through 11 reasons why schools are an essential part of today’s world. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Why Does School Exist?
1. Provides Fundamental Education
Let’s start with the primary reason why the school system exists, which is actually where many other reasons stem.
Since the dawn of civilization, there has always been a need for learning and education. Since humans can’t inherit information through genes, information must be introduced in one way or another in order to be learned, and that’s where schools come in handy.
Fundamental education includes learning all the basic information and skills that are required by anyone to survive and thrive in today’s world.
This can be anything from cognitive and behavioral skills to essential skills like writing, reading, critical thinking, and much more!
2. Produces Skilled Workers
Modern schools were initially introduced during the industrial boom, in which schools were designed to create skilled, knowledgeable, and obedient workers for factories.
However, schools quickly developed to adapt to today’s market and prepare children for the workforce and entrepreneurship at a young age.
Schools present various opportunities for children to find out the field that they would like to specialize in the future in order to succeed after graduating from school and continuing their education in college.
In fact, some school systems may even provide access to guidance and counseling services that can help students figure out their options and navigate through them.
3. Develops Critical Thinking
In addition to what we’ve discussed in the previous point, schools today are where many children are first introduced to a wide range of essential skills.
One of the most important sets of skills that a student should learn in a school is critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Critical thinking helps children as well as grown ups to better understand themselves and find out more about their goals and what motivates them in life.
This is because when you think of all things in a critical way, you’ll be able to judge things and deduce outcomes and information based on the current situation and your own experience rather than following what you’re told to believe.
Also, the ability to figure out solutions to your own problems helps in developing a reliable and independent person who can adapt and survive, let alone giving him or her a huge competitive edge, whether they’re applying for a college or for a job.
4. Nurtures Our Curiosity
Children are naturally curious about almost everything. They always want to explore the world and learn more about it, and that’s where good school systems and teachers step in!
A great schooling system will offer a variety of safe and healthy channels in which students can find out more about all the topics that pique their interest and help them express themselves better.
In schools, children are exposed to all kinds of subjects from science to mathematics and even literature and history.
All these subjects have tons of educational material that can help children grow and learn, although some educational systems today require a lot of reform in order to avoid redundancy and unnecessary information stuffing.
5. Introduces Society on a Small Scale
Although our world is becoming more interconnected by the day, we’re all exposed to an unprecedented level of diversity in cultures, ideas, perspectives, and even social backgrounds.
With that being said, it’s no surprise that school will also include students from various backgrounds and cultures, so it’s usually the first place where children learn about the diversity of the world.
This gives them the opportunity to socialize with various people and make friends in a controlled and safe environment.
Additionally, they learn to listen and respect their teachers and interact with various situations accordingly.
Of course, bullying can also be a problem, and many educational systems implement methods to fight it, but all in all, school is a small-scale simulation of how society is when they grow up.
6. Teaches Time Management
The concept of time management is always overlooked when people discuss the importance of schools and why they exist. However, in today’s interconnected world, a lot of jobs are task based rather than time based.
In these kinds of jobs, being on time and meeting deadlines is extremely important to maintain a successful business, and it’s one of the things that are first introduced in schools.
Students need to attend classes and tests on time as well as deliver essays before a deadline and many other forms of tasks that teach students the importance of time management and punctuality.
7. Encourage Talent and Skill Exploration
Although schools help in strengthening the sense of unity and equality among all students, it can still be an excellent incubator for unique talents and skills. Students will have a variety of interests and aspects that they’re passionate about.
A good schooling system will not only tolerate that but will also encourage it through providing extracurricular courses, clubs, and activities to help them learn new skills and hone the existing ones.
This can be anything from painting, dancing, singing, acting, and many many more. This ability to explore your skills and interests at a young age helps greatly in academic and personal development!
8. Preserve Nation’s Ideologies
In many countries, schools are also institutions that are used to preserve the ideologies of a country as well as their unique culture by introducing it at a young age to gradually but fairly establish them in students.
This doesn’t always have to be for good reasons, as some nations may use that in a negative way, but it’s one of the most popular reasons why schools exist indeed.
9. Foster Civic Engagement
Teaching students about their local community and giving back to them is one of the main advantages of a good schooling system.
Schools don’t only build an educational foundation for students but it’s also where they can establish a sense of belonging to their homeland, whether it’s on a local or a national scale.
10. Improves Local Economy
School is not only an institution for teaching but it’s also an organization where many people from various fields work.
Building a school in an area improves the local economy and provides many jobs on various levels, including teachers, bus drivers, janitorial services, management staff, etc.
11. Education Pushes Nations Forward
Lastly, with all the previous points in mind, it’s clear to see that education is always the nation’s key to a better future and becoming a superpower.
In fact, many reports and studies have found an obvious connection between the quality and quantity of schools in countries and the level of development and welfare of their citizens as well as the government.
Wrap Up
With anywhere between 4 to 7 million schools all over the world and various countries adopting compulsory education laws, it’s easy to see that schools are pretty important.
Schools aren’t only essential for providing an essential educational foundation, but it’s also training grounds to prepare children for the real world and teach them valuable skills.