By Maryum Arif....
SCIENCE VS ARTS
I remember
when I passed the eighth grade, I was content because I had been able to
achieve the target score required to be able to choose science for my
matriculation; I was ecstatic, my interest in science being secondary. It
wasn’t just me, all my class fellows worked hard so that they could be promoted
to the ‘science’ section of grade nine. The ones who made the merit joined the
science group while others were left with the insular option of taking arts.
That was
the standard then, but students now make their subject choices according to
their future vocations.
The point
is that the students of first year would never choose their subjects out of
their own personal interests but were part of a race of being tagged as an
intelligent student. The ones studying science were always considered
exceptionally bright students while others were not. Such a mind-set has
prevaled in our society, both in general and for students in particular.
It is not the students’ fault because they develop these
attitudes according to what they observe and are told. There are a few
exceptions (some
private institutes) that groom students into discovering and pursuing their own
interests, but majority of our schools fail to do so.
The
reasons could be multifarious; maybe the teachers fail to instil in students an
understanding of the importance of various subjects or maybe it’s the confusing
merit-based system that barricades students from making the right choices.
Another
reason is that in our part of the world, people are considered ‘successful’ if
only they are doctors and engineers – a stereotype we are known well for. These
are the top two ‘respectable’ professions for high achievers.
It is a
widely accepted belief that getting an education in science makes one
intelligent and enables one to acquire a degree which is not only valued
by society but also leads to a highly-paid occupation. No wonder, nowadays
people give considerable importance to the degree one holds even while choosing
a life partner – as if an academic degree totally guarantees a happy marital
life!
The
problem is that in pursuit of certain superficial goals, we tend to undermine
our personal choices. It starts happening from the very beginning when we take
the first step towards choosing an academic path. Initially, it is the social
pressure that plays its role and later, it develops into a tunnel vision effect. In
this whole perplexity, individuals totally ignore the fact that not all minds
are meant to work well in the fields of science.
People do wonders even in the areas of arts and humanities which
in itself hold a huge treasure chest of knowledge. Science education opens doors
in the fields of medicine, architecture, engineering, healthcare, technology
and quantitative analysis, while arts and humanities offer a wide range of
career prospects in social and civil service, academia, media, fine arts,
tourism, linguistics and other similar areas. Nowadays, it all depends
on what
field you want to major in and potentially pursue as a career
option.
We must
rid ourselves of the notion that science is the only domain for intellectuals.
Such an outlook is the main reason why students are so unwilling to consider
taking arts subjects in the first place. Children need to be encouraged to
pursue their education according to their interests; this will ensure that they
are happy with the career choice they have made. It can also help lower
the “ratta” (rote learning) or cram-culture, since cramming is
mostly practised when one is unable to grasp a concept and forcefully stuffs
the mind with those alienated theories that are not understandable altogether.
As a
society, we should realise that to pursue a career in one’s area of choice is
something that eventually leads to success in professional life. Work doesn’t
become a burden then, and life becomes more enjoyable. Even businesses today
make sure that professional goals of their employees are in line with company’s
goals, which means that firms want employees to take pleasure in their work
while they fulfil their duties. They realise that promoting such a culture is
crucial to boost creativity, leading to productivity and revenues. The same
idea works in all professions.
Science
and arts/humanities both have their own significances and should be given their
due importance to keep a balance in societies. Where the former focuses on
developing technical skills, the latter enhances soft skills among individuals.
None can take the place of the other and both will continue to contribute
positively towards progression of economies. It’s high time we abandon the
science-dominated mentality which has been restricting our minds to focus on a
larger and more fulfilling perspective.
“At the
end of the day, art and science are united by one logic and one impulse—both
are attempts to understand what it is to be human and the world around us.”
– Keith
Tyson
