Summary of the Core Content
This article responds to the recent online trend of advocating for the removal of English as a core subject in the college entrance examination and the overall devaluation of its importance. It proposes a highly unconventional reform idea for the college entrance examination: the author first refutes several common arguments against English, such as its uselessness, the claim that AI translation can replace its role, and the notion that it is unfair to poor students. The author points out the public's hypocrisy—those who criticize English as useless have often spent over a decade studying mathematics, which is of little practical use in most jobs. In contrast, English offers a cost-effective path for children from ordinary families to improve their prospects. The author's main proposition is to make Chinese and Politics the only mandatory core subjects, while converting all other subjects, including Mathematics and English, into elective courses. Only those with a genuine interest and talent should pursue in-depth study of these subjects. He also argues why Chinese and Politics are the most practical and valuable subjects for the vast majority of people.
Detailed Breakdown of the Content
1. Refuting the Three Most Prevalent Arguments Against English
The author exposes the hypocrisy of those who oppose English:
- The first argument is that AI translation makes English useless, but calculators have been around for decades and can perform complex calculations; why then hasn't anyone suggested removing Mathematics as a core subject?
- The second argument is that most people don't need English in their jobs, but the proportion of people who don't need Mathematics is even higher. Mathematics graduates have few job opportunities outside of teaching, just like English graduates who became wealthy through tutoring. Most people never use advanced mathematical concepts in their lives and rely on apps for simple calculations.
- The third argument is that English is unfair to poor students because it requires expensive language courses. However, exam-oriented English tests do not assess oral skills or cultural knowledge; they focus on problem-solving techniques. In fact, it is relatively easy to score well in these tests with practice, while finding a good mathematics teacher is much more costly. People who are good at English can find various career paths, such as teaching, working as language tutors, or in the gaming industry, even if they don't go abroad.
2. Mathematics Is Not Useless, but It Should Not Be a Meaningless Requirement for the Majority
The author does not suggest abandoning Mathematics but argues that making it a core subject for everyone is unreasonable. Even among top students, less than 10% have the talent for advanced mathematics, and the research they do has little impact on everyday life. Subjects like Law and Art are more relevant. The author also points out that the claim that Mathematics improves logical skills is misleading; formal logic courses can achieve the same goal more efficiently.
3. Chinese: The Most Undervalued but Valuable Skill in the AI Era
The author believes that Chinese is the most underestimated and least valued of the three core subjects. Online arguments are often due to poor reading comprehension skills, not mathematical abilities. In the AI era, Chinese becomes even more valuable as it helps create compelling content and enables effective communication with AI. It also distinguishes those with strong language skills from those who do not.
4. Politics: The Hidden Core Subject with High Practical Value
Politics is a essential skill for various aspects of life, from pursuing government jobs to running a business. It is not just for exams but a practical necessity. Understanding basic political knowledge is crucial for avoiding mistakes and navigating society. It is a skill that helps people avoid common pitfalls and is more useful than most of the scientific subjects learned in school.
5. The Relevance of This Radical Reform Idea
The author's proposal to make all subjects elective, except for Chinese and Politics, is controversial, but it addresses real issues in education and employment. Students spend a lot of time on exam-oriented skills that are not well-represented in the college entrance examination. The resulting focus on problem-solving skills does not prepare them for the real-world demands of communication, expression, and understanding of policies. This reform aims to address these gaps in education.