[dml2135]

The same reason we learn any other subject -- to demystify it, and give people a basic understanding of it, so that others are less able to take advantage of your lack-of-knowledge to control you.

Yes, being exposed to a variety of fields in order to choose one and get a job is an important part of school. But I think giving kids a sense of how the important aspects of our lives / society work under the hood is where the true value of education lies.

For the same reason, I think film/media studies should be standard high school curriculum.