School is a tool...to teach you how to find info. We apply what we need or want to apply....be it for a career or for pleasure.
You could say something similar to that about any field, even medicine or engineering, both of which require a solid foundation of knowledge in many areas to build upon. Once out of school details can be looked up and memories refreshed, but the underlying core of knowledge needs to be there as one gains wisdom
I heard great phrase recently about knowledge and wisdom:
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad.
I had a History class everyday, starting in the third grade. The only thing that bugged me was having to memorize dates. 1066, Battle of Hastings, was always a test question. I never felt that the exact dating was a worthwhile question. More important was the “why” question.