tool subject

plural tool subjects

1. A subject studied to gain a skill used in other subjects.

   Another typical requirement is that of various tool subjects, such as mathematics and foreign languages.

   1972, William Roy Niblett, Robert Freeman Butts, editors, Universities Facing the Future, Jossey-Bass, →ISBN, page 244

   2 more examples

   If supervision of the special subjects increases teaching efficiency by solving the problems of pupil guidance, it is probable that similar help should be given to thtose^([sic]) tool subjects such as reading and language which require a highly specialized technique for mastery.

   1923, Los Angeles School Journal, page 10

   These youth often lack the cultural background important for success in the tool subjects such as reading and mathematics.

   1974, Richard J. Mueller, Principles of Classroom Learning and Perception: An Introduction to Educational Psychology, Praeger Publishers, page 153