Why general education?

There has been a debate for many years over why general education classes are needed. Can't we just train in the area that we plan to work in? Why do we need to take math, English, or communications? Are they just busy work? Do they have a place in our education?
I am currently studying to be a dental hygienist. I feel strongly agree that I do need general education classes. I feel that they have valid place in my education. I know that there are others who feel differently. That is one of the wonderful things about living in America...we get to have our different opinions.
I have personally worked in the dental field for almost twenty years. So why do I need to study general education and not just study the fine art of scrapping teeth? In my career so far I have had the chance to meet and work with a wide variety of people. Some highly educated, doctors and specialists and some that are not book educated but are life educated. This world has a vast range of people....I feel I have seen a few from both ends of the spectrum. I am amazed everyday the things that I learn from people I meet. I am in awe of some of the conversations that I have found myself in. So you may be asking how does all of this relate?
General education classes such as English, math and even communications will be things that we has hygienist pull from everyday. I can not imagine having to write a treatment plan to be presented to a highly educated person and not knowing the basics of good and proper English. We will meet and interact everyday with people who may need us to explain periodontal disease in terms that they can understand, teach up or down from where we are comfortable. General education gives us as hygienist and everyday citizens a broad base of knowledge to pull from.
So do I think I will use everything I learn in this English class, no, but the day will come that I will use some piece of knowledge gained here either in my career or in the world and I will be grateful I have the knowledge in my brain bank to pull from.