Mass slow (seriously overpowered, especially against AI), mass shield, mass stone skin - 3 of the best 1st level spells belong to earth magic school. Not to men

Mass slow (seriously overpowered, especially against AI), mass shield, mass stone skin - 3 of the best 1st level spells belong to earth magic school. Not to mention town portal, anti-magic, resurrection and the most powerful offensive spell - implosion. The only case I occasionally skip earth magic is when I play barbarians, where air magic (mass haste) is more important and game is expected to end during the first month.