Standards-based Education: The Changing Priorities of Schools - December 6, 2001

As schools continue on the path towards education reform, more and more emphasis is being placed on standards and testing, while schools allot less time for classes deemed less important.  At the same time, declining school budgets over the past two decades have forced schools to make tough decisions about classes such as art, music and physical education.  Who pays the price when students’ educations become so narrowly focused?  How important are the arts, science and PE to students and do such classes enhance one’s education or detract from more “important” coursework?