When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests

[frazzled]

30. That's not testing's fault, it's values' fault

I'm a strong advocate of arts and music education. It was a big part of my kids' public school education and something I fought for continually. (I actually voted to oppose saving the "gifted and talented" program, which my kids were in, at the elementary school if it meant teaching art-on-a-cart---the budgeta-saving item that was being proposed.)

Music and art have been targets since forever when budgets get tight, because in the US we don't value the arts. Look at the budget for the National Endowment for the Arts: it is a pittance, around $130 million, which is Nothing. You can't blame testing on that. Arts and music get cut in all public budgets because they're the easiest thing to cut. There used to be a vast and vibrant program of State Arts Councils in each states, which gave amazing support to the visual and performing arts. Now most are barely a dot on the landscape.