I wouldn't say it has nothing. I do agree there is a point of diminishing returns. It's just that we're nowhere near that point here in California.
The library was just one example. Many of the programs are funded by local efforts, including music and science. Teachers receive money from the Home and School club, which many spend on basic necessities. We live in a fairly well off neighborhood, and I can't imagine how schools in poorer areas make it. Here, there really is a correlation between money spent and test scores (the API scores just came out last week, and you can draw an almost direct correlation between these scores and the average income of the school area.
Of course, parental participation plays a big role, although that also parallels the economic status. Because of lack of budget, parents fill in a LOT in volunteer roles to do everything from organizing fund raising to library work to administrative stuff like making copies for teachers.
Having a school library means that kids are more likely to check out books, just has having a PE program means they are more likely to get daily activity. I don't think eliminating these is a good idea. When I was in high school, we had wood shop, metal shop, and drivers ed. Now, I see a bunch of young people who don't know a rasp from a file, a tap from an easy out, and a turn signal from a wiper blade... |
