I like this--especially if one of the arts includes creative writing. Finding teachers for these classes will be a delicate undertaking because you have to strike that balance between teaching them how to teach children and the load that comes with that while not ruining the teacher's own creativity and passion in the process. Any subject can be fun, though, if the student feels like their learning is an exploration where they can make discoveries to better their lives. Testing, ultimately, limits that adventure to answer choices A, B, C, and D.

I remember my favorite classes were shop and band. I also remember many of my classmates competing for slots in Vo-Tech. It was a program where students could leave regular school after third or fourth period to go on a short bus ride to a special vocational training center and study things like heating and cooling, advanced auto repair, and welding, etc. for the remainder of the day. These students found work right after graduating high-school and many of them fared much better in life than those that went to college and ended up with debt and too often degrees that were almost valueless relative to the job market. Nothing like a head start in a profession that is always in demand. One of my friends started out as a plumber working for others and before too long trained a few people and ended up with a very successful business. As long as there are toilets... :)

Love the post! Love Adam and Jamie!

Not so sure about STEAM. The arts are the easy way out, and all to often pursued. No offense to good artists. There is no shortage of creative, artistic people, and there are Mythbuster-style ways to teach physics, chemistry and math, which would not doubt be successful. Ceramics? Painting? These belong as extracurricular or hobby activities. Band and Automechanics, Woodshop...these are different.

Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe, did a great job explaining the value in blue collar work. Further, a person understanding the engineering behind automechanics is unique (probably a little much for high school, but perhaps). Well rounding is also valuable.

Get them back to Shop Class and Band? Sure, I agree.
Chorus? Cute, but not much educational value.

My daughter took Ceramics in a private school last year (don't ask). What a complete waste. She is very good at Math. I almost had her doubling up Geometry and Algebra II, until her mother (my ex) lifted the relief valve.

"The academies got so popular that there were waiting lists for the 1,100 slots at the 54 elementary and middle schools that offered the program, "

Bet that due to the popularity they decide to add a political officer instead of expanding the program.

Yes, practical application was rarely touched on in my public school education, and at college it was even worse. I changed majors because my profs refused to give me practical reasons for specific requirements when I requested them. Tenured idiots.

However, why shouldn't financial support for the physical assets for subjects like band and drama be voluntary?

I think you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The details don't matter so much as long as you have undisciplined, disrespectful, entitled students.

Not only yes, but Yes Yes Yes, oh HELL YES!

I'm in a small town outside San Antonio, and the Middle and High School Bands are fantastic, and in spite of being a fairly rural population, test scores are pretty good. We have great music and trades programs, that are often mostly funded by booster clubs in the area.

I remember having woodshop and home ec and typing and business and econ and language in even JR High in the early 80's. Bring it back! Heck, my grandmother still has the butcher block cutting board I made in shop and the goofy little bunny rabbit pillow I made in Home EC! I had an A-level social studies class in 8th grade where we did an entire quarter on Greek and Roman mythology, and followed it up with a carwash-funded trip to a CA museum made to look like roman villa with reflecting pool. You don't forget those experiences!!!!