In an effort to save money, school boards across the country are considering eliminating electives such as art, marching band and auto mechanics. Electives are designed as fun classes to fill your schedule, but electives can be a future path for many children. Electives guide students in finding hidden talents, passions, and interests. “Several studies show that students are more likely to specialize in a course they took as an elective” (Futterman). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Indeed, the United States' ranking in math, science, and reading has declined over the past 50 years. However, we are number one in film and music and people around the world are inspired by our creativity. Reading, math and science are not for everyone and it is necessary to keep subjects optional so that teenagers can imagine and be creative, stimulate different parts of the brain and take a break from sitting and working in class. Schools are having budget problems due to the decision to pay for test prep or elective courses. The demands and requirements for high school students are continually moving into the mainstream classes. As a result, arts, music and other creative fields programs are rapidly disappearing. This is a loss not only for students, but also for many teachers. “According to the National Education Association, in New York City alone, more than 233 elective athletics, music and art teachers have been fired due to funding, testing and declining social respect for the arts and creative curriculum” ( Chen). It is well known that there are connections with high academic levels and those who play an instrument, but elective courses help much more. In the article “Making the grade: importance of electives,” written by Whitney Dorband, it is stated that electives can strengthen skills learned in core subjects. “Visual arts help strengthen visual learners, music strengthens oral learners, and physical education strengthens kinetic learners” (Dorband). Researchers compiled 2010 SAT data that showed “students with academic experience scored higher in both math and verbal” (Futterman). The researchers interviewed 100 college students from different majors to get their input on elective courses. “They found that high school electives helped them learn valuable traits such as leadership skills, teamwork, goal setting and self-expression. Elective subjects also helped them cultivate their childhood imaginations throughout adolescence and adulthood” (Dorband). The main reason behind the decrease in the number of elective classes is due to the No Child Left Behind Act initiated by the Bush administration, in 2002. Keep in mind: this is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The bill states that “the purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and meaningful opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and achieve, at a minimum, proficiency in challenging state academic performance standards and in state academic assessments.” Reading and mathematics are the two subjects most focused on in this law. “This has prompted federal and state governments to change the curriculum of schools to focus).