"We can't narrow the focus of our schools into just math and reading and still expect to graduate students who are ready for college, a career and citizenship," writes ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter in hisspecial commentary for CNN's Schools of Thought blog. "A comprehensive education provides students the opportunity to discover what they excel at and inspires a boost in overall student performance and confidence across all subjects."
Carter laments that Washington politicians don't share this view, pointing to a federal budget that has reduced or eliminated funding for arts, civics, economics, foreign languages, geography, and history programs.
To help the nation's students grow up to become creative, well-rounded people who are ready for the constantly evolving challenges of our world, Carter recommends
- Including all elements of a comprehensive education in any definition of college, career, and citizenship readiness;
- Maintaining federal funding for each discipline—with each receiving a minimum level of resources—and