If you were a school principal?

Question

...and you had to make budget cuts, and the only solution was to discontinue a program, what program would you discontinue? (By program, I mean arts, sports, music, etc...) and why?

Answer 1

Sports. There are so many community sports programs where we live that half the kids (sometimes most) participating in school sports are also participating in the same sport on a community team. Seems to me that it's a bit of overkill.

Art and music programs are harder to come by in the community, at least programs that don't cost a fortune. The community sports programs are decent for the most part (except perhaps the cost of equipment for things like hockey!!).

Answer 2

I would cut standardized testing. I don't believe in threatening schools if they don't improve, pronto. schools need to help the students progress.

but if I had to cut something else, I would cut sports, since there are town leagues, and music is harder to get into, so we sholud have it at schools.

Answer 3

I would cancel a sport. They are important, but cultural literacy is one of the most neglected areas in education today, if not the most. I am a high school senior, and I have suffered so much from degenerate music programs... that I don't want to be a musician anymore. It's sad. But yes, kids who participate in sports tend to be physically active/fit anyway? That's the only argument I can think of against it. Career academies are kind of pointless too (in my mind).

Answer 4

I would cancel music because u would already have chorus and band so actually u wouldn't need music

You asked a good questions and u made me think about my answer i like it.

Answer 5

I would not discontinue arts, music or sports... I feel that they are all vital in student development.  So, if I had to choose one program to delete, it would be home-economics-- cooking/sewing....

Answer 6

First, why is this posted on the home school site?

Second, I would cut Math, Science an English.  It is an old Air Force trick. They would get money to build a new base. First they will build the quarters and the clubs, then they would say that they are out of money to build the runway.

Works every time.

Answer 7

Separating sports from academics as others have said - I agree BUT not only are sports programs a "golden" or sacred cow, they are also a cash cow.

Football and basketball and so on bring in lots of money to a school system.  That is one reason it gets so much attention and time.

So... eliminating sports would actually exacerbate the budget problem not make it better.

Not a program, but I would look into getting rid of overhead bureaucracy.  Are there people sitting around in an office and not directly effecting the life of a child?  They should go.

Answer 8

i would make school funner instead of freaking detention? and c**p

Answer 9

Sports. Homeschoolers play community/city sports. Most communities have sports leagues/teams, so why do we need a city team and a school team. Music and art are harder and more expensive to find in the community (though not impossible. Homeschoolers take advantage of these as well), and these two are more important to a student's overall learning experience IN SCHOOL.

Honestly though if I had to make a cut like that I'd just secretly start encouraging parents to homeschool and then as more and more kids withdraw to do this I'd quit my job as principal.

Answer 10

I understand that I am about to tell you that I would eliminate the "golden calf" of the American schools, so I am sure the thumbs down will be plentiful but I would eliminate....

The sports programs, these not only take up a lot of school time (academic), but require to much money, for equipment, travel, and insurance.

Sports programs, and academics should be  separate.

Sports should be considered extra curricular, you can join a team, and pay any fees associated with playing the sports or entering a competition, preferably after school hours.

If schools, and parents want to have sports programs other than basic PE, the parents of the students who want to play should have to cover the cost of all that is associated with playing the sports.

Schools are for academics; this includes the arts, and music.

These programs, unlike sports are for the benefit of ALL students, and should not be cut.

I would also look into any unnecessary programs like funding for clubs, or classes that are nice to do but can be easily taken in the community through existing low, or no cost programs like 4H, or others.

This would take a big bite out of every schools budget, bring relieve to the tax payers, and give plenty of time back to the classroom so the students can concentrate on the basic academics.