Actual Classes

 Over the last twenty years or so, classes have been reduced from a much wider range of options (Woodshop, Music, Home ec, ect.)  to the 'core subjects' such as math and english. While I'm sure that bumps up the test scores plenty, the purpose of school is to prepare kids for life as adults. It seems much more likely that a person would need to know how to, say, build a shelf instead of being able to factor binomials, or know how to cook a healthy  dinner then identify the charge of a electron.

http://www.minnpost.com/healthblog/2010/05/14/18188/schools_should_bring_back_home_economics_classes_to_help_fight_obesity_experts_argue
  I agree completly with this post. The obesity rate in america is rising at the fastest rate in recorded history. One of the reasons for this is kids just don't know what's healthy for them or not. This is compounded by, as stated in the article,  ' powerful forces undermining these efforts, such as the ubiquitous advertising of foods and beverages high in calories and low in nutrient content'. Knowledge is power. And the best way for children to get knowledge, is to have it taught to them in school.

 Am I saying that classes such as woodshop are more important then math? No. But they deserve a spot in the curriculem just the same, for the effect they can have on the youth of america.