I always find this subject to be very interesting. First, you have the debate about parents vs. teachers for taking the blame for failing students. Next, you have the debate of sports vs. arts when it comes to budget cuts. Last, you have the debate of money management within the educational system.

When it comes to the academic success of the students, I feel that the blame chain goes parents, students, then teachers. If the student doesn't have proper motivation and support at home, they will not take education seriously. They will look at it as something they don't want to do and will not take it seriously. There is nothing the teacher can do about the students once they leave the classroom.

The education system has become a popularity contest when it comes to budget cuts. Math, science, english, and other core curriculum are viewed as necessary subjects and will never be eliminated. Sports are very popular, so they will be the last to be eliminated. The arts are considered electives, so they are 'logically' the primary choice for making cuts. My argument is that the arts inspire creativity, thought, innovation, and progress. Without those things our society will stagnate and fail to progress.

These issues do not only occur in grade school. There are now similar issues popping up in higher education. Just this week here in Vegas, it was announced that of the top 20 most expensive departments at UNLV, there is a potential that 7 to 10 of those departments could be eliminated. Click here to see the list of departments that could be eliminated. Now, this doesn't mean that a student wouldn't be able to go to another school to get degrees from those areas of study, but just the fact that some people think that the answer to solving educational budget problems is to teach fewer things is quite scary.

The future of our nation and world as a whole depends on the education we provide our kids. That includes the education they receive at home and at school. If we fail to educate our children, then our grandchildren will have no future.