Since you've spelled purpose wrong, maybe you'er not utilizing your schooling enough ;)

So electives such as art are what we SHOULD be taking, since EVERY career uses art skills?
Math and Science are used in many various fields, a lot more than the average elective is. While you may not end up using them, they're the facts and figures of life. They're the basics, and you would end up using them before you would a random elective.

My school has around 300 people in it, and is poor when compared to the average high school. We offer classes dealing with taxes. They're harder and more stressful than your average math class, but if WE offer them, then I'm sure you offer something similar. Maybe you just haven't looked deep enough into what your school offers.

Many schools teach languages.
Disrespect for culture is NOT what causes wars. People and their actions cause wars. Maybe you should be paying more attention in history class.
Also, I've had some of my classes touch up on the culture subject. Many people snickered and called it weird. Point is, you can't teach respect from a text book. Respect and appreciation for culture is better left self-taught.

How would politics be more useful than math?
I'm going into an art field, and I don't see how politics would affect me whatsoever. I'd use math and science before I'd use politics. Also, as said before, look in to your own curriculum, I'm sure there are some politics classes.
(and great, you named America......now please name the hundreds of other countries that think the same way)

Since when was high school the only schooling that could prepare us for life? There's college, and even hands on experiences like GETTING A JOB. There are many ways we can prepare for life, and while it may start in high school, the limit definately isn't high school.

What kind of art field are you going into. I'll tell you how politics can have at least some impact on your job.

The reality is politics has an effect on every job, and is also a reason why there are so many artists whose works are make a political statement in one way or another.

Artists make statements, and often they are political. Certainly not always...or even most of the time...but just because one is an artist doesn't mean he or she is not affected by politics.

Oh I know, I was more or less curious as to what field he/she planned on going into :P

Well, art is subjective... but for me, art is a SIGNIFICANT product of our imagination. While, I appreciate that someone might feel that taking a piss is art, the majority do not! If we don't simplify it like that, then talking about art can go as deep as philosophy... there is no right or wrong to your question!

For me, taking a piss isn't art, because 6 billion people take a piss the same way... There is nothing significant or unique or inspiring about it. But, that's just me...

Yes! It basically needs to inspire/affect people in a significant and/or unique way!

:) ok... good to know.

There's a strong correlation between creativity and art. I suppose simply saying "Art" is far too broad of a term for this type of discussion. Visual arts is a very significant part of creativity. Visual arts is the ability to communicate an idea more than words ever could. Creativity begins to thrive when the thinker is able to communicate their ideas properly.

I blame the eduction system too, but I believe we're blaming it for different reasons. I'm blaming the system because creativity is shunned.

When you're referring to artists do you just mean someone who sits and draws? What is the point where you draw the line? If there is to be some cut off point I don't think that's something any single person can objectively decide.

I don't think there should be a limit to the creativity in our society. There's more jobs than every involving artistic talent and creativity. It roots into all industries. Look at the changes in advertising, brand recognition, technological advancements, diversity in fashion, architecture, and personalization. It's grown dramatically in the past few years.

If there wasn't a demand in the market place then so many wouldn't be perusing such career choices.

I was about to say the same thing to you, as I addressed exactly what you are saying, even if it wasn't exactly the way you wanted me to.

I don't live in your world, but I am not sure how you can come up with the conclusion that we have "too many artists". That implies that if they weren't artists they would be something that would be more "useful" or "beneficial".

I don't think we can look at this like a zookeeper saying "We have too many giraffes, and we need more tigers." Having too many giraffes has nothing to do with the number of tigers.

You said "we need artists TO A POINT" and I am wondering what that point is. How do you decide that the point has been passed? It feels like your are under the assumption that each artist's work is as important or as valuable as the next one's. I think it would take 10,000 artists to repeat the value given to society by an artist like Da Vinci, but what if he didn't "make your cut"? What loss would society have suffered?

Graphic design.

You'd need an understanding of politics then. You don't need to be fluent, but a highschool politics class isn't intended to give fluency either. It's intended to give you background information and insight on interpretation.

What if a government organization was to commission you to create a flyer, or logo for them? How could you possible do that properly without first knowing the opposing parties, or the party contracting you? How can you know what is appropriate for a political brochure without knowing some background?

Sure that's something you can research on the spot, but your time is your money. You don't want to have to spend an excessive amount of time researching when you have a deadline.

I know that's just one example, but I hope you can understand how that would be beneficial to success in your career. I'm (hopefully, only had my interview last monday) starting graphic design next year and I know this is something I'll want to be aware of.

Well, there you go.

To be any more rigid than that about the broad definition of 'art' is a bit... black & white.

Depends how we define “bad”. Later in the post you say yourself that you couldn’t find a living wage. Yes, that’s the problem. But do you think they don’t find somebody who will take all those lower wage positions? They will. Not the best teachers available, and they’ll butcher their own qualifications if necessary. What is the state going to do, tell them to close down and cancel classes? I don’t know if we can talk about majority or minority, but I can’t say there are enough good teachers.

And all that really meant was sinking even lower from a low spot. Anne Richards was proven to be a fluke with the voters. Or maybe they were just butt hurt about Clinton.

By that I meant they settle a lot for the reprobates to fill spots, not the people who seek a living wage. I believe they used to pay new teachers ~$18,000. Something like this is ridiculous into bizarre. Who knows what they pay them now.

The only sources I can cite are newspapers and Time magazine - and the internet. Sorry.

They're people around my age or not much younger. I’m not a teenager and haven’t been for several years. Teenagers wouldn’t be having these sort of conversations with me. To be fair, most people are as complacent and dismissive about it as they come when it comes to this issue of the messed up school system, but the more perceptive people... not so much.

But either way, if they notice anything or not themselves, society will if it’s done right. Or to put it another way, it will notice it if it isn’t.

Maybe my parents could have. I certainly couldn’t have. On top of that, there were no other schools in the vicinity here, and walking to or from school was sometimes necessary for me.

And don’t forget still ranked 48. Those areas are not going to get any better, either. They’ll stay the same at best.

I was in before that. Still, I've seen how my old school is now, or at least a couple of years ago. Doesn't seem to be improving to me, they just added a better stadium.

Well that’s back to the other main point. That’s part of why it’s broken. Upgrading fighter planes to overtake non-existent competitors is more important to the nation than this.

It also creates a steady supply of stupid people.

I just see it as the established syndicate getting in the way as usual.

I don’t blame the teachers. I never did. What I blame is the public not waking up to the problem even after several years of warnings and instead denying it, shutting their eyes and pretending like there’s no gorilla breathing down their neck. This isn’t a pet project. It can bring the country to its knees in the long run. And not going to fix itself.

And I will have to disagree about supporting the teachers, though. Blame aside, to allow some martyrs in there to take the whips while the system gets worse is not going to fix it. It’s going to delay further any real fix. I would rather something drastic happen like every single qualified teacher quitting and leaving the country; or you know, whatever. That would sure get people’s attention.

No, I said it because of the reasons above. Because to deny the problem is to promote it. You seem to acknowledge there is a problem, but your previous statements didn’t seem to quantify it or you thought I was just attacking teachers. I’m glad you acknowledge there is a problem. I think you should stay where you are and no qualified teachers should bother with public schools here. Although that’s already happening to a large extent.

That’s right. My memory is fuzzy but I doubt it’s that fuzzy. He was a substitute previously, then was there for at least the whole semester, though I believe it was the whole year. I guess they figured it was that or canceling the class since there probably was no other teacher to fill in.

HS kids aren’t going to know or anything about that or care, certainly not the ones there.

Why? It wasn’t your doing.

My mistake.

Well to be honest, I’m trying to quit any interest in politics. I do know Austin is a pretty nice place and the university is good. I also like San Antonio. Houston, not so much. But my point wasn’t really to dump on Texas or even Republicans. I was trying to show the evident result of being 48th nationally in education. Not that I was presuming to be politically agnostic with that statement, either.

Darn, I live in Texas but fortunetly I'm in a program to put me in One of the best schools there.

Now their cutting PE requirments!! That class is actually helpful! -Sigh-

I can see evidence of excessive socializing though. Plenty of kids try to sneak celphones out Then again, that's normal high school . . .Right? Oh yeah, My reaction to the following song: Is this what we should expect?

I think you're forgetting the importance of EQ, emotional intelligence, the ability to talk and communicate and also tell how people are feeling. It may not seem like it now when you're a student, but it really is.

Actually, how people face real life situations is subjective. I once had a teacher who did an english lit phd, had the title of a doctor of english but couldn't control a class of 13 year old girls. You could say it was because of school, but I don't think so, I just think he didn't interact enough when he was at school.