Channel 12 picked out eight categories of items parents chose to spend on their ESA contracts and attacked those expenditures. Channel 12’s attack made no sense. Every single category represented items that public schools spend substantial sums on:
- $6.8 million was spent on private music lessons, including $1 million for piano lessons. Public schools spend substantial amounts for music teachers. Those opposed to this are hopeless Philistines. With respect to piano lessons in particular, numerous studies show that those who begin studying piano at an early age do much better in mathematics than others. There are two possible One is that it develops the right side of the brain. The other is that notation is a form of abstract reasoning. As the Piano student progresses, the student has to keep track in his/her mind of several lines at a time.
- $2.8 million was spent on swimming
Some public schools have swimming pools. Studies show that physically fit students do better academically.
- $2.8 million was spent on math
Studies show that tutoring is the best method of improving academic performance. The Department of Education spent $40 million to provide free tutoring to public school students.
- $1.9 million was spent on
See answer to two above.
- $1.6 million was spent on
Many public schools teach dance to students. In addition, dance is considered one of the four arts, so again, only Philistines would oppose that.
- $1.3 million was spent on
See answer to 2 above.
- $1.1 million was spent on horseback
This would typically be special education students for whom horseback riding has been shown to be an excellent therapy. This improves their academic performance.
- $1 million was spent on martial
See answer to 2 above.