Glee - Dream On

This week's episode of Glee centered on William McKinley High School board member Bryan Ryan, played by Neil Patrick Harris, who threatens to cut the glee club in an effort to save the school money. Being a former glee club member who has "come to his senses," Bryan claims that by participating in glee club, students have false hopes and dreams of becoming stars. He not only sees cutting the glee club as a way to save money, but as a way to prevent students from being misled about realizing their dreams.

Will Schuester, the glee club instructor, helps Bryan realize that he still loves to sing, and does not really want to cut the club. Bryan then begins to review other extracurricular programs, including cheerleading.

Bryan argues with Sue Sylvester, the Cheerleader/Cheerios coach that arts and music education benefit students. He provides the example that singing helps students hear different pitches, which helps them learn different languages. Sue argues that since 1/3 of American teenagers are obese and only 2 percent of high schools require daily physical activity, that athletic programs like hers are needed. In addition, sports teaches students how to work together, helps them learn how to solve problems, improves their social skills, and increases attendance and grades. Sue has "done her homework" and she is right, yet many public high schools have cut funding for physical education programs and classes. Bryan is also right, and yet arts education programs are usually the first programs to be cut in a budget crisis.

Sue's statistics are correct, according to a study released by the Center for Disease Control in 2006. Only 2 percent of high schools, 8 percent of middle schools, and 4 percent of elementary schools required daily physical activity. With childhood obesity on the rise in the U.S., and life threatening diseases such as juvenile diabetes increasing in children and teenagers, physical education should be a priority in our schools. At the same time, arts education should not be underfunded or not exist. Somehow, we have to find a way to fund both, and fund both adequately.