At Roosevelt, we refer to our electives as "essentials".
"For many middle level students, the chance to try new subjects and classes is the main reason they love school. Electives allow students to dance, create, move, and think. Electives provide a chance to sing with a group or act out in an appropriate way (on a stage, and not in the classroom). Electives allow kids to paint, get messy, and build something with their own hands. Students have a chance to experiment and apply knowledge with hands-on projects...Let’s be honest, you can’t tell me or any other rational educator that art, music, band, physical education, choir, and consumer family studies are not essential to the lives of young adolescents." - Jack Berckmeyer
