At the recent Claremont school board meetings, two groups showed up in force. On one side were parents who spoke about academic rigor, trades training, and the desperate need for better outcomes in math, science, and reading. On the other side, far louder, were parents and students pleading for the preservation of sports and extracurricular activities. Judging by the passion in the room, you might conclude that Friday night lights, not literacy, are the real core mission of public education.

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