When I was in High School we had a full music studio, an auto shop studio, and a art studio gor metal and wood working shop and sculpting. And this was in the Bronx.
So much unique options for those who don't want to be academics and white collar scholars, but just want to make a good living doing something they passionate about.
And like every 10 years here in NY, everyone bought into a bunch of nonsense GOP hype about "weak on crime" politicians and so Republicans took over New York.
They of course decided the arts and shop classes in schools was all wasteful and should be replaced with corporate tax cuts. And then after that they went full speed on "stopping and frisking" young black men that could've used these programs.
Blame your party breh. They're always fighting to lower the quality of life of middle class people.