Budget cuts have been a hot topic in today's society, starting in 2008 with the recession. In the wide world of budget cuts and what you decide to cut, education always comes first. Children in this country are told every single day that they will grow up to be these fantastic forces to be reckoned with, but with the United States ranking 17th out of 50 countries in terms of education, it's hard to maintain that illusion of perfection. We are in a society of free thinkers, scholars in the making, prodigies, and those who want to become something great in order to stay afloat in this economy. In today's world, you can't even get a job at McDonald's without some sort of formal education, or you can't keep it without a high school diploma or degree of some kind. Public education is sought after more than it was 30 years ago, and the popularity and need for an excellent education will only continue to grow. Cutting the education budget is not an option, even though many politicians seem to believe it is the only choice. Their salaries are absolutely secure, but the education of those who intend to take over is in constant danger, and will never be checked when the annual budget is published. Budget cuts have greatly affected how our children learn, what they learn, and when they learn; Unfortunately, although it is declining significantly, it does not seem destined to disappear, at least not in this generation. The programs that are being cut are becoming extensive, which causes our youth to be deprived of their much-needed arts programs; With this in mind, the scale of the cuts implemented is absurd, which can sometimes simply cause small communities to ask for help to save their educationally malnourished children. Curriculums, lessons and work days are being reduced in K-12. School budgets are having a major impact on our children's educational opportunities and potential, negatively impacting their potential to learn and grow. We as a nation see it every day, your favorite teacher who has to leave, your child crying because he can no longer take art lessons because they are no longer offered at school, or your child happy because he has no class due to one day leave (who don't seem to realize that it's not a good thing).