School garden supporters say that the gardens teach to the whole child. One of the strongest benefits is to social and emotional learning. Research shows that schools with a social and emotional learning program can increase test scores by 11% and positive classroom behavior by 9%. School garden opponents say that the gardens take away from academic time. As other countries’ test scores are on the rise, America’s test scores continue to lag behind. The only true way to achieve financial success is to be well educated. Opponents say that no one wants gardens banned; they just don’t think school is the place for this type of learning.

Write a brief summary of the claims on both sides of the argument. Are these strong or weak claims? Make sure to use textual evidence to support your writing. Your answers should be between 4-6 sentences long.