During the 1990s Americans began putting more emphasis on education. People began to demand higher test scores, and guaranteed learning. People also began to put emphasis on who was teaching, and wanted ineffective teachers removed. Teacher unions continually fought for merit pay and testing of teachers. Americans began to ask for quality education for their children, this was mainly caused by compared testing to children of other countries. Due to questions about the skill level of high school graduates America's youth was usually badly reflected on. Because of the increased pressure for improved education people began to look for alternatives to public school. School choice was constantly debated within the 1990s. Due to a greater concern for children's education many more parents began to homeschool their children. Another issue of education was safety. Because 31.5% of males reported having taken a weapon to school (Centers for Disease Control on youth health risks). This caused for spending on non learning related issues, such as metal detectors. Computers also became a larger part of student's lives. The government began creating programs such as e-rate, which would provide greater funding to schools with a greater need for technology. All in all, the 1990s were a time when people began putting more and more emphasis on education.