Greek philosopher Aristotle defines the arts ¨as the realization in external form of a true idea, and is traced back to that natural love of imitation which characterizes humans, and to the pleasure which we feel in recognizing likenesses.¨(IEP). The fine arts which have been a part of human history for 30,000 years have played an essential role in the development and advancement of our societies. As of today, the fine arts are facing the danger of vanishing in the education system of the United States Schools in places like Minnesota, Michigan and Philadelphia struggle to obtain arts programs within their schools. Districts like the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district, have been struggling with raising student’s academic scores in courses …show more content…
Labor relations lawyer and writer for the National Federation of State High School Association, Dave Dickson, answers this in his article ¨Fine Arts Should be Spared from School¨ Districts´ Budget Cuts. He states that the main rationale for cutting arts programs for students K-12 is a result of budget cuts: ¨When cutting programs, superintendents strive to cut those that have the least impact to learning and that create the least amount of controversy. Wrongly, superintendents often recommend cutting some of the fine arts programs.¨ Programs which strive to keep students from delinquent behaviors, and offer life skills that the traditional curriculum fails to do are being cut as a result of school boards deeming them unnecessary. He continues to say, ¨School boards must analyze very carefully the long-term ramifications of eliminating the fine arts programs. A school district without the arts leaves many students without an outlet for the creative capabilities and without options for expression of their talents.¨ (Dickson). School Districts tend to cut the arts without fully analyzing the repercussions that come with cutting them. Overlooking students who need attention the most and cutting programs that enable them to search who they are as people, giving them individuality in a system that doesn't. Parents in Chicago rely on after-school programs to ensure their children's safety and wellbeing. Rachel Norwood, the mother of Justice Watkins 10, exclaims her gratification of programs like the arts. It not only keeps Justice out of the streets and away from danger, they offer him a place to be himself and explore who he is as a grown adult. (Flores). Removing programs like the arts from the curriculum or extra-curricular activities, will not only hinder childrens’ ability to achieve their goals, but it will also lead to an increase of children being put in harm's
Year after year when schools decide to make budget cuts the main thing they cut are the salaries of their staff since they have so many. “According to the Department of Education data, administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions (The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much).” This act sacrifices the lives of others without any mind. Some people cannot afford half of their paycheck knowing they have bills to pay and mouths to feed. Therefore, colleges view the salaries of the staff should only increase instead of decline in order to ensure their positions. “...Salaries for full-time faculty at public institutions
Advertisement has become increasingly important to the funding of television shows, movies, and other such entertainment entities. Television is funded almost solely on commercials and no one really minds except for some grumbling about interruptions to the show, because they know that the television shows would not get the money and resources they need to be made without them. Schools need funding and resources that they are constantly lacking in, and while putting advertisements up may be irritating, the money and equipment gained through these partnerships will improve conditions at the schools and the advertisements will not get in the way of normal education, though these partnerships definitely need some restrictions before they should be allowed.
“Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance” ("11 Facts about Arts in Education"). Music and art are clearly not two subjects that schools today can afford to cut off funding for based on this evidence. Music and art programs are responsible for increasing school attendance, which can lead to being one of the most important things in a student’s academic success in school. Students have to attend school and be present in order to attain the information from their classes and teachers if they wish to succeed. Better attendance means more students are in class, which means more students are getting the information they need to excel from their teachers, which ultimately means better grades and test scores for schools. As of today, arts are defined as core subjects in only twenty-six states in America (Mandel). If only twenty-six states are treating art education as a core subject, that means that twenty-four states are currently neglecting art programs and not considering them important to their student’s education. If more states are educated on the importance of art programs for young students, and the arts are defined as core subjects nationally, then there will be a
Education has become an essential part of human life it creates an opportunity for people to improve their environment, help others, create jobs, and develop new technology. Having a well stablished education in the United States can only improve the economy and be ready compete with other countries. Even though, the importance of education is well stablished yet the budget cuts to education have always been an issue therefore many students do not receive an adequate education. The current approach for education seems to create and implement standardized test to students to measure how much they are learning in the classroom without considering individualistic differences in students and other special needs.
For many years schools have had to make a choice of either cutting the budget for sports or fine arts. Most of the time fine arts lose this fight. Most states cut the amount of money given to schools every year, but the schools need more and more money
According to the article from the Huffington Post, the students who are impacted greater from these budget cuts are students from lower income households. This is so heartbreaking, being that school may be the one place students are exposed to these types of creativity, hard work, dedication, and passion. Programs that are eliminated ignore a plethora of students’ talents and abilities. Defunding these programs is overlooked or overturned, however it is crucial to many students’, if not all students’, education.
The concept of art has been around since the Stone Age, and has progressed significantly since then. Art may have started as a few simple lines marked on a cave wall with a rock. The concept of music may have emerged from someone who banged two objects together and noticed that they made different sounds depending on the way they were hit. In the United States, art is not a mandatory part of the core curriculum in schools. Some schools have music and art classes available as electives to allow students to explore outside the realm of the mandatory math, science, and English classes. However unfortunately, when budgets need to be reduced and cuts are made, it is the Arts that are the first to go. The word ‘Art’ is most commonly thought of as a painting, or something in a gallery or a museum. However, art can be so more than a 2 dimensional object. The truth is, without being aware of it, we are surrounded by art. From that song you listened to on the way to work, to the little dance you did when you heard good news, or even that almost perfect circle you drew, our lives rely on art in all its forms.
“We are in the twilight of a society based on data. As information and intelligence become the domain of computers, society will place a new value on the one human ability that can’t be automated: emotion (Jensen 84).” Fine arts is a way for people to express themselves. It is a way to show emotion and creativity, in a world filled with an abundance of accessible information. Everyone should have the chance to find something they are passionate about and can excel at, although, they must have the opportunity to discover these passions in the first place or these gifts would be held useless. Therefore, high schools should keep fine arts classes to motivate all students to learn, to interest students in future careers, and for a more well-rounded curriculum.
By dissuading students from fine arts, education stifles the student’s ability to express themselves, and creates an environment that is counteractive to effective learning. According to the Americans for the Arts, “[Their] studies show that children involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair” . Lack of funding for the arts, ultimately, is doing a disservice to children.
The sad truth is that the arts are dying in public schools. A big cause of this extinction is schools focus on testing and their results. Government policies such as No child Left Behind is the big cause of this push. The schools are cutting Fine Arts Programs to adjust for the test preparation to makes sure the quotas are meet for the Adequate Yearly Progress. Schools are allowing students to miss important learning points in their education. Many school consider the arts unimportant or a waste of time. They are trying to put language arts and vocational practices as Fine Arts. Fine arts is Defined in the Webster’s Dictionary as a type of art such as painting, sculpture, and music that is done to create beautiful
It seems like every other day the news is reporting that yet another school has cut their fine arts programs. When money gets tight, instead of decreasing the budgets for things like the abundance of sports teams, many school districts have turned their backs to the fine arts, and justified their decisions by stating that the arts do not benefit the students, or that it is more important for the school to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM, programs (Scott). From band and choir to theater and art, courses like these are becoming scarce and students across the country are feeling the impact. Wes Scott, middle and high school band director at Orchard Farm School District in Saint Charles, Missouri, says, “The fine arts
Budgets cuts are being made to music and art classes in schools across the country. While they are among the most expensive programs for a school to maintain, parents and communities are finding themselves concerned about the declining exposure to the arts. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of elementary schools offering performing arts has dropped over 60% since 2008. The argument can be made that large amounts of money are saved by terminating art programs, but art programs have been shown to have positive impacts on student learning, with some of the most impressive improvements being made outside of art class. Are the experiences art classes provide worth the money?
Incorporating arts into the classroom, whether as a subject itself or integrating it into the curriculum, is increasingly being accepted as a vital part of being successful in school. Yet, this study is slowly and quietly disappearing. In schools across the country, students are losing opportunities to participate in creative outlets as a result of budget cuts. In May 2005, a poll commissioned by the Americans for the Arts, 93 percent agreed that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for the children.
"Studies show that students in the arts outperformed their non-arts peers on the SAT by 96 points, while a child who has continued access to arts education has a 74 percent higher chance of planning to attend college” (Urist 9). The arts teach several lessons to children and they provide an equal opportunity for everyone. The arts also provide a different form of discipline and insight into the real world. While others may say that sports make kids strive for good grades, the arts support children in a different way. Others may also say funding should go towards core subjects, but what they don’t know is that the humanities use the core subjects during classes. Even though fine arts are not exciting for everyone, they should receive more funding in schools because fine arts keep kids out of trouble, provide a way to express oneself and help teenagers make life decisions.
Most people would agree that music and art programs in schools have a huge impact on students not only academically, but in just about every aspect of their lives. Studies have shown that students who are involved in music and art programs have an overall higher IQ and show signs of many other academic benefits. Participating in such programs also allow students the opportunity to express themselves artistically and show the world their perhaps otherwise hidden potential. We all know how fun it can be to show the world your unexpected abilities, and what better way to show those off than the place where we spend most of our day-to-day lives? Unfortunately, even with all these obvious benefits, when the school budget is short, the first