preview

Shrinking School Budgets

Decent Essays

Music programs are constantly in danger of being cut from shrinking school budgets even though they're proven to improve academics. In May 2005 a Harris Poll showed that ninety three percent of the population agree the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children, a two percent increase over 2001 (Catterall). This evidence shows that the people believe that these programs are indeed improving and are important to the lives of students. Along with the fact that Studies done mostly in children of young age show that their academic performance increases after a certain period of music education and training. One particular study published in the journal 'Nature' showed that when groups of first graders were given music instruction …show more content…

This is because the performing arts enhances reading and writing skills in students. One of the most common approaches to teaching reading is to have a teacher read a story to students. The use of drama in the classroom can provide a beneficial supplemental approach. A recent study found that the development of literacy skills among pre-kindergarteners was fostered when the children were allowed to act out their favorite stories. Dramatic play also helped motivate them to learn. (Page) Providing a higher budget for these programs will raise the academic levels in schools. It will allow the teachers to properly teach students with the correct material. Although the materials are expensive the revenue gained from these programs can help reimburse the amount spent on them. With two hundred and fifty million dollars being brought back in on average annually the programs must be …show more content…

Music helps with language which is another reason why funding is critically important. Brown states in her article that according to the Children’s Music Workshop, the effect of music education on language development can be seen in the brain. The performing arts in schools have always impacted students daily lives. Whether it is band, theater or chorus. The teachers and students always make a wonderful impact on the lives of each other whether it is a performance or learning something new in the classroom. Due to the recent cuts in the performing arts programs the students and teachers have both been affected with not being able to buy the necessities need for the teachers to carry out the class. State funding helps improve the students learning and provides the teachers with all that they need. Without state funding the performing arts classes are greatly damaged and limited to what they can teach and learn. The reduce in state funding will reduce the academic progress that would be granted to the school. The government needs to start taking in consideration of what these programs have to offer on and off the stage, and raise the budget so that the school system can raise the academics. The statistics do not lie. Seeing the increase in the cuts affect the nation as a whole. Starting at the

Get Access