Arts Education Research Paper

All around the United States, art programs are being cut out of the budget in public schools. The arts include dance, band, chorus, theatre, film, drawing, painting, photography and literary arts. Some school board members feel these art programs are not necessary and do not benefit the students in any way. Elementary, middle, and high school students are forced to quit their passion and feel that their talents are not supported by their schools. Although many are not aware, there is a strong connection between arts education and academic achievement. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts in many public schools, the art classes are first on the list to be cut. It is important that the students, parents and teachers

According to a study by the Arts Education Partnership, students exposed to music are often more adept at reading, writing, and math ("10 Salient"). Arts education also seems to have a positive effect on students’ standardized test scores. For instance, students’ average verbal and math SAT scores revealed a correlation between higher test scores and more years of arts education received (Ruppert 9). Additionally, a study of Missouri Public Schools found that schools with higher-quality arts programs experienced fewer disciplinary infractions and had higher attendance and graduation rates ("10 Salient"). It is theorized that music and art classes encourage students, especially at-risk youth, to stay in school by cultivating closer relationships with peers and creating “community-oriented environments”

One of the largest issues with fine arts implementation is the narrow effects. Garcia et. al conducted research that attempted to determine the effect fine arts have on standardized test scores. The researchers found that specific students attending schools with dense fine arts programs scored higher on the state standardized test; however, this improvement does not imply that fine arts will effectively cure the education decline. When analyzing the results, one sees that the fine arts mainly affect one group of students: at-risk students. The term “at-risk students” generally includes English Language Learners and low socioeconomic students. The research found that the at-risk students exposed to fine arts programs were more likely to have higher scores on the state standardized test specifically on the English Language Arts portion. This research suggests that if these at-risk students are exposed to the fine arts their test scores will increase on this specific portion of the test.

   When I moved back to Georgia the first time, I was placed into an orchestra class that made me feel like a 30 year-old woman stuck in first grade. I was uncomfortable with the fact that I wasn't being challenged and my love for music was slowly diminishing. It wasn't until I moved back to Virginia that I was put into one of the most highly-recognized high school orchestras in Chesapeake, Grassfield High School. My orchestra director, Mr. Vutsinas, pushed me to new heights of musicality that I did not know I could not

Across the United States many elementary school music classrooms are filled with simple and popular tunes such as Hot Cross Buns and The Ode to Joy, played on the recorder, while high school students may be playing collegiate or professional pieces of music such as Armenian Dances and Carmen Suites. I have been very fortunate to have gone on the journey of progressing through different music education programs within Fairfax County Public Schools. If I was never exposed to music while in elementary school I might not have ever found one of my greatest passions or been able to create such fond and unforgettable memories. While music education programs across the country appear large and strong, many schools are beginning to experience budget reductions. As a result, music is often the very first component of a school 's curriculum or programs to be cut or significantly reduced, but I believe this is not the right course of action. It is important to preserve and promote music education in public schools because of the proven cognitive, character,and academic benefits for students.

“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

The idea of arts integration is a topic widely used by arts advocates in schools to gain support and understanding from the community, though not many people understand what it means, exactly. The term arts integration is a teaching approach that incorporates the different arts disciplines to direct a better, and more well-rounded learning environment ( Metla). By integrating the arts into learning, the school systems broaden the traditional ideas of education which then helps to produce a more creative community. The schools and teachers use different ways to integrate the arts which include using the arts as their own separate courses or incorporating them into all of the separate classes (Arts Edge). The decision of which one of the ways will be used, or whether both will be used, is chosen by the individual schools based on educational standards and money.

Lets paint a picture together. Blank walls, silent rooms, and shy students are what is brushed on the canvas. Our picture is a result of the limitations put on the powers of artistry. Staci Maiers validates that “the school play, the marching band, the drama club, the student art show - they’re usually highlights of a student’s education” (1). “. . . [Fine Arts] can connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing, creating the foundation to forge social bonds and community cohesion,” (qtd in Smith 2). Maiers expresses, “Because fine arts education typically is not considered core curriculum or included on high-stakes standardized test mandated by federal requirements, music, art, theater, and dance usually

Christian art is classified as Byzantine, but It is also very difficult to know when Christian art

Art and music can impact students and help them do better scholastically. Jessica Velasco talks about how various studies and experiments have shown the effects art and music have academically in “How the Arts Can Help Students Excel.” She

Music and art get you better grades at school and a higher IQ level. For example, “The children who were given music lessons over the school year tested on average three IQ points higher than the other groups”(the benefits of music education). This is saying that a study done states that kids who take music lessons such as the piano get a higher IQ level compared to people who took drama or nothing at all. When an art class is taken by a student at school they lead to lower dropout rates overall and better attendance (Katy Independent School District). This is because to get better grades you need to be in class and if you are there more there is a higher attendance rate. That is one result of both music and art classes (Katy Independent

Arts and music instruction is available in all places, including schools. In public schools the arts classes are funded locally, federally, and by the state. Currently, the state decides whether or not art and music classes should be considered mandatory in public schools. Since the drop in basic math, english, and science skills, schools have begun focussing more on core classes and shortening the funds for arts instruction. Is this focus on core subject standardized testing a reason to shorten funds and involvement of arts classes in public schools?

Art education has been proven to help with “cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skills” as well as “motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork” (Smith). Having the ability and patience to sit down and paint a masterpiece or work through a song on the piano requires high focus and dedication. Students willing to do this will in turn have stronger skills to focus and be dedicated in other subjects. The mixture of all these abilities gained from participation in art programs lead to higher test scores and overall better performance in school. Still, these are only a few of the assets provided by art education.

Schools that offer fine arts classes have lower dropout rates and raised attendance. The fine arts positively impact students of lower socioeconomic status more those of a higher  status. The fine arts have no barriers for race, religion, and culture when it comes to being involved in the arts. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be involved (Katy Independent School District). Without the arts these students have no outlet for creative capabilities and no way to express their talents. Students who need this way of expressing themselves are overlooked and they are the ones who need it the most (Dickson). When viewing the participation of arts in the eyes of a ten-year old, “It cools kids down after all the other hard stuff they have to think about” (Arts and Smarts: Test Scores and Cognitive Development).

“People are forgetting that math is taught when a child is playing an instrument. English is taught when a child is reading or writing a script. Critical thinking is taught when a child is analyzing art” (Sabrina Holcomb). There is a significant correlation between participating in the arts, and success in school. Multiple studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between playing an instrument, and an increase in scores in mathematical subject. In these studies, it was also noted that students who were more creative were better problem solvers than students who were not as creative. All of these characteristics are sought after in the work force, meaning that the arts not only help during the school years, but in work and business as well (Ron Whitehorne). Also, it is important to note that “Low-income students who had arts-rich experiences in high schools were more than three times as likely to earn a B.A. as low-income students without those experiences. And the new study from the National Endowment reports that low-income high school students who earned little or no arts credits were five times more likely not to graduate from high school than low-income students who earned many arts credits” (Tyleah Hawkins). The arts have always been used as a form of expression and inspiration for people across the world, the arts have also been shown to improve high-risk student's outlook on their schooling. Research has shown that the arts help improve standardized test scores like the ACT or SAT (Tyleah Hawkins).People who support the arts believe that quality art education can help engage at-risk students in ways that other subjects such as math, science, or reading cannot. This is why it is believed that the arts are a key tool in the prevention of high-school dropout. There are many studies that point to a lower dropout rate for students who participate in