Budget Cuts In Schools

Section Two: History: Since public schools across the country have faced budget cuts in the past decade and a half, a common cost-cutting measure is to lessen the funding for arts education, prioritizing what are deemed more essential subjects such as math, reading, and science. Yet in fact, the current iteration of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, lists that the arts are among the core academic subjects, requiring all schools to enable all students to achieve in the arts and reap all the benefits of a comprehensive arts education. Yet the economically prioritized curriculum is still draining the sources from these imperative programs leaving instruments, paintbrushes, and other artistic pieces in closets to collect dust, because no one will be there to teach or use them. Most impacting in the history of

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

Art programs in schools across the nation are in danger of being diminished due to budget cuts and lack of funding. Due to budget cuts, “... schools have been relying more on private funds and patrons of the arts to provide creative outlets for students” (Hambek). Because art is deemed as less important than other core classes, budget cuts that have been put into place almost automatically go straight to cutting funds for art

The arts are always the first to go when a budget crisis arises in any school. 4,100 arts teachers were planned to be laid off in June of 2011 (cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com). Athletics are always prioritized while the art and music programs get the shorter end of the stick. 4,100 arts teachers were planned to be laid off in June of 2011 In April 2016, my high school’s indoor drumline was eliminated due to issues with funding. This program had been a major part in the high school’s music program for over 16 years, and brought widespread recognition to the school for their excellent performances. The irony with the school’s claim in cutting the drumline was that not long after, the football team along with various other athletic teams,

How would you feel if one of your favorite subjects was cut from school? You would feel disappointed or sad right? That is how I would feel if fine arts programs were cut from my school. For me, the arts are an outlet of my soul where I can explore my passion, and express my creativity. There are some school officials that say cutting arts funding would save money that could go towards better funding, but some neuroscientists say cutting arts funding might be a bad idea, since the arts have some very important benefits such as, improved motor skills and better language development. Also with cut funding, we would have more unemployed workers since all the teachers who taught those programs would be laid off and would lose their jobs. There are many disadvantages and advantages of cutting the arts, but I believe fine arts programs should not be cut from schools.

In today’s school systems, art and music classes are not mandatory to be taught. This makes them very vulnerable to budget cuts in struggling schools. It is estimated that more than eighty percent of schools nationwide have experienced cuts to their budgets since 2008 (Metla). Every child in America deserves a complete education, and a complete education includes the arts. Due to budget cuts, many students do not receive instruction in art and music and therefore do not receive a full education. Music and art classes in schools are just as important as core classes and should not be subject to budget cuts.

School boards across the country have been struggling to fully fund art, music, and culture programs that without a doubt serve to round out the education of the country's youth. States such as California have faced major budget cuts. In 2008, California projected a shortcoming of $42 billion. (California Schools Girding for cuts under fiscal Plan) During a signing ceremony the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger stated, "During a down economy and facing an historic budget deficit we have to make some very difficult decisions..." He later warned local school districts that the cuts will impact the students (I’ll be back). California is not the only state who has faced budget cuts. When put up against struggling budgets brought

The reality in education has always been, when the money is tight, it’s time to get rid of something. Why, oh why does this have to be the case? The very first thing they look at is the arts. As stated by Charles Fowler, “In many schools, the status of the arts is fragile. When school systems face budget cuts, curtailments of art and music programs are an all-too common and seemingly easy solution. Reductions often come swiftly and ruthlessly, exacting debilitating losses on faculty and programs. Arts programs are sometimes eliminated by school administrators and boards of education without much anguish or serious debate, as if they are dispensable and unimportant, inconsequential and superfluous” (Fowler, 1996, p. 36).

Budget cuts in schools cause turmoil and stress among the students and faculty. Drastic changes in the budgets have caused schools to negatively impact the people around them. With the lack of funding, schools are facing difficult decisions on what to do to stay within their budget. Supervision is facing much scrutiny on how to handle the lack of funding in their school districts. A solution needs to be made to improve the distribution of funding to our schools in order to keep them operating and thriving for our children to obtain their education. Budget cuts in schools have shown negative effects on employee positions, supplies, extracurricular activities.

Most importantly what happens to the future of art will be affected by art education or the lack thereof. Without our leaders thinking that art instruction is important the programs could be cut. They always cut music, art and sports programs. Artists who make teaching a part of their professional practice as

”Painting, writing, orchestra, band, choir these programs are the so-called money wasting according to the government. Some governments believe that if they take these programs away their budget will be more. They said they have done tests and evidence that shows how it does effect of course there is statistics and finances that show that. However, you cannot really base something we are born with based on a test. The Arts is a compelling thing some people are born with it some are not. It would not be fair to the kids who struggle in the core subjects like math and reading the kids who do not well let me tell you, you are lucky. Those kids are confident in the math and reading the kids who are not they feel ashamed of themselves that they cannot get a certain concept.

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.

We have seen the economy suffer due to financial problems over the last couple of years. The financial struggles are affecting more than just the citizens of the United States but also the Public School system. “Americans have seen the economy slow significantly. Over the past 10 years, the unemployment rate has more than doubled” (Sherk). “Many states reported limited and diminishing funds for public schools as a result” (Hungerford and Wassmer). The lack of funding for public schools are requiring schools to redo there education systems, and causing them to change curriculum. The schools are trying to keep a well-rounded educations but are having a hard time keeping everything that they have had before. They are playing the which class should we cut game and they all are deciding to keep the usual English, Math, Science and of course History. But, they are cutting the music education program that has huge impacts on the students. Some schools are offering a small amount of music class but most of them ended up cutting all of them as a whole. Music is not a cheap program for students to get involved in they have to purchase their own instruments and supplies such as books, music and other supplies. When schools had budgets for their music education they supplied most of the tools needed for the students needed to succeed. Now that there is no money in schools are relying on private donors. If a school still does not have enough money they are making students either pay a

The people whom are affected by this and who it is most affected by this is the student body and more specifically the students in the art program. Also so the teachers in the art department are affected. If the government sees art as non-essential they will pull it out of schools. With art being pulled out of schools people will

Art, music, and other fine art classes are always the first things to go when schools have a budget cut, however, these things are important and necessary for children. It’s been proven that art not only to their creativity, but their academic achievements and advancements. On top of the academic and creative advantages, fine arts programs just mean a lot to some people. And it seems like the fine arts mean a lot to most students at Lewis Central High School. In my speech I’ll be focusing mainly on the art program. Now I don’t believe that our art program is at any risk of being cut, but I do believe that there are some issues that should be looked at, for example the lower classmen can take very few art classes, there are many outside art festivals and other opportunities that are not touched upon for those same lower classmen, and compared to other fine art programs the opportunities are minimal and the program itself is difficult to be apart of until later years of high school. I’ve been interested in art for as long as I can remember and recently, end of seventh grade to be exact, I decided to pursue it as a potential career, so I took as many art classes as I could. At the middle school, we were offered 1 art class a trimester and I was even lucky enough to be a teacher aide for Ms. Baker. I had the opportunity to enter contests and submit work to a festival, all in the span of one school year.