Fine Arts

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

Schools across America are cutting Fine Arts programs left and right due to budget cuts and reduced funding, which is preventing students the ability to have an equally standardized arts education. About 95% of schools in America have eliminated or reduced their fine arts program’s funding. According to a report released by the PCCY only 149 out of the 268 public schools in Philadelphia have a choral teacher and 59% of them have an art teacher (Davis). These schools that lack fine arts teachers have felt the need to reduce faculty in order to pay for other expenses. This prevents students from receiving the benefits associated with a fine arts education. In addition, two out of every ten schools don’t have a choral or an art teacher (Davis).

To begin with, education and engagement in fine art programs are an essential part within the school curriculum because subjects such as mathematics, science, and language arts all require cognitive and creative capacities which are enhanced with the process of learning art. For instance, in the article, Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefits Student Achievement, it states that “researchers

One reason they should not be cut from schools is, fine arts have tremendous benefits. The arts also help with early childhood development. Some say they are the building blocks of child development. Arts education helps with motor skills, language development, decision making, visual learning, inventiveness, cultural awareness and diversity, and even improved academic performance. High arts education in a school engages, learning, results in higher test scores, and lowers drop out and truancy rates.

A student who does not enjoy the fundamental classes might not find interest in going to school. The innovated minds that find tranquility in a music class or rather a basic art class is more likely to look forward to attending school the next day. Fine arts enhance the mind. It enhances what is already there or

In order to revamp Core tested programs, schools have been shifting focus to those areas and changing instructional times for various classes, which prevents students from achieving their full potential in the affected classes. Instructional time is important, especially in the fine arts. In order to have an arts program with the tangible results and benefits previously explained, elementary students require to have at least 50 hours of instructional time in order to give them a solid base in art disciplines (Good, 374). The schools who would prefer to focus their resources on the Core tested programs will see improvement in the Core areas, but there are other subjects that leave a footprint along the beach of test scores that help improve

“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

I’ve been involved in Fine Arts since the beginning of my middle school career. Since that first day way back in fifth grade when I picked up that alto- saxophone, I haven’t been able to put it down. Today I would consider myself advanced when it comes to music/band. I currently play the alto and the tenor saxophones. I feel good about myself when I tell people about being involved in band and all of the different things that the band does. Playing an instrument is a talent and I would consider myself very talented. I have lettered in band all my four years of high school. For the past two years I have attended The All-Star Masonic Marching Band Camp. I was very honored to be a part of something so big like that.

Approximately 20 years ago global studies comparing student test scores in the core subjects showed that American students were not performing as well as students in many other countries and that this performance appeared to be worsening. As a result, the federal government became more involved and forced schools to adopt a new set of standards that emphasized the core subjects. Unfortunately, this initiative often led schools to limit or discontinue arts education. Programs and laws such as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) initiative, Common Core, and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) have, while trying to improve our students performance, caused another problem. Many studies show that students who participate in arts education have better observation skills, comprehension, better attention to detail, improved social skills, are less likely to be depressed, etc. this is why the lack of education in the arts is doing a disservice to our nation 's students.

Imagine one of your favorite classes, the class that you are most passionate about, being discouraged from continuing. Some schools have already excluded the fine arts program while other schools are still considering it. The schools that are considering or have already discouraged the fine arts programs think that the school’s budget should not be wasted on the fine arts programs and should be used for the favorable academic programs. However, not all schools agree with cutting out the fine arts program because some schools value fine arts and academic both. In my opinion, schools should definitely not exclude the fine arts program because the fine arts are inspiring, passionate, expressive, and helpful in understanding academics to an interested student.

No matter what a student may think, school is one of the most crucial parts of their lives. Without school, people and society as a whole wouldn’t function very well. However, aside from the core subjects taught, a student’s involvement in the fine arts is just as important. Fine arts classes can increase a student’s concentration rate, and increase their grades in their classes.

In fact, yes, it is. Tim walker, writer for Neatoday.org, presents the statistics that “More than 1.3 million elementary students fail today to get any music instruction — and the same is true for about 800,000 secondary school students. And nearly four million elementary school students do not get any visual arts instruction at school.” All this is happening because the arts programs are undervalued and instead of being equal with the “core” curriculum, the arts are put below them. Here are why the arts programs should be equal to the core curriculum and is a core part not only to the student itself but to the whole school. First, students who are in fine arts education and programs tend to excel in many ways of thinking than those who aren’t. The arts according to Edward B. Fiske “reaches students not normally reached, in ways and methods not normally used.” The arts challenge the brain in all types of ways to produce a well-rounded student. Second, it prepares students more for the future than math or literature. Its great to have other classes such as math or English, but the arts develop social skills that can help later in life such as public speaking, non-verbal communication, dealing with criticism, and confidence. And yes, those skills can be developed by other classes yet in the arts education, students are exposed to it much more and have more practice developing those

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).

Fine arts classes benefit students and schools alike. Fine arts are needed courses, not just as electives but as core classes that promote learning and creativity in the lives of students. There are three different styles of learning: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Fine art provides an avenue for all of these learning styles to be utilized during one class period; therefore, all students are able to understand and benefit from the curriculum. In a normal academic setting all types of learning may not be used, so a percentage of the classroom will not understand the lessons as well as it could have if it had arts incorporated into the class. It may seem impossible to include arts into an academic setting, but it is possible,

There was also a study done in 2004 by a private philanthropic organization trying to prove that the arts have some sort of benefit to children in school. The group was led by neuroscientist Michael S. Gazzaniga. About four years of research went by until they finally reached a conclusion, releasing a report in March of 2008 titled “Learning, Arts, and the Brain.” The studies suggested evidence that pointed toward the arts actually improving reading and math abilities. One of the studies they did was noticing how the brain reacted when they had several seven-year-olds sit in front of a computer and work on activities that had the same qualities as engaging in something art related. The results of the study showed that doing art based activities can train your brain into being more attentive, which improves cognition.