High Quality Academic Standards At Ysabel Barnett Elementary School

To begin with, budget cuts in art programs is an economic issue which affects both students and teachers. Even though the arts are often thought of as unrelated subjects, with basic class courses, they really are a collection of skills and perspectives that surpass most areas of human activity. Furthermore, art program budget cuts are occurring due to the fact that the government and the head of the school boards believe that the arts are not as important as other “academic” subjects such as language arts and math. In fact, cutting from the art programs may lead to teachers and students being left in grievous circumstances. For example, many teachers will have their pay raises reduced or teachers would have their paychecks cut or they will end up unemployed. Therefore, how are teachers suppose to support their families if they have had their pay cut? Would have to look for another job and spend less time with their family to help support them? Furthermore, students are also affected due to the fact that there will be less applications for FASA which would lead to “fewer students able to afford

The government has also been involved in supporting the arts in public schools. In the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the arts are portrayed as equally important when put beside core subjects such as reading, math, and science (Ruppert 1). Through this act, Americans can be assured that “Members of the art education teaching profession are ‘highly qualified’” in public schools, possibly helping them feel more supportive of the arts being kept in schools

Art programs around the United States are being shut down due to the lack of funding and misunderstanding of the subject. Many people think that the arts are just about drawing and painting. However, literature, performing arts, and media arts are on the list too. Students who are involved in an art curriculum are more likely to be successful in school than those who do not take them.

Many would argue that sports have a greater importance compared to the arts. Not only this, but many would say that art is not important enough to have a place in public schooling. However, those who have this mindset do not understand the countless amount of benefits that arts education has in an everyday student's life. Art education refers to education in music, dance, the visual arts, and theater. The engagement of students in the arts are essential to every student's educational career. However art programs always seem to come short in funding and this can later negatively impacts a student’s academic career. Budget cuts would be defined as the act of reducing budgeted expenditures. Budget cuts can come about due to a decreasing amount of money used to split among various school programs. The board members of school districts are constantly trying to get more resources. However, in the end, there is not enough money to cover for so many teachers, supplies, and programs. As budget cuts arise, the arts are almost always immediately targeted. The budget cuts would cut down funds for art supplies, musical instruments, and art teachers. In addition to funds that order to hire art organizations for programs which provide arts education services for students. Many public schools are struggling with budget cuts, resulting in the continued elimination of art programs across school districts throughout the nation. Due to budget constraints, fewer schools offer art classes today. Due to the fact that arts education is infrequently seen as a number one priority in public schools, there is little funding put into place and because of the diminishing amount of art programs, students are being deprived of the benefits that arts education can provide for them academically and non-academically.

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.

Throughout history music has played an important role in society, whether it was Mozart moving people with his newest opera or the latest album from the Beatles. Where would society be today without music? With schools cutting their music programs, the next Mozart may not get his chance to discover his amazing talent. Music programs are essential to education. To fully understand this one must understand how music helps the human body, why schools have cut music programs, and why people should learn music.

As in consequence of our troubling economy, budget cuts were inevitable. In the year 2008, more than eighty percent of schools nationwide had received budget cuts. Music and theater classes were cut to the full extent along with some art programs. Within the late 90s and early 2000s schools had theatre and dance classes available, ranging in the twenty percentile. Currently, that percent has dropped drastically to two percent. These are just brief statistics on the outcome of budget cuts and how quickly the outcome is the demise of the fine arts in schools nationwide.

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

Much too often in America today, modern music and art programs in schools are perceived to many as extracurricular activities rather than important subjects that are vital to a students learning and skill development. The truth of the matter is that encouraging music and art education in public schools has a much larger impact on student’s grades, academic performance, and the economy than the majority people realize. Within the next year city school budgets will be dropping by twenty five percent, and despite the fact that music and art programs have been showing a dramatic contribution to student’s learning, this substantial drop in funding for the programs will lead to no dedicated money for art or music programs (Mezzacappa). There is

Arts programs are being cut due to the lack of state government funding to public schools; this has been an ongoing issue for several years. Narric Rome, senior director of Federal Affairs and Arts Education at Americans for the Arts, voiced her concerns, “The cuts that have been occurring for the past couple of decades ... however, with this recession… The entire system is very unstable; teachers are laid off one school year and brought back the next, or most times not brought back at all. If we are lucky enough to bring these programs back, they won’t be for a couple of years. Which means some students who are in school during these difficult economic times will completely miss out on the benefits of arts education.” (Hawkins). Schools in low income areas are forced to drastically--sometimes completely--cut arts programs from the curriculum.

Having arts in school is a way a student express himself or herself in ways they are unable to in any other classroom. It is important for each student to have their own identity and have ways of letting their talents and personalities shine. For some, it may be sports or scholars bowl, for others it is art, music, or theater. “I have several students who don’t care to be on the football field or on the basketball court. These students find their nitch in the practice room, on the stage, or in front of an easel surrounded by paints and brushes. As sports are a release for athletes, music and art are ways to express feelings and emotions. Fine arts has helped many of my students find their identity” (Wildeman). There are many benefits to music education include being disciplined, learning a skill, being part of the music world, managing performance, and being part of something you can be proud

Fine arts are one of the first things that get cut when school budgets are getting tight. Administrators even question why we have a fine arts program if it’s not beneficial to the curriculum. You need fine arts to improve creativity and mindset for whatever you may want to do, and help kids see a way to have a place to belong and get in where they may feel left out or otherwise rejected. Research shows that low poverty areas that have fine arts programs keep kids occupied and out of trouble. Fine arts should be kept in schools because it keeps kids out of trouble, improved school results, and the outcome of fine arts involvement.

There once was a time in our society that the arts took a strong role in the lives of our young youth and community, but the stress of regulations and test requirements has put the arts in the hot seat. There is no amount of fine art that students would not benefit from if teachers consistently incorporated it in their classrooms. The importance of arts should not be thrown aside for the sake of achieving test scores. There are 6 critical reasons why communities should not be so quick to cut the arts programs and unintentionally hinder students growth.

Cutting the fine art classes is giving more time to the more essential classes that students have to take standardized tests on. Classes such as math and English are taking first priority in most schools, which in turn is raising overall test scores in those categories. Most department heads see cutting fine art classes as a small fee to pay in order to raise test scores (Evans). With lack of art classes to choose from, students were "encouraged" to double up on English and math classes. Art and music electives turned into an after school program (Holcomb). Though it is not listed in their everyday school schedule, schools are still trying to incorporate art opportunities for students. This may be true, but funds are still very limited to these after school programs (Holcomb).

“The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading writing, and arithmetic…music dance, painting, and theatre are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment” (William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education).