Visual Art : My Passion For Visual Education

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

“It has become a mantra in education that No Child Left Behind, with its pressure to raise test scores, has reduced classroom time devoted to the arts.” This

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

These courses teach students specific technical and thinking skills needed to succeed in school and college. Students need to have the chance to be creative, too, though. Budget cuts and limited funding can cause problems for school arts programs, but many people are willing to support arts education in public schools if they see how much it really benefits the students. Courses in the arts deserve just as much appreciation and recognition of just how important they are to students’ lives as math, science, history, and literature

Art is around us everywhere we go. Art can be in architecture, landscaping, performances and paintings. The arts can affect the way people think and how they act, like when a young child draws or paints a picture, they have to make small choices that can help them in many aspects of life. BUt sadly the beneficial education tool of The Arts has been in a rapid decline. In her article, School Art Programs: Should They Be Saved?, Valeria Metia says, “During the 1999-2000 school year, 20 percent of schools offered dance and theatre classes, but in the 2009-10 school year, only 3 percent of schools allocated funds for dance classes, and only 4 percent taught theatre.” Since this decrease in art programs students ages 5-18 are missing out on valuable characteristics in their education. Art gives students improved test scores and better thinking skills, significantly higher graduation rates,better performance in schoolwork,development of habits including problem solving, critical and creative thinking, and working with others and a happier and better school day. SInce art is so beneficial to a student's learning we should push harder and get art programs into our public schools again.

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

According to US News, eighty percent of U.S. school districts funds, including Pinal County, have been cut. The first programs to get effected is art. Even though it is difficult to invest money into the art program it is greatly beneficial. If our community was more aware of all the positive outcomes of art programs Pinal County could stand out from other surrounding communities. People aren’t aware of the many benefits for art programs. The two major benefits for Pinal County is it improves education and the community business. For education art makes students want to learn and be more creative, improves academic performance, makes students come and stay in school, students learn good morals, help students learn many skills, helps with math, art develops the whole brain, and prepares students for the future. Art helps the Pinal County community by building the community, helping out local business, increases tourism, making the community stronger, it has a social impact, and it strengthens the economy.

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

The arts require a large portion of the budget, not only to pay art teachers but also for the materials needed. Yet it doesn't receive the money it needs in view of the fact that a lot of people demean the prevalence of the arts in education claiming that in the real world the arts aren't essential. In recent years the budget cuts have made art education almost a fictitious concept. This is a problem that is critically wounding student's right to a well-rounded toolkit. "A well-rounded educational experience that includes the arts is closely linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity" (Velasco). The benefits of the liberal arts are limitless, by riding schools of art programs, public education is restricting innovativeness and diminishing the limitless of

Experience is a key element of being creative. More so experience of life, rather than experience of arts or creating. The subject position of a creator can arguably be constructed through life experience. Elements such as culture, religion, relationships, etc. can alter one’s view of the world and their approach to creativity. For example, my own experiences with mental health and emotional abuse have allowed the creation of art that I may never have considered prior to these events. The photography Beethy uses her anxiety and depression to feed her artwork and inspire ideas. The piece ‘anxiety’ connotes her experience; ‘The creative process helps. The idea of the image is something that's been twisting and turning in my subconscious for a while.’ Therefore, significant life events and experiences allow creative abilities.

Through the recent years, school budget cuts have led to the discontinuation of many classroom and extracurricular activities, including the visual and performing arts. Yet, because of this, classrooms are losing out on a very effective tool that can help aid the academic and social-emotional developments. According to Lorie Scott, Sallie Harper and Mathew Boggan, “Art integration helps students to engage in meaningful learning as well as understanding at a much more defined and deeper level” (2012, p.83). Unfortunately, arts programs are limited to only the wealthier schools and have been eliminated from those schools for the more marginalized youth including English language learners and that of inner cities (Lorimer, 2011).

As a student whose future career goals have a focus in the arts, this issue is especially sensitive to me. I have experienced first-hand just how little importance our schools place on the art programs they offer, because of this I feel like my high school arts education as well as college

By dissuading students from fine arts, education stifles the student’s ability to express themselves, and creates an environment that is counteractive to effective learning. According to the Americans for the Arts,  “[Their] studies show that children involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair” . Lack of funding for the arts, ultimately, is doing a disservice to children.

It has been proven that students in art and music programs are about four times as likely to win an academic award than a student who is not into the arts. This means that students who participate in music and art programs already have a much higher chance of achieving things as those who don't participate in those programs. In school districts today, art has been seen either as a distraction or a value. Although art programs aren’t required in all school, all schools should include some art and music programs because, these programs can only be a good thing for artistic students.

Many would argue that sports has 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 mind set do not understand the countless amount of benefits that arts education has in a 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 affect a student’s academic career. Budget cuts would be defined as the act of reducing budgeted expenditures. Budget cuts can come about due to lack of money to split among school programs. The board members of school districts are constantly trying to get more resources but, in the end, there just isn't 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 affected school districts throughout the nation. Due to budget constraints, fewer schools offer art classes today than a decade ago. Due to the