| Don't
let public school arts programs get the ax
By Brock Anderson
November 14, 2005 | I've
always loved the arts, particularly music. While I don't
remember much of my elementary experience, I do remember
singing time. A faculty member would come to my class
during the week with her guitar and teach us a variety
of songs. To this day I can still sing some of the songs
she taught. During Christmas and other holidays we learned
songs during class and put on programs for our parents.
Those were memorable times.
In junior high and high school I
took advantage of the art and music classes that were
offered. Growing up I was always quite shy, but during
my teenage years I learned that I could express myself
through creative avenues. Art projects and experiences
in choirs and musicals throughout my secondary education
experience have helped shape who I am today, and will
continue to influence me throughout the rest of my life.
I want my future children to have similar opportunities
to experience the arts in school.
Unfortunately, current trends suggest
such opportunities might not be available. Educators
and politicians are becoming more and more concerned
with math and reading test scores. As budgets get tighter
and competition with other countries heightens, art
and music programs seem to be the first things to go.
Unfortunately, children are the ones who suffer, not
the politicians and educators who are making the changes.
Yet, eventually the nation will suffer when these children
who were deprived the arts in education become adults.
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
has placed higher emphasis on test scores, particularly
in the areas of math and reading. Teachers and schools
are now evaluated on their students' test scores and
are held accountable when they fail. It's not a bad
thing that teachers and schools must take responsibility
for how their students perform, but too much pressure
can have a negative effect.
According to Kara Hale, an elementary
teacher in the Davis County School District, because
teachers are so concerned with covering core curriculum
material and test scores, they tend to be less worried
about bringing the arts into their classrooms. Since
the students aren't tested in arts education, it's expendable
to teachers.
According to the 2005-2006 Utah Arts
Education Policy Database, kindergarten through sixth
grade arts education is mandatory; however, no time
minimum for teaching the curriculum is specified. If
conditions for teaching the art curriculum aren't established,
and students aren't tested on what they learn, what
incentive do teachers have to include the arts in their
lesson plans?
The arts are not only important in
elementary, but in secondary education as well. A study
was published in the Music Educators Journal about the
effect music education has on high school students.
In the 1990 study, conducted by the U.S. Department
of Education, responses from more than 18,000 high school
students across the nation were gathered. The students
were asked questions regarding participation in school
music activities. Only 22.3 percent of those surveyed
indicated that they were participating in school-oriented
musical activity. Those students who indicated participation
in school music programs scored 10.9 percent higher
in English, 8.9 percent higher in history, and 8.5 percent
higher in math scores than those who did not participate
in music.
In other studies the arts were found
to benefit disadvantaged students, students with disabilities
and students learning the English language. The arts
also helped increase school attendance and prompted
students to become more involved in school activities.
Improvements in delinquent behavior and truancy problems
have also been evident when students participated in
the arts.
With all of the above benefits, why
are politicians in our country even considering doing
away with arts education? Many will blame a lack of
funding; however, we cannot deprive America's children
the benefit of arts in education in order to save a
few dollars.
A 2003 CNN education report by Joseph
Van Harken tells how Cristie Praeger, a second-grade
teacher in New York, has to pay for her students' art
supplies because there is no money in the budget for
art projects. Praeger said her students' interest in
other subjects increases when she uses creative methods
in her teaching. The National Conference of State Legislatures
indicate that the last few years have showed a growing
trend across the nation of schools searching for different
methods to lower budgets.
According to an article written by
Ryan Hurley on the Wisconsin Education Association Council
Web site, other studies show that when schools cut art
programs, test scores go down and spending goes up.
In most schools surveyed where art programs were cut,
attendance decreased and disciplinary problems increased.
Many of the schools had to hire more staff to try and
combat the problems, pushing their budgets higher than
they were with arts programs.
I have only listed a few examples
of the positive role the arts play in education and
the consequences that arise when arts programs are removed,
there are many more. In a 2003 Gallup poll, 95 percent
of Americans surveyed said the arts are an important
part of education. If educators and politicians want
the nation's future leaders to be cultured, well-educated
citizens and not just walking calculators who can get
a perfect score on a math test, they must listen to
the people. Art and music curriculums in schools are
vital must not be compromised.
I realize that it's not the job of
our public education system to provide everything for
our nation's children. Parents must be responsible for
teaching and helping their children become diversified
and educated in many areas. Good parents should make
music and art an important part of their child's life.
It would be wonderful if every parent could enroll their
child in a dance class or a music lesson, but that's
not possible. Many of the nation's families cannot afford
such one-on-one training. The only way children from
these families can be exposed to the arts is in school.
It's important that every child in America be given
the opportunity to receive an education that includes
art and music in the classroom.
We, as parents and future parents
of America's children, must take a stand. We cannot
allow our government leaders to view arts education
as an old, worn-out sock that can be discarded with
no consequences. Tell your senators and representatives
that you support arts education in your schools. Our
nation's children are depending on us.
NW
CC |
