Cassie Poindexter
Dr. Kenneth Kerr
EN101-4
10 April 2013
The
Arts Are a Must
Over the
past few years, our economy has suffered immensely and several people are
searching for ways to save money and cut back. The school system is no
different. When searching for an area to make cuts, the board of education
often jumps to the arts. However, what they don’t realize is that the arts
programs in schools allow for a creative outlet during the typical school day.
It gives students the option to be creative and gives them time away from the
textbooks. It may seem like the obvious area to make cuts in, but if schools
continue to cut the art programs from the curriculum, scores will decrease,
drop our rates will increase, and the chances available for the students to be
creative will be limited.
Art
classes go beyond painting a picture or singing a song. The arts actually
incorporate different skills that can't be taught in a history or a science
class. Most art classes go deep into the cultural behind the arts as well as
teach the kids how to use creative and critical thinking skills which can be
used outside of an art classroom (Hurley 2). Because the art classes supply each
student with such a range of knowledge, if it’s eliminated from schools, kids
will be missing out on different learning opportunities. Studies show that when
art classes are dropped, grades are dropped as well. The College Entrance
Examination Board from Princeton, N.J., came to the conclusion that students
who has a background in music performance and art scored higher on their SAT.
They point out, "Students in music performance scored 57 points higher on
the verbal and 41 points higher on the math, and students in music appreciation
scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on the math"
(Dumbing Down). When these facts are presented, it’s hard to deny that the arts
have a positive impact on how students do overall in school.
In
addition to grades dropping, art classes being cut are resulting in more
violence in schools as well as dropout rates increasing. The ultimate goal of
the board of education is to cut back and not spend more money. However, when
arts are being taken out, more teachers are being hired to to execute the
disciplinary issues that are rising in schools (Hurley). Art and music serves
as an outlet for certain kids, like sports do for others. It gives them the
chance to release emotions without using drugs or being involved in gangs.
Martin Rayala, an art, media and design consultant for the Department of Public
Instruction said, “Within two to three years, every school that cuts arts
showed a decrease in morale and attendance and an increase in vandalism and
disruptions, and within three years most of them had to add extensive
disciplinary staff to account for the problems that were created by not
providing the full range of experiences that human beings need” (Hurley).
Rayala is one of many who not only believe, but have proven that dropout rates
in school have a direct correlation with the cuts of art classes.
Aside
from the data and research, art classes help kids express themselves. It gives
them a chance to be hands on and not always having to follow rules. Instead,
students are able to make their own rules and just paint a piece of their own
or sing whatever their heart desires. Kenneth Kerr is the chair of the English
department at FCC he has a doctorate in education and is a former elementary
school teacher. He expresses the importance of arts in public education,
"When we look back at our history and our culture, we
don't talk about how well historical figures did on standardized tests or
learning performance indicators. We look at the challenges they face, the
creative solutions they devised, and the ways they expressed themselves. The
arts--music, literature, drama, painting, sculpture--are the means by which the
emotions associated with the struggle are expressed and preserved. Students
need to learn to express themselves when they are children so that they can
better express themselves as leaders and stewards of our culture and
history."
Without
the arts, students would be stuck with their heads in books all day, memorizing
math equations and grammar rules. A well balanced education is necessary for
anybody who wants to be successful. The key word is balanced. If the arts are
taken out of the picture, things will become lopsided. A piece of the puzzle
will be missing. Just like if math or English was taken out of the curriculum,
students wouldn't be getting the knowledge that is needed in the future.
Creativity shouldn't be pushed aside; instead it should be part of every
student’s childhood.
Works Cited
Hurley, Ryan. "Cuts in Art Programs
Leave Sour Note in Schools." 14 Nov. 2008
http://www.weac.org/capitol/2003-04/jun04/arts.htm."Dumbing Down, the Dwindling Funding of the Arts." 14 Nov. 2008
<http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/2005030922083613>.
Kerr, Kenneth. Personal interview. 20 April 2013.
