essay 3 draft

Cassie Poindexter




The board of education always jumps to the arts when searching for classes to cut, but what they doesn't realize is that the arts programs in schools allow for a creative outlet during the typical school day. It gives kids the option to be creative and time away from the textbooks. It may seem like the obvious area to make cuts in, however if schools continue to cut the arts programs from the curriculum, scores will decrease, drop our rates will increase, and the chances available for kids 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 you take the class out of the equation, art won't be the only thing missing.
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 with
coursework/experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT:
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, than did students with no arts participation” (Dumbing Down).
___________. When the whole picture is looked at, its obvious that grades aren't the only thing
decking due to the cuts of art classes.
Art and music is an outlet for kids. 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 2).

Hurley, Ryan. "Cuts in Art Programs Leave Sour Note in Schools." 14 Nov. 2008
<http://www.weac.org/capitol/2003-04/jun04/arts.htm>.


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 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 faces, 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."


"Dumbing Down, the Dwindling Funding of the Arts." 14 Nov. 2008
<http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/2005030922083613>.