Final Draft essay 3

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.