The arts, including visual arts, theatre, music, film, and dance have been a large part of society since the beginning of time. However recently due to cultural, and economical changes the funding has been cut for many arts programs. The importance of the arts is beginning to dwindle due to cuts and have made an effect on the communities, on schools, and on individual artists.
The importance of arts has recently become overlooked. They play a large role in every person’s life. Listening to a song on the radio, or watching a movie is involvement with the arts. It is important that we are reminded of the necessity of the arts in our schools, in our cultures, and in our communities. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) explains the importance of the arts and why the government needs to support them more financially. NASAA discusses the economic effect that the arts have explaining, “The arts create jobs and produce tax revenue [...] “The arts have been shown to be a successful and sustainable strategy for revitalizing rural areas, inner cities and populations struggling with poverty.” They also explain the importance of the arts in education stating, “The arts foster young imaginations and facilitate children’s success in school. They provide the critical thinking, communications and innovation skills essential to a productive 21st-century work force.” The arts create civic catalysts through “a welcoming sense of place and a desirable quality of life. The arts also support a strong democracy, engaging citizens in civic discourse, dramatizing important issues and encouraging collective problem solving.” Finally NASAA explains the importance of cultural legacies through the arts saying that “The arts preserve unique culture and heritage, passing a state’s precious cultural character and traditions along to future generations.”
The place that cuts have had the most effect is in education. States have made extreme budget cuts not only to the arts but to public schools as well. The state of Pennsylvania made a $900 million cut to K-12 education (Davidson). The school systems then are forced to make teacher cuts and the first ones to go are in the art departments. The core classes such as math, English, History, and Science are the priority and the arts are seen as extra curricular classes that are unnecessary. In a CNN politics reports Christie Praeger, a second grade teacher in the Bronx, explains, “I don't disagree that reading and math are the most important aspects of education. But compromising other subjects... causes us to teach only for the test," Praeger said. If a student's talents lie in art, or music or science, they lose out, she said. "And schools can't force [teachers] to be creative in their approach, especially if all that matters is a test score." Roger Crutchfield, a principal at a high school in Oklahoma states “Cutting staff today means avoiding anything that has to do with reading and math”.
The awareness of the importance of the arts needs to be more present in our daily lives especially when it comes to the importance of a child’s education, and development. Until this problem is solved the cuts are going to continue to grow and it is important that as a community we continue to involve the arts in our lives.
Davidson, Samuel. "Massive Cuts to Education in Pennsylvania Budget." World Socialist Web Site. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.
Van Harken, Joseph. "Budgets Cut Student Experience - Page 2 - CNN." Featured Articles from CNN. 20 Aug. 2003. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.
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