Arts Education Suffering In San Jose Schools

Art programs, such as art appreciation, drama, theater and music, have been suffering across the school assembly ideas nation for 30 years, as school officials concentrate on the basics of studying. With federal programs, such as No Kid Left Behind, even much more concentrate has been placed on fundamental studying competencies, which excludes the arts. This also indicates that any assemblies schools extra funding is funneled into these standard understanding programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is 1 of the standards that ought to be met by schools within the state of California, however the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these distinct standards.

A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:

89 percent failed to meet state standards for arts education

Almost 1/3 supplied no art education coursework that met state standards

61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers with out sufficient instruction teaching arts education at the elementary level

Kindergarten by means of 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent over a 5-year period, ending final June and

Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas much better income schools (exactly where parents can afford private lessons) are much more apt to have it.

Chris Funk is the San school assembly programs Jose schools principal of Lincoln High School, a stellar magnet arts school. He believes that the far more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the greater they will do in testing inside other coursework.

Scientific studies have confirmed that a strong arts plan can be linked to improvement in every thing from math abilities to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools create skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so many other arts-associated careers. The arts also enhance the socialization competencies of students.

Bill Eriendson, assistant superintendent of the San Jose schools, stated that the level of funding for the arts is inadequate. Last year, the state budgeted $500 million for the arts and physical education however, this amount was a one-time deal. The norm is $105 million, which is about $15 per student. According to Eriendson, the San Jose schools needs about $800,000 to restore just their music programs at the elementary San Jose schools. This figure does not consist of the obtain of instruments.

San Jose schools are a good representation of the statewide findings. Besides attempting to meet state and federal standards in the fundamental coursework, the San Jose schools had been hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and significantly reduced funding for arts education. The arts were initial cut in the secondary San Jose schools and then in the elementary San Jose schools. By the late 1980s, arts education was all but gone in the San Jose schools.

According to Funk, there at present is a waiting list of 225 San Jose schools students. He finds San Jose schools students are drawn to the dance, theater, music and visual arts programs provided by his school. Without the support of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.