Arts Education Suffering In San Jose Schools

Art programs, such as art appreciation, drama, theater and music, have been suffering across the nation for 30 years, as school officials concentrate on the fundamentals of learning. With federal programs, such as No Child Left Behind, even far more concentrate has been placed on standard learning capabilities, which excludes the arts. This also signifies that any extra funding is funneled into these standard learning programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is one particular of the standards that really should be met by schools within the state of California, yet the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these specific 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

Nearly 1/3 offered no art education coursework that met state standards

61 percent had no complete-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers with no sufficient coaching teaching arts anti bullying videos for schools education at the elementary level

Kindergarten via 12 enrollment in music classes school bullying programs declined by 37 percent over a five-year period, ending last June and

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

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

Scientific studies have confirmed that a robust arts program can be linked to improvement in everything from math capabilities to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools generate skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so a lot of other arts-related careers. The arts also boost 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 nonetheless, this quantity was a one particular-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 include the buy of instruments.

San Jose schools are a very good representation of the statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and federal standards in the simple coursework, the San Jose schools had been hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and tremendously lowered funding for arts education. The arts were very first 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 presently 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 supplied by his school. Without free bullying videos having the assistance of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.