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 basics of learning. With federal programs, such as No Child Left Behind, even far more concentrate has been placed on fundamental learning competencies, which excludes the arts. This also implies that any added funding is funneled into these basic understanding programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is one particular of the standards that ought to be met by schools within the state of California, yet 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/three supplied no art education coursework that met state standards

61 percent had no complete-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers with out adequate coaching teaching arts education at the elementary level

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

Poor schools have the schools assemblies least access to arts education whereas better revenue schools (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 much more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the better they will do in testing inside other coursework.

Scientific studies have verified that a robust arts system can be linked to improvement in every little thing from math competencies to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools create skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so several other arts-related careers. The arts also enhance the socialization capabilities of students.

Bill Eriendson, assistant primary school assemblies superintendent of the San Jose schools, stated that the level of funding for the arts is inadequate. Final year, the state budgeted $500 million for the arts and physical education even so, 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 calls for about $800,000 to restore just their music programs at the elementary San Jose schools. This figure does not contain 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 standard coursework, the San Jose schools had been hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and greatly decreased 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 bully at school 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 having the support of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.