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 studying. With federal programs, such as No Kid Left Behind, even far more concentrate has been placed on basic studying capabilities, which excludes the arts. This also signifies that any additional funding is funneled into these fundamental studying programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is a single of the standards that should be met by schools within the state of California, yet the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these particular standards.
A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:
89 percent failed school assembly programs to meet state standards for arts education
Practically 1/three supplied no art education coursework that met state standards
61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers without having adequate training teaching arts education at the elementary level
Kindergarten through 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent more than a five-year period, ending last June and
Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas far better income schools (exactly where parents can afford private lessons) are much more apt bullies in school to have it.
Chris Funk is the San 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 better they will do in testing within other coursework.
Scientific studies have confirmed that a powerful arts program can be linked to improvement in every thing from math competencies to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools create skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so a lot of other arts-associated careers. The arts also improve 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 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 demands about $800,000 to restore just their music programs at the elementary San Jose schools. This figure does not incorporate the acquire of instruments.
San Jose schools are a good representation of the statewide findings. Besides attempting to meet state and federal standards in the basic coursework, the San Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and drastically lowered funding for arts education. The arts were 1st 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. school bullying facts He finds San Jose schools students are drawn to the dance, theater, music and visual arts programs offered by his school. Without having the assistance of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.
