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 understanding. With federal programs, such as No Kid Left Behind, even more concentrate has been placed on simple learning competencies, which excludes the arts. This also signifies that any additional funding is funneled into these fundamental mastering programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is 1 of the standards that must 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 anti bullying assembly ideas concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:

89 percent failed to meet state standards for arts education

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

61 percent had no complete-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers without sufficient coaching teaching arts education at the elementary level

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

Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas greater income 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 far more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the better they will do in testing inside other coursework.

Scientific studies have confirmed that a powerful arts plan can be linked to improvement in every little thing from math capabilities to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools generate skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so numerous other arts-associated careers. The arts also strengthen the socialization skills of students.

Bill Eriendson, assistant 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 nonetheless, 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 contain the buy of instruments.

San Jose schools are a great 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 assemblies ideas for Californians and drastically lowered funding for arts education. The arts were 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 at the school assembly moment 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. With no the help of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.