Arts Education Suffering In San Jose Schools

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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 Child Left Behind, even a lot more focus has been placed on middle school assemblies standard understanding competencies, which excludes the arts. This also means that any additional funding is funneled into these basic learning programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is a single of the standards that should be met by schools inside 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 without having adequate training teaching arts education at the elementary level

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

Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas better revenue schools (exactly where parents can afford private lessons) are much 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 far better they will do in testing inside other coursework.

Studies have confirmed that a strong arts system can be linked to improvement in every thing from math skills 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 enhance the socialization skills of students.

Bill Eriendson, assistant superintendent california school assemblies 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 a single-time deal. The norm is $105 million, which is about $15 per student. According to Eriendson, the San Jose schools requires 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 great representation of the statewide findings. Besides attempting 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 drastically lowered funding for arts education. The arts had been 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 currently 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 school and bullying by his school. With no the assistance of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.