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 a lot more concentrate has been placed on standard mastering competencies, which excludes the arts. This also implies that any additional funding is funneled into these fundamental mastering programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is one particular of the standards that should be met by schools within the state of California, but 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 to meet state standards for arts education
Nearly 1/three provided no art education coursework that met state standards
61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers with out adequate training 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 least access to arts education whereas far better revenue schools (where parents can afford private fun assembly ideas lessons) are 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 within other coursework.
Scientific studies have confirmed that a powerful arts program can be linked to improvement in every 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 enhance 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. Last year, the state budgeted $500 million for the arts and physical education nevertheless, this quantity was a a single-time deal. The norm is $105 million, which is about $15 elementary school assembly ideas 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 consist of the acquire of instruments.
San Jose schools are a very good representation of the statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and federal standards in the fundamental coursework, the San Jose schools had been hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts school assembly for Californians and tremendously reduced 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 offered 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.
