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 Kid Left Behind, even much more concentrate anti cyber bullying programs has been placed on fundamental studying skills, which excludes the arts. This also implies that any extra funding is funneled into these standard mastering programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is 1 of the standards that must be met by schools inside the state of California, but the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these specific 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 supplied no art education coursework that met state standards

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

Kindergarten by means of 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent more than a 5-year period, ending final June and

Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas far better earnings schools (exactly where parents can afford private lessons) are far more apt assemblies 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 a lot more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the far better they will do in testing inside other coursework.

Studies have verified that a robust arts program can be linked to improvement in every thing from math competencies to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools produce skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so numerous other arts-related 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 assemblies schools $500 million for the arts and physical education nonetheless, this quantity 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 include the buy of instruments.

San Jose schools are a excellent representation of the statewide findings. Besides attempting 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 for Californians and significantly 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 but gone in the San Jose schools.

According to Funk, there presently 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 out the help of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.