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 mastering. With federal programs, such as No Child Left Behind, even a lot more focus has been placed on fundamental studying competencies, which excludes the arts. This also means that any added 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 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
Practically 1/3 supplied no art education coursework that met state standards
61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers without having sufficient 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 greater earnings schools (where parents can afford private 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 much more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the far better they will do in testing bully prevention programs in schools within other coursework.
Scientific studies have confirmed that a robust arts program can be linked to improvement in almost everything from math abilities to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools produce skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so numerous other arts-associated careers. The arts also enhance the socialization capabilities of students.
Bill middle school assemblies 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 nevertheless, this amount was a a single-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 contain the buy of instruments.
San Jose schools elementary school assembly ideas are a great representation of the statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and federal standards in the standard coursework, the San Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and tremendously decreased 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. He finds San Jose schools students are drawn to the dance, theater, music and visual arts programs provided by his school. With no the support of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.