Arts Education Suffering In San Jose Schools

De Communautique.

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 learning. With federal programs, such as No Kid Left Behind, even a lot more concentrate has been placed on fundamental understanding anti bullying programs for schools competencies, which excludes the arts. This also indicates that any additional funding is funneled into these standard studying programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is 1 of the standards that ought to be met by schools inside the state of California, however the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these certain 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 offered no art education coursework that met state standards

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

Kindergarten through 12 enrollment in music classes declined anti bullying programs in schools by 37 percent more than a 5-year period, ending final June and

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

Scientific studies have confirmed that a robust arts system can be linked to improvement in everything from math abilities to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools produce skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so several other arts-related careers. The arts also improve 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 nevertheless, 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 needs 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 basic coursework, the San Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and tremendously lowered funding for arts education. The arts had been 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 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. Without the help of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist.