Why is it that the arts are the first thing to be cut in public schools? It seems that yearly a new report surfaces and explains the cuts that are being made to funding for the arts. I am not here to start a debate about art’s worth in comparison to other classes and activities that do not suffer budget cuts. Instead, I would like to discuss why art is so important to keep alive in America’s school systems.
On the surface, art is not a very economical investment for schools. Other popular activities, such as sports, usually gather a larger crowd that earns the school revenue from the events that they hold. This is not the case for art, which is less about trophies and net profit, but rather about the benefits it offers students that participate in the arts.
For one, the arts provide students an opportunity to express their thoughts in unique ways. In a world very focused on traditional classroom styles, art allows for students to challenge their beliefs and form their own opinions in an environment. It also allows for students to release the stress that they face from the classes they have daily. Art is a way for students to learn to view the world from their own point of view and create works of art that critique it.
Not only this, but art is such a key part of culture. Although we may not give it the appreciation it deserves, art serves as a reflection on the values, sentiments, and beliefs that were occurring during the time of its creation. Just by looking back at the different movements we can see just how much art reflected the change in technology and what was valued. It served (and still does) as a way to critique society and culture in a subtle way.
Andy Warhol in studio
This is the amazing thing about art: how it communicates thoughts and concepts without directly stating its meaning. Pieces are able to break the barriers of language and culture by presenting visual concepts that can be translated into whatever the viewer wants it to be. These ideas are what make art so universal because they do not fit into the constraints that written literature and other means of spreading ideas do. Instead, it is able to allow for a large audience to see the message and interpret it into their own meaning.
It is for these reasons that I do not understand when I hear of art being cut from the budgets of schools. I find that because so many people do not create art themselves, they find art to be difficult to understand and find little value in it otherwise. It may be true that art earns schools less profit. It does not give them national championship titles. And it certainly does not add to the mound of trophies put on display. Yet despite this, the arts offer so much to those involved in them. It gives students the opportunity to be a part of something so much broader than the average class or activity. It allows for them to explore their own ideas and be completely free to express their opinions and views in whatever way they see fit. Art is not something that should be pushed out of curriculum. We should try harder to include something that is so beneficial to those involved. Art is so much bigger than just paint on a canvas. It is a translation of hard work, ideas, society, and so much more all encompassed into a single piece. That is why art is important.
Artist featured in header: Lora Zombie
I agree that art should not be dropped in schools. It does tend to be the first thing that school boards go to cut when finances are tight. Art should not be taken away because for some students that is the one thing that makes them look forward to going to school. I agree with your point about how you can not take art at face value and how it means more in terms of values and what the artist is thinking. Art should get more credit in terms of how it helps students become more well rounded. Do you think taking art can make you a better student overall?
In my experience, art was really beneficial and I was able to connect a lot of the research and time I put into creating art with other school projects. It is really about how you twist your experience in art class. Some people just didn’t like it and thought it took time away from their other homework, while some people thought it was the best class they ever took.
Megan, I do agree that art funds are the first to be cut from schools. In my opinion, schools invest too much money into sports. Sports does not open the mind like art does. Art expands an individual’s horizons. Art teaches us culture, history, and the similarities that we all share as human beings. It is a travesty that art lacks the appreciation it deserves. I also believe that most art teachers in high school lack the passion needed to encourage interest from their students. Personally, all of my art teachers were boring individuals who did not truly love art. They were simply there for the money. Observing that disinterest over the years caused me to feel the same way, it caused me to ignore art and cast it to the side. On a brighter note, I really loved your post!
I agree that there is a greater emphasis on sports in public schools. Both the arts and sports are so beneficial to students, but it is sad to see that the arts take second place despite their equally helpful benefits that it offers students. The conversation about teachers is a big issue as well. I had two separate teachers in my art classes. My first one nearly made me quit art entirely, but I stayed for the next year and got another teacher. I am so grateful for staying because my second teacher really wanted us to explore art in our own way and it honestly opened me up to many different styles and mediums. Overall, the issue of arts funding has many different things that need to be addressed.
Growing up, there has been no stronger influence in my life than the arts. Yes I participated in sports and other various extracurriculars, but when things got rough n life I’ve always had music and the arts. It greatly saddens me that the Arts is being cut across the board in the United States, and I hope one day that trend reverses. Great article and great points!