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 far more focus has been placed on standard mastering skills, which excludes the arts. This also means that any added funding is funneled into these simple mastering programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is one particular of the standards that ought to be met by schools inside the state of California, yet the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these particular standards. Bullying school assemblies anti bullying videos.

A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:

89 percent failed to meet state standards for arts education

Almost 1/3 provided no art education coursework that met state standards

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

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

Poor schools have the least access to arts education whereas greater revenue 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 more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the better they will do in testing within other coursework. Bullying school assemblies anti bullying school programs.

Studies have confirmed that a powerful arts system can be linked to improvement in everything from math skills 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 strengthen the socialization competencies 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 however, this quantity was a 1-time deal. The norm is $105 million, which is about $15 per student. According to Eriendson, the San Jose schools requires about $800,000 to restore just their music programs at the elementary San Jose schools. This figure does not incorporate the buy of instruments. School Assembly Ideas bullying assemblies.

San Jose schools are a excellent representation of the statewide findings. Besides attempting 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 decreased funding for arts education. The arts had been initial 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.