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 understanding. With federal programs, such as No Child Left Behind, even a lot more concentrate has been placed on standard studying capabilities, no school which excludes the arts. This also indicates that any extra funding is funneled into these basic mastering programs in order to meet state and federal-set standards. Arts education is one 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 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

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

61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, bullying programs with classroom teachers with out sufficient training teaching arts education at the elementary level

Kindergarten by means of 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent over 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 a lot 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 a lot more San Jose schools students are exposed to the arts the greater they will do in testing within other coursework.

Research have proven that a powerful arts program can be linked to improvement in everything 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 boost the socialization abilities 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 amount 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 contain the acquire of instruments.

San Jose schools are a excellent representation of the statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and federal standards in the fundamental coursework, the San Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and drastically decreased funding for arts education. The arts had been 1st cut in the secondary San Jose schools and then in bullying program the elementary San Jose schools. By the late 1980s, arts education was all but gone in the San Jose schools.

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