How important are the Arts in schools?

[Fight!]

Here in the U.S., particularly California, schools are facing tough decisions concerning budgeting.

My school district (I am a High School Student) in particular has seen the pink slipping of the entire visual arts department and the Theatre department. Other teachers have been pink slipped (106 total), but specifically the arts. And if you'll excuse a line of venting, the Superintendent has taken a 37% raise, and like Skate and Surf P.E. have been untouched (yes, we actually have these sorts of classes).

Anyways, I feel the Arts are crucial to education, but I understand that many of you may not feel the same way. So I'd like to hear your thoughts. What priority does Art have compared to other classes or budget items?

And if you do feel strongly about the arts, I'd appreciate it if you could comment on a local article [Found here]

TLDR: How important are the arts to students' education?

[Sidmen]

If I were to be completely honest: they aren't important at all when compared to actual education. By this I don't mean Physical Education, which could probably get by with a $20 ball and a single teacher. No, Education should teach kids actually important things like Math, Science and Technical skills (automotive, computers, carpentry, etc.). Visual Arts, Theater, and even higher-level literature (english) classes offer little in the way of actual real-world use to the vast majority of students. In my opinion, we should make sure that our students are excelling in the important fields before we worry about anything else.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

If I were to be completely honest: they aren't important at all when compared to actual education. By this I don't mean Physical Education, which could probably get by with a $20 ball and a single teacher. No, Education should teach kids actually important things like Math, Science and Technical skills (automotive, computers, carpentry, etc.). Visual Arts, Theater, and even higher-level literature (english) classes offer little in the way of actual real-world use to the vast majority of students. In my opinion, we should make sure that our students are excelling in the important fields before we worry about anything else.

As an enginering student I must disagree. Leadership, charisma and infalliable confidence are the three most important skills any human being can possess. Unlike every other skill, they apply to absolutely everything you do in life. None of those are learned in a classroom unless you're up the front teaching it. They can be learned acting in a musical or singing in a band.

Sadly so few people possess them. Several times this year in college I've had group projects involving presentations. Without exception the 10 people I was teamed with at different times all said they dreaded giving a presentation. Maybe the ones doing it in front of a lecture theatre of 300 people were justified, but the ones giving it in front of a classroom of about 15 others weren't. They were all amazed of me when I told them that I was looking forward to it, that I enjoyed public speaking and that I go debating twice a week. By consensus I was also the leader of all these groups. The stereotypes about engineering/maths type people are very true. They are usually shy and insecure.

You could be concentrated on Math and Science, but in the end your life would be a boring grey.

That said, I love engineering and innovation.

[AqD]

If I were to be completely honest: they aren't important at all when compared to actual education. By this I don't mean Physical Education, which could probably get by with a $20 ball and a single teacher. No, Education should teach kids actually important things like Math, Science and Technical skills (automotive, computers, carpentry, etc.).

We do put a lot of focus on Math, Science and Technical skills here. The truth is that anything beyond the basic concepts are useless because 99% of people wouldn't have anything to do with those in their life after school days.

Come to any chinese-influenced countries and you'd see.

Besides practicing the ''arts'' is what really gets the kids engaged and productive and creative, telling them about ''the social enviroment of the early XX century and the development of Futurism'' will simply bore them to oblivion.

It's boring because they cannot do anything with that kind of knowledge. But they would need it for modding realistic TW games. I know because I did.

[EmperorBatman999]

Arts, in my opinion, build character and help with forming and shaping a person. No, they aren't neccesary like the Academics, but they are what makes life beautiful. You could be concentrated on Math and Science, but in the end your life would be a boring grey. Arts help fill color into that life. Besides, it provides a relaxing break from busy schedules. Last trimester my art class was a Godsend to me because I had to deal with two difficult classes before then and it helped me cool down. I find my schedule is difficult to become a routine I enjoy when it doesn't have an art-based elective.

But this is coming from somebody who has an interest in writing and acting and wants to take up a musical instrument like the piano.

[Armatus]

I feel strongly about the arts being a student of them for my entire youth, but that said they should and will be the first things cut.

My art educate came primarily from the generosity of a family member who made it possible for me to attend classes outside of school at our art center. I can honestly say public art class pales in comparison to what one might receive elsewhere.

I do think it's sad though that arts have to be cut, because it does enrich our lives and provide kids who otherwise wouldn't have a similar opportunity to develop their talents and consider the possibility of an alternate path in life.

[Armatus]

I think public education could be simplified, to basic arithmetic, reading, writing. Shorten the length of grade school and let kids either pick a trade school or move on to higher learning.

[Denny Crane!]

To vague a term to be useful and discuss "arts" means so many different topics (at least in a UK context). In general arts specifically the study of the history of art and visuals/theatre should be dropped until such a time as the students can choose their subjects.

[EmperorBatman999]

To vague a term to be useful and discuss "arts" means so many different topics (at least in a UK context). In general arts specifically the study of the history of art and visuals/theatre should be dropped until such a time as the students can choose their subjects.

I agree that people should not be thrust into doing theater or an art, but it's far worse to eliminate those options entirely for those who do choose them, which is why the OP's situation frustrates me.

I'm very fortunate to go to a school that prizes its performing arts department.

I might be sounding stupid saying this, but I think schools in the United States should actually put more money into their electives budgets. America in my opinion has fallen too far behind in math and science, and I'm not trying to advocate just giving up on those subjects, but maybe art should pick up where we are failing? At least we can then say we are a cultural powerhouse even if our country has the lowest levels of math and science skills. At the same time, perhaps it would mean focussing more on those more dedicated in math and science, cleaning out all the filth that are uninterested students.

[Denny Crane!]

I agree that people should not be thrust into doing theater or an art, but it's far worse to eliminate those options entirely for those who do choose them.

I'm very fortunate to go to a school that prizes its performing arts department.

Far worse? I disagree, this is where voluntarism comes from. Shorten the school day for enforced academia and open up 2 hours of every day for self forming groups (organised by teachers or whatever) for sports/arts etc.

The problem with not eliminating manditory centrally funded programs and I'll say this even optional ones is that it disallows innovation. Allow self managed voluntarism within school budgets however, not that intrigues me greatly and there is no doubt in my mind that it would invigorate and not lessen the arts because riddle me this, can you possibly imagine there wouldn't be enthusiasm for it?

[Rolling Thunder]

Far worse? I disagree, this is where voluntarism comes from. Shorten the school day for enforced academia and open up 2 hours of every day for self forming groups (organised by teachers or whatever) for sports/arts etc.

The problem with not eliminating manditory centrally funded programs and I'll say this even optional ones is that it disallows innovation. Allow self managed voluntarism within school budgets however, not that intrigues me greatly and there is no doubt in my mind that it would invigorate and not lessen the arts because riddle me this, can you possibly imagine there wouldn't be enthusiasm for it?

A fascinating suggestion indeed. Strip the forced curriculum down to a bare minimum and make the rest voluntary. It could well work. What age range would you suggest implementing this?

[♘Top Hat Zebra]

Well, as for me, Music was, quite literally, the only useful thing I ever learned in school.

I was "Homeschooled" for most of my life, but I went to school for a few years.


Public school is retarded. I don't even know how to explain it.

It teaches social skills, but not good ones.

I learned more in the school band then I ever did in any other class.

[DimeBagHo]

Not about a current event. Moved from the Mudpit to the Academy.

[Rakoua]

Well to be honest I often feel like I'm wasting my time listening to some teacher talk about random artists and find interpreting obscure paintings or sculptures completly useless. I could be spending that time learning about things that I will actually use in life. I guess there are people who disagree and consider the arts important, but I really don't see the point of it being forced on everyone. However, I guess there are also people who consider literature and history equally pointless, while I find them interesting. Making a flexible curriculum seems like the best way to optimize everything to me; people could choose which classes to take based on their future ambitions.

[Nikephoros Kapatsos]

Personally I keep my fondness of the arts by myself, and of course my inner circles. However in the Public/or Schools I rather stay quiet, mostly because the art I am taught by these teachers isn't my view of it.

[Armatus]

mostly because the art I am taught by these teachers isn't my view of it.

This is exactly my point, in 10th grade I had a very good art teacher for once, who actually taught classical techniques verses the others who had no real course other than to just suggest things to us and let us "be free" and "creative", "inspired" yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah, the kind of thing an "artist" does after they've actually learned something about tools, techniques, mediums, styles.

[Treize]

For me it holds a very secondairy position, together with sports.

[fkizz]

Well I'm not sure, but where I live there are separate conservatoriums to study music seriously (if you put music in school it will be teached as an introduction).

[Armatus]

I've been of the belief for some time now that in the US we could just do away with high school altogether, keep kindergarten through 5th grade and upon entry to transitional (middle school grades 6 through 8) allow the students to choose their direction, and after those 3 years are completed they're free to pursue a trade or go on to college.

edit: might cut down on the school shooting incidents as well.

[Condottiere 40K]

I like to think that being exposed to the arts helps round off the student's character and gives an insight to the culture he's a part of.

Schools should at a minimum give an overview, so that the student has a guide if he wants to pursue it further; funding more immersive programmes in the days of tight budgets, probably will depend on how you want to prioritize or what you feel is vital to the students' development.