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Newspaper Article from the Pueblo Chieftain 4/22/07
Music, art, theater, dance need support
Mark Hudson is chairman of the Department of Music at
Colorado State University- Pueblo.
The trend continues. School district leaders can’t balance their budget, and the
arts - music, art, theater, dance - are the first to go under the knife. Each time, we
see further reductions in the arts for our children.
When will this end? Either when there are no more arts programs in public education,
or when we finally wake up and see what is obvious. Besides the significant importance of
the arts in any culture, they are central to success in learning!
If we want to improve the scores of our students who are not meeting standard on state
tests, close the achievement gap, engage all students in the learning process, reach all
learners and learning styles and provide a quality education for the "whole child," then
we need to engage all students in meaningful learning that is relevant as well as
rigorous, celebrate the cultural diversity of our students, and convince parents to
choose our schools for their children.
The way to achieve these results is through intensive integration of the arts into all
subject areas.
Recent articles in the Chieftain (March 14 and 23) outlined possible eliminations of
programs (fifth grade instrumental music in the Pueblo City Schools) and instructional
positions (Vineland Middle School in District 70). These are the only proposed
instructional budget cuts that have been specified. Apparently, funding is also being
eliminated for the City Schools' Mariachi Arcoiris. This is a very successful group that
represents a significant cultural heritage in our region. Significant reductions in
already inadequate budgets for the arts are planned as well.
Pueblo school districts aren’t the only ones guilty of this knee-jerk reaction.
However, other states and school districts are changing their thinking, providing
substantially increased opportunities for student success. They’ve realized that a
strong relationship exists between participation in arts education and student
achievement, including performance on standardized tests.
The more arts instruction, the stronger the connection. It’s the way we’re
"wired" to learn!
Unfortunately, some school districts still don’t get it. Mike Huckabee, governor
of Arkansas and chairman of the Education Commission of the States and the National
Governors Association, said in a recent New York Times article: " . . . schools are
trimming back financing for the arts in the name of 'efficiency' and 'core subjects.'
This is beyond short-sighted. It’s stupid."
Research consistently shows that study in the arts develops critical thinking and
self-discipline skills and improves cognitive development, basic math and reading
abilities, self-esteem, test scores, teamwork skills, spatial reasoning skills and school
attendance. Researchers have also found that students involved in arts education are far
more likely to graduate from high school and attend college and far less likely to be
involved with gangs and substance abuse. Aren’t these issues that need to be
addressed in our community?
Administrators in Pueblo districts supposedly want to prevent reductions in arts
programs, but it seems they don’t think it important enough to find a way. We the
public are partially responsible, as we don’t raise a sufficient outcry.
National surveys indicate that nine of 10 parents oppose cuts to the arts in schools,
yet many policy-makers apparently are deaf to the will of the people they serve.
It’s past time to change that.
Consider that students in arts programs are four times more likely to be recognized
for academic achievement, participate in a math and science fair or win an award for
writing and are three times more likely to be elected to class office within their
schools or win an award for school attendance.
The integration of the arts belongs at the very core of the curriculum. Space
prohibits more detail, but a great deal of information is readily available.
Start with http://chass. colostate-pueblo.edu/music or type "arts basic education"
into a Web search engine. You’ll find numerous research studies and ways many other
states are successfully changing how they facilitate effective student learning through
the arts.
What can you do? Become informed on the positive effects of "artistic education."
Contact your district leaders and state legislators. Tell them to find a way to prevent
further reductions and to restore funding for arts education. Speak out often and
strongly.
They’re our kids and the future of us all. What kind of future will we
provide?
ON THE NET:
CSU-Pueblo College of Humanities and Social Sciences: http://chass.colostate-pueblo.edu/
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Balanced Education
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