“The Arts are very necessary for young people…” Actress, Carol Channing
When the economy tightens and school budgets shrink, music programs and other arts courses are often the first to be cut. Young people are then deprived of the unique opportunity the Arts provide – helping develop their own creativity, learning self discipline, teamwork and leadership skills to increase their sense of self-worth and enjoyment of life.
“Rather than think of courses in the Arts as a sort of ‘whipped cream’ they must become basic experiences in education,” stated Psychologist, Abraham Maslow. “Education is learning what to grow toward, what is good and bad, what is desirable and undesirable to choose and not to choose.”
Students involved in the Arts are more likely to be high achievers on tests, less likely to drop out by grade 10 and are more engaged with learning during the school day, according to a study by the Arts Education Partnership. Students exposed to the Arts do better in other subjects than those who are not. “Students would stagnate without any form of visual or performing arts training,” said, Bruce Smith, a lifelong artist and high school art teacher. Training in the Arts is essential to be a well-rounded person.
Late in the 20th century educators, researchers and other enlightened people were in common agreement that the visual arts and performing arts (music, theater and dance) all belonged in the “core” curriculum of our public schools. No longer were Arts courses thought of as peripheral or nonessential for the education of our youth. Today it’s a different story. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts these courses are considered nonessential and are being dropped in many of our public schools.
Visual and performing arts are at the very heart of an intelligent and well- informed citizenry. Teachers, administrators and curriculum coordinators of our public school system embrace this philosophy, and the University of California system and the California State Universities do also. This is evidenced by the fact that visual and performing arts are one of the required courses for admission to a university and have been for a number of years.
One of the greatest values of a comprehensive arts program (music, art, theater and dance) is that it allows all students to develop, to the best of their ability, those qualities that will help them understand and enjoy life to its fullest.
After a member of the British House of Commons during World War II said that everything, including the Arts should be set aside for the war effort – Winston Churchill rose and declared, “But that’s what we’re fighting for!”
Long live the Arts! They help define our culture and who we are. They should be at the basic core of learning in our schools. The Arts are not a frill but an important mode of expression that defines our humanity and our happiness.
Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net. Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.