Arts Education Faces Uphill Battle

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Despite clear benefits, many arts programs are falling by the wayside

edCircuit Breakdown:

  • The California Education Code specifies that schools must teach arts education, but that isn’t always the case.
  • Some states and districts are fighting to support the arts. In Georgia, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) has a new program highlighting the importance of arts education across the state.
  • Some outside organizations, like the Grammy Music Education Coalition (GMEC) and VH1 Save The Music are stepping up to support music and arts education programs.

edCircuit Analysis:

In the battle for mandated accountability involving test scores and teacher evaluations, manydistricts and states across the U.S. are having to leave behind arts education programs, which get cut out of ever-tightening budgets.

girl in museumBut advocates for the arts are stepping up, whether it be states, districts or individual educators. In the Los Angeles area, GRAMMY-nominated teacher Henry Miller remembers the battle to save arts education programs in his state starting back when he was in high school with Proposition 13. He is now a middle school music teacher who compares playing in band or orchestra to being on a sports team.

In Iowa, Benjamin Heinen is leading the charge for arts education with his program Turnaround Arts: Des Moines. Their mission is to improve performance in low performing schools by integrating arts back into the daily curriculum.

While many fret over the fact that arts programs are being cut, there are individuals doing everything they can to preserve arts education, which is so beneficial to the development of young minds.

Author

Jim Reams is a senior-level marketing, communications and strategy consultant with over 25 years experience in both in-house and agency settings. He has specialized in EdTech and the education industry since 2009.

 

Further Reading

  1. The Guardian – The Guardian view on musical education: it needs social harmony
  2. EdTech Magazine – Tech in the Music Classroom Creates Efficiencies, Improves Accessibility
  3. Education Week – Turnaround Arts Program Is Expanding

Author

  • EdCircuit Staff

    edCircuit is a mission-based organization entirely focused on the K-20 EdTech Industry and emPowering the voices that can provide guidance and expertise in facilitating the appropriate usage of digital technology in education. Our goal is to elevate the voices of today’s innovative thought leaders and edtech experts. Subscribe to receive notifications in your inbox

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