The Art Agenda
As many parents know, a child's education is of the utmost importance that determines their future, success, and overall wellbeing. Many schools across the nation, including the Syracuse city school district, are suffering from a budget crisis that is taking away classes and teachers of important core subjects such as math and science.
Syracuse schools have suffered major budget cuts over the past three years. There was a 6.4% cut in the 2011-2012 budget, with a $22 million loss. Eight of the 59 music-teaching positions have been eliminated and $1.3 million has been cut from the fine arts. While many see this as a negative occurrence, this is a positive step in the right direction since we can now focus on the more important subjects.
However, money is still continuously being placed into the fine art courses, and even though this field is losing money, it isn't disappearing fast enough. Sure, art may be pretty to look at once in a while, but they should stay in the museums and out of our schools.
Many people are under the illusion that art and music are important since they help to create"well-rounded" students. Parents and teachers often strongly believe that the fine arts assist with the mental growth and development of children and young adults, and some even wish to make it mandatory.
According to a 2003 Gallup poll specifically for music education:
• 78% believe that learning an instrument helps increase performance in other classes
• 75% believe that schools should make music education mandatory
This belief however, is extremely misleading, and has been warping the minds of parents and children for years. A well-known sculptor, Magdalena Abakanowicz says that "Art does not solve problems, but makes us aware of their existence."
Exactly.
Art does NOT solve problems. Science, math, and advancement in technology and medicine do. So why force it down our children's throats with "mandatory" music lessons, or "required" studio art courses? Why take more time away from biology or chemistry or calculus, when those are the areas of study that will get the job done? We need scientists, engineers, doctors, and great thinkers if we want to have a brighter future.
The Art Agenda insists that it is beneficial, but it is really taking time and money away from important fundamental subjects that are the most successful and vital fields today.
We need to erase art permanently from our schools now!
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