Just the Basics
Schools around the nation are cutting subjects that students are not tested in. They are cutting the extras and increasing the time spend on math, reading and writing. Since NCLB has been established schools are held accountable to make adequate yearly progress of students’ test scores. An article from The New York Times stated, “The survey, by the Center on Education Policy, found that since the passage of the federal law, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math.” What are schools risking in order to make the grade?
Art programs and extracurricular activities are vital in producing well-rounded children. Not every student is going to succeed academically, some will find their way in art, technology, music, foreign languages or sports. Schools are denying students the opportunity to explore various endeavors. Children need to have an outlet to be creative and release stress.
I found a video about Classics 4 Kids, a company in California that offers music and art education to school districts. The company provides the schools with lessons that incorporate literature, music, and other art forms such as dance. They teacher introduced various pieces of music and story, and then the students go to the theater for a production designed to incorporate what they learned in the classroom. This is a terrific program for students but might close because of a lack of funding. As schools are tightening their budgets they are cutting out programs like Classics 4 Kids.
Besides for denying students the opportunity to explore their creative side, they are forcing students to take multiple math and reading courses. The article, Schools Cut Back to Push Reading and Math in The New York Times, talks about how some schools are making students take 3 periods of reading in the morning and 2 periods of math in the afternoon, leaving only one open period for gym (because that it the law). “There are countless kids that look forward to school because of music or art class. That method of creation allows them to express themselves and feel unique and appreciated.” By forcing children to have hours of instruction back to back they are risking the fact that students will come to dislike school so much that they drop out. Thus there will be more students who will not have a high school diploma and the effects that NCLB was trying to avoid will be greater.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358726/cutting_the_arts_in_americas_public.html?cat=4
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Don't forget, as well, that children have different learning modalities, and that those kids with musical or aesthetic intelligences aren't only being denied their creative side, but their academic learning may be affected as well.
ReplyDeleteHow SHOULD schools decide what the "basics" are?
I think forcing kids to take three reading classes whether they like them or not will just create a person that really hates reading. Students should be exposed to all types of classes to help them discover what they are interested in. I think it is similar to when districts started getting rid of vocational school. Some kids thrived in these schools. Not every person wants to go to college and if we don't explore other alternatives for them, where will they be later in life?
ReplyDeleteIt is a great disserrvice to our children when we are just having our turning our students in test takers and our schools into test centers. I believe students have different interests and talents. As you stated, it may not be academics that a student may excel in, it may be music, art, writing, and so forth. We are denying our students the opportunities to truly get a quality education when we choose to limit the education to test prep. It has been shown that there is a positive relationship between music and mathematic ability. Knowing this information, it is sad that some do not see the value of music and the arts in education.
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