Budget Cuts Have a Detrimental Effect on a Student’s Education

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Budget cuts in education have been frequently seen in the news and media in recent years. Although budget cuts are necessary because of lack of funding, certain cuts in programs are not beneficial for a student’s education. Budget cuts in the present times have a detrimental effect on a student’s education and should be reevaluated for better execution.
Programs during the regular school hours affected by budget cuts are those that help a student to become a well-rounded individual. One program that is being affected by budget cuts is the art education program. According to a study by the National Education Association (NEA), an independent federal agency devoted to promoting the benefits of the arts, at risk children have better life chances by taking part in an art education program because it promotes better academic outcomes, fosters higher career goals, and the students are more engaged in their education (Gifford). By incorporating the arts into their curriculum, educators are helping students to excel academically and with personal growth. Art education helps to promote growth in students in at least six different areas which include visual learning, decision making, language and cultural development, motor skills, inventiveness, and an improvement in academic performance (Lynch).
Visual learning and decision making are being promoted through art education because students are exposed to different forms of art every day. Technology forces students to take in more visual information through cues or pictures (Lynch). Dr. Kerry Freeman, Head of Art and Design at Northern Illinois University, stated that, “Parents need to be aware that children learn a lot more from graphic sources now than in the past…Children need ...

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...otes. National Education Association, 9 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Oct 2013.

Pappas, Blake. “How Budget Cuts Affect Special Education Programs”. National Priorities Project. National Priorities Project, 29 April 2013. Web. 28 Oct 2013.

Lieberman, Myron, Charlene K Haar. Public Education as a Business : Real Costs and Accountability. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2003. Print.

Coleman, Phillip D., Rhonda Walker, Lincoln Lawrence. “The Pros and Cons of Education Budget Cuts: An Investigative Study”. Academic and Business Research Institute. Academic and Business Research Institute. 27 Mar. 2011. PDF file.

Viadero, Debra. “Top Students Said to Stagnate Under NCLB”. The Obama Education Plan. San Francisco: Editorial Projects in Education, 2009. Print.

“No Child Left Behind Funding”. Federal Education Budget Project. New America Foundation, 10 July 2013. Web. 28 Oct 2013.

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