Budget Cuts In Schools

Due to the most recent United States recession, there have been dramatic budget cuts in schools nationwide. When budget cuts occur, the arts are looked to first to be eliminated from affected schools curriculum. This can include the elimination of dance class, music class, visual arts class, or theater/drama. The board of ed looks to the arts as the first ones to go because greater emphasis for funding is put on core subjects such as English, and math. English and math are classes that require standardized testing, which also takes funding to prep students for. Creating something through the arts gives you a sense of accomplishment, which then causes your brain to transmit dopamine. Dopamine is known as the “motivation molecule.” When students

With a sense of satisfaction and relaxation being associated with at-risk youths school days from art involvement, a desire to do well and further education will be promoted. With involvement in the arts being so detrimental to students psyches and academic performance, school districts should look to other areas in order to maintain their budget.

The elimination of art programs in schools has been an ongoing occurrence in the U.S. since 2008. Meanwhile, an estimated 1.7 billion dollars a year is put into the funding of standardized testing regimes, across the nation. Said funds are allocated to standardized testing in order to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. The No Child Left Behind Act is a reauthorization of 1965, Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The ESEA authorizes state-run programs to promote the academic achievement of students who can not successfully fulfill educational requirements. The programs target students with disabilities, whether mobile or mental. Said programs also target students affected by poverty or language barriers. President Obama added to the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, making it a requirement that

But dopamine is also released when you accomplish something you set out to do, i.e. an art assignment. Since basic rubrics are used in grades K-8 visual art classes, there is no pressure to create something “correct.’’ So no matter what is assigned, students get a lift from the thought of, “I did it.” When neurons are created by dopamine it also prepares your brain for learning. This can obviously help students in their core subjects following their art class. The increase of dopamine from being in an art program promotes, motivation, and paying attention, which are all sensations that are key to excelling in school as well as excelling in life. The brain has several dopamine systems, one of which has a key role in reward-motivated behavior. With the release of dopamine making students more excitable they are much more apt to fulfilling assignments and participating in core subject classes. With all of this in consideration, there is an overall improvement of a student’s feelings towards school. Doing well in core subjects will further motivate attendance and attitude.

For developing minds it is especially important that a visual arts class be offered in school. Elementary level students are the ones most in need of art classes, seeing as how they are still growing physically and mentally. Visual art classes such as painting are highly recommended in helping children develop