The increasing decline in the dollars needed today for schools to support the teachers and the curriculum to be taught is ever present in the news, radio and television. In this process of school budgets being cut, the understanding and appreciation of the arts seem to get less attention and importance in the whole education of students. We must treat the arts as basics, as the arts are central to nourishing human values, they help us to understand who we are: they replenish our reservoirs of creativity – a resource of increasing importance as leisure time increases. The arts, in short, are as basic to the creation of an educated society as math, science and English are. Remember people were painting fanciful images across the walls of caves before they even learned to read or write. School budgets dictate how money is spent and when there is not enough money to support the present school curriculum, we must find time and ways to maintain the areas of learning that make us human. The support of the arts comes from all of us, especially parents, teachers, administrators, school boards, city officials, businesses, citizens, youth, seniors, and churches. Every group recognizes the arts as a powerful positive force in the educational process and become “Citizens of the Arts and for the Arts.” Citizens for the Arts recognize the arts as an industry, a profession, and a discipline. It is essential that public schools provide “Art Education” for students to learn about the various kinds of art that exists and is part of their daily lives. Therefore, it is important for all of us to help, keep the arts in our schools and students lives.
For more information contact Jaylene Armstrong, retired art educator from Madison, Wisconsin, at 661-255-3050.