Schools must see the importance of the arts By Brenda Snyder Student Voice The Gardner News December 11, 2007 According to an article in the Boston Globe, students who take fine arts courses in high school prove to earn higher SAT scores than those who do not.
Statistics say that with each additional art course a student participates in, their SAT scores increase dramatically. Also, 81 percent of the business world isn't just looking for people with good literacy skills, but excellence in creativity as well.
For example, the skills you get from these fine arts courses can give you an advantage to "think outside the box" and have a step up on competition. In my opinion, the fine arts courses offered to students in countries like China and India.
Sadly, only 21 percent of people going out for careers at these companies have the creative advantage these companies are looking for. The other 79 percent also showed a lack of teamwork, critical thinking and oral communication.
These statistics are from a study called "Are They Really Ready to Work?" From my perspective, it is disturbing that there are many school districts in Massachusetts where students graduate never taking a single fine arts course.
Forty out of the 50 states have an arts requirement to graduate from high school, but oddly, the state of Massachusetts, the birthplace of music education , does not. I can't understand how states poorer than Massachusetts can find money for K-12 arts education programs, but somehow we cannot. Can you?
Personally, I am currently taking an Art II class, along with chorus at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham. I directed the sophomore interclass play, and am part of the spring musical and marching band.
While I am not worried about having these courses improve my business skills (even though raising my SAT scores sure is a nice little bonus) they are how I get through the day.
Without such courses, I honestly wouldn't want to come to Oakmont if I couldn't take such courses. Not only do they let me be creative and use parts of my mind that I couldn't use in math or science class, they give me an escape from the stresses of high school.
When I'm singing in chorus or drawing in Mrs. Barry's class at the end of the day- I don't think about what my homework is in my academic classes. I would be horrified if Oakmont, like many other schools in Massachusetts, cut our fine arts programs.
I can't imagine just living through a single week here at Oakmont without chorus, art class or a band competition over the weekend to look forward to. The fine arts are an important asset to the high school curriculum,, and should be looked at with pride at our school and throughout the state.
[This article has been reproduced with the permission of The Gardner News]