Eliminating art classes in elementary ed

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Eliminating art classes in elementary ed

by uni

May 8, 2010

Help me please!

Our state has slashed budgets and they want to cut the arts. This year they eliminated all our librarians - art and music are next on the chopping block. I am a regular 5th grade teacher but I have an art background -- please help me find research articles that link the importance of art for elementary students.

Any help on current research, brain research etc will be greatly appreciated. I realize this is the GATE board but many "outside the box" creative thinkers thrive in art - but our people need research links not just observations.

THANKS!!!

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KK Unfortunately, right now, I don't think the people making budget decisions are especially open to brain research information, unless it is directly linked to standardized test score improvement. I think your efforts to save music and art are better spent examining your existing budget and making a recommendation to cut something else that is not di...See More

May 9, 2010

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uni That is what I was asking for - research that shows increase in standardized scores. However, on another board someone directed me to links that will help.

We are already a bare bones community so 130 teachers were cut and all our librarians save one - PE is being sved because Michele Obama's promotion and because we live in one of the mor...See MoreThat is what I was asking for - research that shows increase in standardized scores. However, on another board someone directed me to links that will help.

We are already a bare bones community so 130 teachers were cut and all our librarians save one - PE is being sved because Michele Obama's promotion and because we live in one of the more obese states. Mostly, it was saved because brain research shows a direct correlation with improved standardized tests.

There are other areas to cut but to save the arts which I thin k are vital, research must be provided. Activity fees are elitist in that they cut out our most needy kids so while it can be justified for extracurricular I could not support that for in school. Some of our school board members are willing to continue the arts if we can show direct correlations to testing.

Our state has a large rainy day fund which our stupid governor refuses to use - also our funding is screwed. Economically, it is too hard to ask parents to underwrite additional fees in this economy - more creative ways must be found. Grassroots efforts have saved a few of the extracurriculars but there are legal restrictions for funding in school programs (during the school day.)

On 5/09/10, KK wrote: > Unfortunately, right now, I don't think the people making > budget decisions are especially open to brain research > information, unless it is directly linked to standardized test > score improvement. I think your efforts to save music and art > are better spent examining your existing budget and making a > recommendation to cut something else that is not directly > linked to instruction, or to develop proposals like activity > fees, or perhaps a combination of the two. People know that > well-rounded education matters, but people are desperate right > now. Gathering parent support might be another crucial way to > keep the programs, but it will probably mean the cuts fall > somewhere else. > > > > On 5/08/10, uni wrote: >> Help me please! >> >> Our state has slashed budgets and they want to cut the arts. >> This year they eliminated all our librarians - art and >> music are next on the chopping block. I am a regular 5th >> grade teacher but I have an art background -- please help me >> find research articles that link the importance of art for >> elementary students. >> >> Any help on current research, brain research etc will be >> greatly appreciated. I realize this is the GATE board but >> many "outside the box" creative thinkers thrive in art - but >> our people need research links not just observations. >> >> THANKS!!!

May 9, 2010

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