Argumentative: Music and Arts in Public Schools

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educators think districts will reduce emphasis on arts in favor of subjects in standardized tests (Flynn). While arts classes are declining, 50% of high school students still opt to have a form of art as their curriculum (Goldmark). Here are some stats about the education system as is: 90% of the schools offer music or visual arts classes (Goldmark). Out of that 90%, around half of the students in each chose to take them (Goldmark). Why would they be funded if only half of a schools students would willingly sign up for them? And last but not least, roughly 30% of all high school students in America fail to graduate. They drop out, fail classes and never bother to make them up, or do not take the classes needed to graduate (Goldmark). If half of 90% (45%) of students take arts/music classes and 30% of all students are failing, then there is 75% to not have those classes available to the student body, and 25% to keep them. They are a waste of money, some say, and they have valid ...

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Students have the option to sign up for those classes, or others called electives (Flynn). In the early 20th century, a study performed by a child psychologist promoted the idea that arts and music could be used to help improve a child's creativity. Arts and music allow them to think better and clearer, and, as previously stated, become more creative (Flynn). Shirley Brice, a researcher at Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, stated the following: �Arts education has had an enormous impact on the lives of children (Ford).� Brice, going into further study, found that students who participate in arts for more than two hours each week are: four ...

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