Cutting Out “Art” from “Earth” Would Just Be “Eh”, Especially in Schools

By Tiffany Gordon

Keeping yourself up-to-date has become a habit that can’t be shaken.There is always some kind of technological advancement or program that becomes widespread and everybody wants in. Updating and buying into these new trends, however, starts to add up. Schools, especially, are beginning to struggle financially because of over-indulging in these advances. With tight budgets and shallow pockets, public high schools have made the decision to cut programs from the school. The arts programs specifically have been suffering from these cuts. Public high schools cater to other programs, like sports, when the arts are equally as important and shouldn’t receive lesser treatment . Sadly, school administrators are pushed into a corner, causing them to make these cuts.

Not only does the temptation of upgrading technology threaten their budgets, but the recession tightened them as well. Phil Oliff, Chris Mai, and Michael Leachman point out in their assessment of budget cuts, “states made these cuts after the deepest recession in 70 years hit beginning in late 2007.” The recession drained their budgets and made it harder for schools to survive with their past expenses. Even with the recession as a legitimate reason to limit their budget, public high schools still make upgrades that aren’t necessary for a successful learning environment.

When choosing which programs to cut, why do high schools choose to leave the arts out in the cold? Because of all these advancements, schools are led to believe that the future of the workforce lies solely in the fields of science and technology. Instead of giving students the chance to explore all their options, they are forced to prepare for a workforce they may not want a future in. Both the arts and sports programs give students the chance to explore new opportunities. Sports, however, typically gain an upper hand when it comes to budget cuts. They are more widely acknowledged than the arts department. When it comes to the future, however, sports and the arts are on the same level as reported by Maureen Downey from another source, “99.883% of high school athletes never suit up for pay.” Both programs resemble each other when it comes to success rates for being professional athletes or professional artists. So, if they have the same success rate, then they should have similar budgets.

Although they differ in methods, the arts and sports share a similar goal. They both keep the students active in school whether it’s through after school programs or in the classroom. There are always students who don’t care for anything taught in the classroom and are simply waiting to get their diploma. When these students are given opportunities to explore something new and exciting, they tend to meet new people or stay motivated enough to venture through the day. As stated by Maureen Downey of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), “ [they] experience success and acceptance that can help them find additional reasons to persist in school.” Having a large group of students to work with, there needs to be diversity in these programs. Not all students are going to enjoy sports. The arts include theater, music, and visual arts which provide a good chunk of diversity.

Entering high school, I had no clue as to what my passion in life was. High school was the place to explore my options and see what I was most interested in so I could pursue a specific path. I always enjoyed drawing and doodling, so I decided to dip my toes into the world of art. Pretty soon I dove straight into this world, and it became my passion. It anchored me and kept me going through school. When the time came to choose my major, the decision was easy. This kind of drive and passion is what students in high school need to keep them motivated. If the arts were taken away, opportunities would fade and doors would close on countless futures.

From the students’ point of view, public high school boards choose to cut their necessities. In this startling analysis by the Huffington Post, “the last items on students’ ‘should-cut’ lists [are] all items that schools have shown to most commmonly choose to cut first.” That list includes but isn’t limited to “teachers, administrators, ‘other’, guidance counselors and sports.” Teachers and administrators suffer just as much as the arts. These large cuts aren’t necessary. The little things add up and with little cuts come larger profits. Just as the students pointed out, a better ‘should-cut’ list includes unnecessary costly items, “school newspaper or broadcast outlets, summer school and field trips.”

If teachers have to struggle with keeping their jobs because budget cuts, they are going to have a say and suggestions of their own. Professor Hatidza Mulic of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia (UGA) gave some insight as to what would be a successful solution, “Why don’t we share budgets from athletic departments? Physical activity is necessary for [a] healthy body as much as artistic activity is necessary for [a] healthy mind and intellectual development.” Mulic also mentions, “art is a tremendous catalyst in a development of sophisticated individuals.” It informs us in culture and aids us to express our emotions. Mulic said, “we are not droids, robots or machines. As humans we have emotions, thoughts and reactions. Art is a way of expressing and learning how to express [ourselves] as individuals.”

Art impacts the community more than people realize as mentioned by Mulic, “art is in every pore of our life.” Just because the arts aren’t made to be a required class in some schools doesn’t mean they aren’t important enough to keep. It’s heartbreaking that such programs are being cut while other reductions could still be made. Every student has the right to discover their passion and by taking a portion of opportunities away, it deprives them of reaching any full potential they could have achieved.