When schools do not have enough funding or teachers, some people think physical education classes should be cut, while others believe that courses in art and music should be eliminated first. Which do you think is preferable, and why?
TOEFL: Independent Essay
When activities of schools are circumscribed by the lack of funding, it is prudent to pursue a course of action that will be less pernicious to the students. Since the prime purpose of an educational institution is to enlighten the students and mold future leaders and innovators. Given the significance of lessons in art, and music, and the viable alternatives to physical education, I think the latter should be cut.
Physical education classes are likely to entail lessons on keeping your body fit through physical activities. Although the collaborative form of education pursued in classrooms will not be present, the possibility of performing physical activities outside the classroom is rampant. A child can pick up his/her favorite sport and play at his/her home of school’s playground. Although one can argue that it is not tantamount to physical education. nonetheless, the positive effects of physical activity will still be enjoyed by the students. However, the same does not hold true for art and music lessons. It is likely that the students would not be able to garner the knowledge acquired in art and music courses elsewhere.
Moreover, the level of sophistication incorporated in art and music classes will be difficult to find at home. It is likely that many students will be unable to afford private tutors or art and music schools. Thus, a large population of the student body will be deprived of the knowledge disseminated in art and music courses, which will impede their development and deteriorate the skills they already honed.
Furthermore, scientific study has drawn a correlation with the development of cognitive ability with the study of art and music. While the importance of physical education is undeniable, but its direct impact on cognition is not well established. Although one can argue that physical activity bolsters cognition, whether the physical education classes contained any physical activity is not established. It could be the case that the students were only required to read materials from the textbook during the physical education class. In this case, the benefits offered by art and music classes supersedes that of physical education.
Schools are the breeding ground of the solutions to the problems of the future. It is the place that fosters the creativity of a child and brings forth the best version of him/her. In deciding which courses to nullify during times of funding crisis, the prime factor should always be the courses’ direct impact on the development of a child from an educational, cultural, and linguistic perspective.
