Why are the Arts in our schools important?

Cuts are being made to the public schools here in Wichita. One of the first things cut are always the Arts. Why is this you may ask? Through my research I have found that studies have been taken for years about students who take classes in the Arts and those who don't. In every result the student who has taken classes in the Arts gets higher scores in every area of testing. How can this be? The Arts help students become critical thinkers. The student digs deep inside themself and takes risks emotionally. They put their soul out there on the stage, in their painting, or through the instrument they are playing. They put themselves on the line. They develop their imaginations and creative thinking process. These are things that will benefit them in whatever field of occupation they choose to go into. Marketing, Teaching, or business....you name it and you need to have critical thinking skills along with being creative. Through the Arts we are able to fine tune what we are feeling and discover a sense of accomplishment.

To establish a relationship and an appreciation with the Arts we must introduce the youth while they are in elementary school. Through the creative process of the teachers and from being introduced to art and music the student will begin to use what they are exposed to in their everyday classroom work and life. They won't even realize that what they have been exposed to is affecting them.

The things I remember from elementary and middle school are involved with Art. I remember my mom coming to school to teach us the process of cleaning sheep's wool, coloring it, and using the spinning wheel. I remember having competitions to see who could get the longest finger weaving chain. I remember making coil bowls and using the kilm. I remember having a daily news show in my 5th grade class and presenting it live every month for the whole school over the t.v. I remember making wire trees in Art class along with a glass candy dish in shop class. I remember choreographing for the schools dance company. I remember being the lead my senior year in the school musical.

The Arts are probably one of the most important things in my life. In High School I chose to attend a performing arts high school because it was so important to me. I then chose to major in Dance because I knew what it meant to me and how I couldn't see myself doing anything else with my life. I then took my job at Music Theatre because I believe in the Arts with all my soul. I believe that my small part in working with the youth in Wichita will establish a respect and an appreciation for the Arts. I hope that it will become something that is of value and treated with the dignity that it should.

Now if we can only get the school districts to think that.........