Saving K-12 art education

Every year since 2008 there has been a drop in students being enrolled in arts classes by 33 percent in grades K-12. This is an alarming number since if this spiral keeps going we won’t have art programs at school at all. California is the biggest state with art programs, but in the last 40 years it has been unraveling says Patricia Wayne the program director for Create CA. This will be devastating for the country if schools are not teaching art programs. Let me explain the benefits for having art programs in all schools and then I will talk about a solution.

Creativity, imagination, and expressing themselves is everything that a young adult needs in their life. Without being creative then buildings or art work can’t be made. Without imagination then art work and plays can’t be made. Without expressing ourselves than life wouldn’t have a purpose for some people. Art programs are so beneficial to everyone’s lives.

A solution to having art programs in every school would be a grant given to every school or a federal act giving all schools money just for arts. There is always an issue of money and that is why some schools can’t have art programs. To fix this issue there needs to be a grant given to every school, not just a select few. All schools deserve to have art programs in there education. I see that the US department of education has the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), but some schools are still suffering from not having arts education. There has to be an act similar, but having arts be the primary highlight.

I fear that without a grant, act, or law in place that art programs will be gone altogether in 50 years.

Amanda Green - Contributing Writer