Rebecca
Pottebaum
Jennifer
Zukowski
ENG
121-118
29
August 2014
“The Importance of Arts in High School”
Can
you imagine taking a single piece of charcoal, making a powdery self-portrait,
taking it to state and winning? How about influencing a younger generation and
making a difference? I learned I had an amazing artistic talent when I was a
freshman in high school, the following years in high school, I had new outlook
on how I wanted to live and succeed in my life. Art gave me the confidence I
have never had in myself before. The importance of Arts in School can stem to
music, acting, and even dance, which will give kids courage in themselves and
not afraid to stand out to pursue their dreams and succeed.
When I was a freshman, I was the
picked-on kid that had no self-confidence. The students, heck, even the
teachers thought I would end up on the streets. I had no positive self-image until
I was introduced to the wonderful world of pastel art. Six months later, I had
an intense self-portrait that won 1st prize at a state competition.
For those 6 months, I wasn’t out vandalizing a trailer or spray-painting
buildings; instead I was at school after hours, to allow more time for me to
throw powder at my paper. Arts in school can get kids off a troubled road and
onto a path of success.
One female that improved herself
through school was Ceria. She was a troubled chick that didn’t care about
anything other then boys. The school was having a art display by all the
teenagers in Art Club. I had put on my, “Can You Read Me” picture that I had
won at state with. I was walking around looking at all the drawing when I
noticed Ceria looking at my picture. I walked over and asked,” What do you
think?” She said, “I want to learn how to draw like that.” A couple months later,
we had become great friends and Ceria started taking Art Classes. She went from
being a D student to an A student. Not just in Music and Art but all her
classes. The influences in Arts in School can make such an immense force that
bounces around to all children directly or indirectly.
In 2003, New York City started a study on the Arts Influences
on Kids, starting with, “Blueprint for
Teaching and Learning in the Arts.” The experiment was showing so much
progress that in 2007, Major Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott announced, “ArtsCount.” The program introduced, “The Annual Arts in Schools Report.” This
report made schools accountable for improving and maintaining quality Arts
learning for all kids, grades 1-12. In March 2008, the first report was published
in the Big Apple. The Annual Arts Report contained information about arts
teachers, budgeting, providing multi-cultural speakers, and parent involvement.
There is comparison on the count of kids taking classes in 3rd grade
vs kids taking Arts classes in 5th grade. There is so much pertinent
information that lets people see the long-term effect of Arts in school.
Instead of kids only taking 2 Arts Classes, kids showing interest and taking 3
to 4 classes. To compare the two reports, here are the 06-07 Report and 12-13 Report. New York City definitely has
it right when it comes to improving our future generations.
With the high demand that colleges are placing on students
today; there is a need and requirement for kids of all ages to take extra
curricular activities through all their schooling. Arts introduce social
skills, confidence, and a interests in activities that can help them during
school, when they go to college and start applying for scholarships. The social
skills will help them for the rest of their lives, even when they are 50.
Requiring more Arts in school doesn’t just help them; it makes people strive to
do better for themselves for the rest of their lives. For me, it was winning a
state competition that made me say, “You know what? I can do this. I can
succeed if I try.” I believe actions speak louder then words. My actions in
life make me a success story that can represent, “Arts in School are needed.”
Works
Cited
“Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Art.” Arts Education at the
New York City Department of Education.
“The
Annual Arts in School Report” Arts
Education at the New York City Department of Education.
“Arts
Count” Arts Education at
the New York Department of Education.
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