FREE ESSAY ON BUDGET CUTS

BUDGET CUTS

I'd like to inform you about the great deal of budget cuts happening everyday in our
public school systems. One of the hardest hit is in our arts and music departments. The
battle over NEA funding and other important foundations that are set up to benefit our
youths are being challenged by the government at an alarming rate. Cutbacks in our
schools budget force students in these departments to go without necessary supplies that
are essential in the learning process. I'd also like to show you why art and music
education is essential to our children's learning process, how it allows them to grow up
to be well rounded citizens, and why as a country, we need to fight to save these
programs. 
It seems to be a continuous battle for art and music educations demand for some respect.
Many legislators feel the problem in our schools is that budgets where not amended to fit
the rise of costs in our economy. And because of this there simply aren't simple ways to
fund these programs. Other reasons for problems in the arts and music departments budget
is that even though there is inadequate funding schools pass programs without promise of
long-term support. Thus, creating a cycle of budget problems. This is our problem.
One particular agency, out of many, the NEA is facing problems that are similar to most
in the art and music debates. "The conservatives are pressing the case that, in the time
of tight federal budgets, taxpayers cannot afford funding for the agency, which received
a $99 million appropriation for fiscal 1997. The critics also argue that the agency
continues to fund pornographic and blasphemous projects.(Freedman,p.624)" As stated by
Allan Freedman of Government and Commerce magazine, sums up the views some government
officials are having concerning the NEA, an organization set up to benefit those in the
art community. This organization is a powerful factor in terms of art education. The
organization looks at all different types of art forms, such as poetry, painting,
jewelry, ceramics, as well as dealing with the issues of art education. These feelings by
leading government officials are being expressed in all aspects of funding for the arts
and music. 
The NEA is causing quite a stir in congress, and also according to Freedman, " ... in
1995, the agency's foes not only managed to push through major budget cuts, but secured a
pledge from the house leadership to eliminate the agency...(Freedman,p.624)" But why?
Does our government really not have enough money? Of course it does, that's not the
problem, the problem is that we have not reached the point where we can have a perfect
budget. Where we can distribute our funds properly. According to the same article, Rick
A. Lazio of New York, one of the chief Republican NEA defenders in the house, " We spend
more on military marching bands then we do on the endowment.(Freedman,p.624)" 
There are many polices, budget and funding issues that need to be looked over, some are
out-dated, some miss used, and others just not effective in our educational system today.
Let's face it the "perfect budget" will never happen, the economy is ever-changing and
the same goes for dealing with and handing out the funds. Both state and government
agencies who deal with the budget of our art and music programs need to deal with what is
before them. If there is not enough means of funding, then outside groups need to make up
for that. This is why organization such as the NEA need to be supported not fought. 
Not everybody in our government is opposed to adequately funding our art and music
education departments, in fact according to Arts Education and School Improvement
Resources For Local and State Leaders, 
The Congress finds that -- 
1) the arts are forms of understanding and ways of knowing that are fundamentally
important to education;
2) the arts are important to excellent education and to effective school reform;
3) the most significant contribution of the arts to education reform is the
transformation of teaching and learning;
4) such transformation is best realized in the context of comprehensive, systemic
education reform;
5) demonstrated competency in the arts for American students is among the National
Education Goals;
6) participation in performing arts activities has proven to be an effective strategy for
promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream settings;
7) opportunities in the arts have enabled persons of all ages with disabilities to
participate more fully in school and community activities;
8) the arts can motivate at-risk students to stay in school and become active
participants in the educational process; and
9) arts education should be an integral part of the elementary and secondary school
curriculum.
These feelings are actually abundant in Washington. In fact our president as well as Al
Gore are focusing hard on the idea of reforming our educational system in order to give
these programs the money they need to be effective. According to The New York Times
quoting Bill Clinton, " Education has been an important dividing line between those who
are able to move ahead and those who lag behind.(Clinton,p.16)" And Bill Clinton's budget
proposals give strength to that. " The education budget calls for spending $1.75 billion,
up $450 million from this fiscal year.(Clinton,p.16)" His Plan gives a high priority to
wiring classrooms for the internet, hiring more teachers, reducing class size, as well as
fixing up dilapidated schools. Gore of course is following the presidents path of holding
education in top priority. But with all this talk about the budget being brought up to
date, where is the proof.
The lack of funding is causing a drought as far as supplies are concerned. Maybe I should
reiterate, lack of resources is a better way to put it because now we are losing not only
our supplies, but our programs and teachers. The dedicated school teachers we are still
fortunate to have are being forced to spend a great deal of their own money on their
students supplies.
According to Art Education magazine, in a study they did on classroom budgets, " The
average yearly budgets run the gamut from nothing to $9,000...73% of the respondents
indicated that they normally spend their own money on additional art supplies- at an
average of $348.32 per year. The range of out-of-pocket spending among these respondents
extended from $25 to $5000 per-year, with 21% of the teachers stated that they spend at
least $500 each school year.(p.7)"
The dedication of our teachers is incredible. In many cases these teachers are putting
their students welfare and needs over their own. One such instance occurred in the San
Francisco school system with a special education teacher by the name of Bill Gallimore.
" Gallimore...,makes $31,00. His students, all disabled children in grades three, four,
and five, have so many basic needs that he already has spent $500 on classroom supplies
this semester. Because the school district only pays teachers just once a month,
Gallimore had to decide between buying the supplies or paying his phone bill. Pacific
Bell turned off his phone.(Asmiov,p.A21)"
Is this the kind of thing we want our educators to have to deal with. All throughout my
school career I remember my teachers having to do the same things. I remember being in
high school ceramics and by January we were without clay, so my teacher had to spend her
own hard earned money on us the rest of the year. You can imagine how nerve racking it
would be to deal with this kind of budget. All normal lesson plans would have to be
thrown out the window in order to stretch your funds to last the whole year. What
possibilities are open to students interested in these subjects. I would find it hard for
a child to get interested in playing an instrument with no instruments available. 
Arts and music are important to our children in many ways. A child doesn't necessarily
have to grow up to be a scientist, doctor, or lawyer. There are an abundant careers
available in these fields such as graphic design, music production, as well as
advertising. Many studies show that the arts and music provide children with an interest
in learning all of their subjects. Not only do these classes provide a break in a hard
day of academics, but they give students a chance to free their minds an bodies of the
stress that comes along with school in general. Also children become better all around
students, being able to deal better with group skills, independent creative thought,
problem solving, risk taking, along with helping some students with their self esteem and
self expression. It takes a lot to perform a music ensamble, you need not only practice
but to deal with all that comes along when students need to do a presentation. This kind
of experience will be an asset to anybody in a career position. When students tend to
take pride in their work as an artist they begin to take pride in them selves. 
According to Art Education Policy Review, "Arts education promotes self-expression,
creativity, intuitive, and sensory-oriented learning. In addition, arts education fosters
both discipline and cognitive and emotional development. It also contributes to the
nations goals for teaching and learning: for example, improving the high school
graduation rate, promoting student achievement in challenging subject matter, fostering a
disciplined environment. The public discourse on U.S. competitiveness in the world
economy spotlights the values of problem solving, risk taking, higher-order thinking
skills, teamwork and creativity. These values are part of the arts and art
education.(Hanna,p.37)" 
Art and music education is important for all these reasons, the point of art and music
isn't to take a students mind off of his or her academics, but to prepare them for
adulthood. The government needs to insure these programs in our school, and make sure
they get the attention they deserve. 
I hope I have explained the importance of funding for the Arts and music programs in our
public schools. It is essential to be aware what's going on in our schools. Our
children's and countries welfare may depend on it!
Bibliography
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