Sarah Mahaffey EIP Essay Voltz 1102-002 Cutting The Arts: An Issue Not A Solution Since the economic

downturn in 2008, budget cuts have been enforced all over North Carolina. One of the largest targeted areas includes the arts and education. Cuts such as these take away learning opportunities that allow children and youth to learn while expressing themselves through an artistic outlet such as music, visual arts, and theatre. These reductions eliminate jobs that are arts based and prevent students from discovering a passion they may have for the arts curriculum. North Carolina has supported and provided art related jobs and encouraged youth and adult artist for years and the opportunity to be an expressive artist has caused North Carolina to be an exciting educational place to live and a prime tourist state. When North Carolina has one of its primary features cut, adults and students are unable to continue their passions and are disabled from passing on their talents to future generations. To understand why arts are targeted for cuts over other areas, society must look into why modern economic downturns have put pressure on state budgets to cut funding for the arts throughout all educational facilities such as museums, schools, and historical landmarks and how this is negatively impacting the state, students, and arts organizations. Although the economy is suffering and the arts and education are being targeted for cuts, the North Carolina public school system has expanded and now contains around 1.5 million students in 115 districts. According to Jeff Bryant, local schools are struggling to keep up with this massive expansion yet state legislators have cut a massive amount of funding for education including the arts (Bryant, 27). The cut in 2011 was 9 percent, which translates to around 800 million dollars. Items that did not make the cut were textbooks, art supplies, materials required

for instruction, social programs, and art programs. People were cut as well such as social workers, guidance counselors, and media specialists (Bryant, 27). Brenda Alverez, expressed her concern in 2013 that Governor Pat McCrorys state budget removes around half a billion dollars. This increase is only a few years after Bryants calculations (Alverez). Amy Harrison, a special education teacher, states that education cuts never heal, and the effect of taking away educational supplies, educators, art supplies, and art teachers will be apparent as the years go on and the arts suffer for it (Alverez). Arts in other areas besides public education are suffering as well. The North Carolina Arts Council was forced to take a cuts of 500,000 dollars for administration and around 230,000 dollars usually provided through grant funding. Karen Wells, one of the executive directors and lobbyist for Arts North Carolina, notes that it seems as if these cuts have a creeping or snowballing effect in which the cuts grow larger and larger (Howell). Luckily for North Carolina a grassroots campaign has begun, which is a small step on the road to fighting for the arts. The people involved are passionate about the arts and realize it is futile for North Carolina to remain a state involved in the arts. According to Bobby Kadis, the current chair of the North Carolina Arts Council, former chair of the Penland Schools of Crafts in Western North Carolina, and founding partner of Centrex Properties Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., the Arts Council has a strong infrastructure statewide and enhances the creativity of youth and students. The arts bring joy to people of all ages and North Carolina has a wide variety to choose from whether it is Colonial Williamsburg or Charlottes Blumenthal theatre. Kadis shows that there are 50,000 arts and crafts persons in North Carolina, over 3,000 nonprofit art organizations, 90 local art councils, 586 galleries and museums, 326 theater preforming groups, 133 dance companies, and 674 music preforming groups. Kadis emphasizes that arts are used to improve the community especially through

education and the school districts. If North Carolina loses the arts they would be losing a primary reason people choose to live in and tour this state. Legislators seem to be ignorant of the fact that every dollar invested in the Arts Council produces around 20 dollars in revenue for the state. These cultural organizations produce around 62.3 million in revenue (Kadis). Why cut these programs if they are so effective, they are clearly loved and add to the culture of the state of North Carolina? A point Kadis does not address is the fact that when the arts are cut from schools students do not have the ability to produce art, which may lead to a decrease in local talents. Three percent of North Carolinas work force involves some form of the arts and if students do not become involved the number will decrease. Students cannot become local artists and crafts persons or performers if they never have the opportunity to try. According to Tyleah Hawkins, a student at Howard University, economically and socially poor communities face many issues neglected by candidates and barely provide middle class needs and states that schools across the country have slashed their arts programs in the wake of major funding cuts. The slashing of the arts is occurring because state governments are incapable of balancing their budgets during the economic crisis. 95 percent of students are attending schools that have had funding cut. Hawkins points out that some schools are wealthy enough to make up for this through private donations, dedicated teachers, and passionate parents, while students in poorer areas do not have the means for such funding (Hawkins). According to the National PTA, and U.S. Educational Secretary Arne Duncan, a well-rounded education is crucial for students success. Duncan protests the cuts that are occurring in the arts, history, sciences, foreign languages, and physical education. Duncan expresses what our Governor Pat McCrory doesnt seem to realize: the arts and curriculum being cut are a necessity not a luxury and should not even be considered for the chopping block (Bryant, 13-14). Schools for low-

income families have had the arts and music programs completely eliminated and are struggling to even meet the basic academic curriculum (Hawkins). These programs may not ever be brought back, especially since the crisis is still continuing, which would mean future students might not receive any art education at all (Hawkins). Fran Smith, a contributing editor for Edutopia, expresses why not having arts programs in schools such as these can have negative affects for learning in other classes. The arts can be used as learning tools in math at a young age, for example, using music notes to teach fractions, or incorporating writing plays to explain historical events. When a school environment is hands-on, the school becomes more enriching for the student. From 2004 to 2006, Mike Huckabee, then governor of Arkansas, developed an initiative designed, according to commission literature, to provide every child with opportunities to learn about the arts and become involved (Smith). However North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory continues to cut the budget so opportunities for programs such as these may not be available to every child in North Carolina. Hawkins references a study from the National Endowment showing that low-income students who had the arts available to them were three times more likely to earn a B.A., whereas students without art credits may see no reason to go to school and are five times more likely to drop out (Hawkins). Smith believes that art and music are essential to student development and that art education can solve issues that may occur during academics, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. The arts have been proven to increase abilities in core classes such as literature and math, and positively affect cognitive ability, critical thinking, verbal skills, confidence, and teamwork (Smith). The report, Why Were Behind: What Top Nations Teach Their Students But We Dont, explains that the standard for other countries schools includes a broad and diverse education. The report expressed that American schools

neglect what matters most for a students success: the arts and humanities. The arts have served as the inspiration for at-risk students to stay in school in low-income areas and wealthy areas, not only improving students outlooks on education but also raising SAT scores. According The College Board, students who take at least four years of music or arts courses will score 91 points higher on the SAT (Hawkins). Historical landmarks and museums, the local education facilities for wider public in the state of North Carolina, have also taken a hit monetarily through McCrorys budget plan. Local museums such as the Cape Fear Museum, the Childrens Museum of Wilmington, and James K. Polks birthplaces have all seen their preservation and funding significantly reduced. The targeted organizations fear that without funding educational facilities such as these will fall into disrepair and never come back to their original glory (Parker). According to David Perlmutt, journalist at the Charlotte Observer, Pat McCrory proposed mothballing the facility and three other state historic sites. This small state museum and three 1830s structures only gets $110,139 from the state, yet McCrory ignorantly believes removing these will a make a dent in his twoyear 20.6 billion budget. Luckily North Carolinians in Pineville passionately fought to save this landmark, which is the most popular field trip site for Pineville Elementary. This historical landmark was extremely important to protect and the citizens of Charlotte realize this, however McCory doesnt bother to consider the third grade students who learn about the historical information and heritage that comes along with the Pineville area they live in. It allows these students to appreciate landmarks and gain knowledge about the time period our president James K. Polk grew up in. The area has historical reenactments and even teaches the arts of candle making, doll making, and cooking cuisine of the time period. Van Kuren, the support group president notes thankfully that through emails, letters and phone calls, we are still alive and

well. McCory doesnt realize what he is up against when he attacks what is most important to North Carolinians and their childrens education through history and the arts.

An example of successes in saving the arts would be South Mecklenburg High School. There is an abundance of teachers who advocate for the arts and their students rights to have creative outlets in school. Art teachers at this high school include Ellen Estes, Gayle Bohlen, and Mr. Howard. These teachers specifically teach visual and hands on art classes. All three of these educators are involved in the National Art Honors Society and fundraise for the arts by entering art competitions to win money for the school and fundraisers that provide money towards the art department. These teachers make it possible for every student to take art classes if they wish. Musical art teachers such as Bonnie Hall, Leigh Marsh and Marc Setzer work continually so every student has the opportunity to be involved in the musical arts program. Marc Setzer has numerous contacts that provide fundraisers for choir, theatre, and orchestra such as selling jewelry or magazines. These fundraisers are great for the students because if there is a field trip opportunity they can sell enough to pay for the entire trip. Setzer works only with fundraisers who give the majority back to the students so that they can easily afford to participate. The musical arts programs also volunteer to clean up after golf tournaments raising huge amounts of money for the musical arts programs. The passion these educators and students have for making the arts happen for everyone is inspiring. They chose to take time out of their schedule so that the arts can stay alive at South Mecklenburg. Many of these students go on to receive scholarships for their art or theatrical talents. This school is the perfect example of how great an influence the arts can have on students enjoyment of their education. The arts can help guide to a path to a future carrier. These students are lucky to have advocates for their talent, because without them they may never have known what they were capable of.

In conclusion, there is a significant amount of evidence that North Carolina needs the arts. It increases academic success, motivates students to learn, enriches the community, provides numerous jobs, and provides historical landmarks and museums for families to visit. McCory believes that the arts and education can be cut significantly without consequences, but they have been proven to raise SAT scores and influence students development socially and academically. Without the arts North Carolina would lose part of the culture and talent that makes the state what it is. It is devastating that our culture would consider ridding society of any form of expression or anything of historical value. When creativity outlets are taken away from our youth it teaches them to blend into society rather than stand out. If the arts are considered a spurious activity, students will no longer understand the value of museums or any form of history that includes the arts. Without the options of outlets students may not be able to realize or implement their true talents in their future outside of high school. If North Carolina or any state for that matter chooses to eliminate creativity in school, students will glide through the education system with nothing to differentiate them from any other person they meet.

Citations Alverez, Brenda. "Fighting Budget Cuts, North Carolina Educators Dig In For the Long Haul." NEA Today RSS. N.p., 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://neatoday.org/2013/08/06/fighting-budget-cuts-north-carolina-educators-dig-infor-the-long-haul/>. Bryant, Jeff. "Starving America's Public Schools: "How Budget Cuts and Policy Mandates Are Hurting Our Nation's Studentsaa (2012): 1-46. Campaign For America's Future, 28 July 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. <http://www.ourfuture.org/files/documents/starving-schoolsreport.pdf>. Hawkins, Tyleah. "Will Less Art and Music in the Classroom Really Help Students Soar Academically?" The Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 6 Sept. 2013. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/will-less-art-and-music-in-theclassroom-really-help-students-soar-academically/2012/12/28/e18a2da0-4e02-11e2839d-d54cc6e49b63_blog.html>. Howell, John, Jr. "The Daily Tar Heel :: N.C. House Budget Could Close Curtain on Arts Funding." The Daily Tar Heel :: N.C. House Budget Could Close Curtain on Arts Funding. Daily Tar Heel, 11 June 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/06/curtain-may-close-on-arts-funding>. Kadis, Bobby. Short-Sighted NC Lawmakers Cut Funds To Life-Enhancing Arts. NewsObserver.com, 5 July 2013. Web. 6 Sept. 2013. <http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/05/3012498/short-sighted-nc-lawmakerscut.html>. Parker, Molly. "Cuts in N.C. Budget Include Funds for Area Museums, Biotechnology Center." StarNewsOnline.com. Star News, 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130325/articles/130329802?p=3>. Perlmutt, David. "Budget Cuts May Close Historic James K. Polk Site CharlotteObserver.com. Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/27/3944270/state-may-close-home-site-ofmecklenburg.html>. Smith, Fran. "Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best." Edutopia, 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Sept. 2013. <http://www.edutopia.org/arts-music-curriculum-childdevelopment>.