Topic: Arts in Education — Should students be required to take fine arts courses to graduate from high school?

For 1: I for one am up for requiring fine arts like music and art to be required to graduate. I say
this because as stated by "HuffPost", "Music and art are also so prevalent in our society. Art and
music are used as expressions of recent or historical events, as well as how the artist felt at that
moment in their life." I personally can relate to this because ever since I started listening to the
musical Hamilton I’ve been starting to understand historical events and it also makes me more
excited for learning about history. Also, the pictures painted back in the day help us understand
the events from that perspective. Classes like music and history help give you a deeper
understanding of the pictures or music that helps us learn from pictures or music from that ara.
Against 1: I for one am against this outrageous idea of requiring fine art courses to graduate. I
say this because as stated by “Danny Gregory”, “I​n the lower grades, kids just have fun
drawing. They don’t really need much encouragement or instruction. In middle school,
the majority start to lose their passion for making stuff and instead learn the price of
making mistakes. By high school, they have been divided into a handful who are ‘artsy’.”
“Art” really is not respected in this country. Its really just used to keep kids busy and out
of your way. So I think they should just cut art all in general and replace it with
something useful.

For 2: Hey, Alexander did you hear about the proposal to make fine arts mandatory to
graduate?
Against 2: Yah I did Gregory, and I think it’s so stupid! I think this because as “Danny Gregory”
says,” Instead of teaching kids to paint bowls of fruit with tempera, we’d show them how to
communicate a concept through a sketch, how to explore the world in a sketchbook, how to
generate ideas, how to solve real problems.” This is exactly what I think as well if we make it
required to do arts we are really wasting time because most students will not be professional
artists or musicians. Instead, we should focus on teaching students how to problem solve and
stuff that will prepare them for the REAL world.
For 2: I see why you would say that Alexander, but if you look at the numbers you will see that
music and the arts have a huge direct impact on education. I say this because “Brookings” say,”
Arts educational experiences have remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional
outcomes. Relative to students assigned to the control group, treatment school students experienced a
3.6 percentage point reduction in disciplinary infractions, an improvement of 13 percent of a standard
deviation in standardized writing scores, and an increase of 8 percent of a standard deviation in their
compassion for others.” ​See, students who do any arts increase to at least 8% which is a full letter
grade sometimes.

For 3: Dear, Alexander

Have you heard about the proposal to make the fine arts required to graduate?
Basically, this would require all students to take at least 1 music, art, or other fine art courses.
Personally, this would be a great idea because as many sources say there is a direct
relationship between fine arts and education. You can already see how playing cello, piano, and
guitar have impacted positively. Write back asap!!
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
G. Ladd
Against 3: Dear, Gregory
I just now read your letter, I do believe that if this proposal is approved
then it would be very bad! I think this because as “Danny Gregory” states that many people who
do arts are little children in first grade. Many students do not like to draw or have no want to play
an instrument. Also, most students are not very good drawlers and it would be unfair if they
have to take a graded course possibly affecting their morale or even making it harder to get into
a good college.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
A. Caballaro

For 4:​ ​Dear, Alexander

I see your concern about this proposal and your concern for students who
can not draw and how it could affect their chances and GPA. This is also the problem with the
needed 2 years of language some people are not very linguistic, but that didn’t stop them from
requiring language. Also, though like the language the benefits out way the risks. As stated by
“the HuffPost”.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
G. Ladd

Against 4: Dear, Gregory

I know you think that the benefits will outway the costs, but sadly you are
WRONG!! I say this because as (source 4) says that if students really wanted to take an art
class they would and others who have no interest in taking one of the fine arts courses would be
forced to take the course and that would most definitely not make them happy so they would not
be very enthusiastic about school. Also, it takes away the freedom to choose what courses you
want and who you want to be.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
A. Caballaro

For 5: Dear, Alexander

I see where you are coming from. One last time I do believe that it is in
everyone’s best interest for it to be required to do a fine arts course at least once. I say this
because as you stated,”​ it takes away the freedom to choose what courses you want and who
you want to be.” ​So yes it is important to choose what you want, but how do you know you
would not like it if you haven’t tried it yet? So that’s why I still stand with what I stand because I
stand for everyone while you stand for yourself its what you do.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
G. Ladd
Against 5: Dear, Gregory
I still stand with what I said. So lastly, I know that it would be unfair for
them to apply this proposal because while some students (like you) are having good grades
have taken up advanced courses for some subjects. While students (like me) who are struggling
with grades do not have the time do take another course but they would benefit from time to
catch up on studies and focusing on the important classes.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
A. Caballaro

Don’t forget to include at least 2 sources that you used for research. They should be properly
cited using the MLA citation guidelines.

Source #1- ​https://www.huffpost.com/entry/should-the-arts-be-requir_b_6640194

Source #2 – ​https://dannygregorysblog.com/2016/04/15/lets-get-rid-of-art-education-in-schools/

Source #3-
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2019/02/12/new-evidence-of-the-bene
fits-of-arts-education/

Source #4-​https://www.lcboe.net/userfiles/1065/Classes/8022/8.text2.logprogarg.pdf?id=545700