Justin Wacker Professor: Dr. Laura J. Ramírez Cultural Foundations of Education in the U.S. May 9, 2017 Why are the Fine Arts (Music) Funding the First to Get Cut in a School District’s Budget? Even though lack of funding for the fine arts is indicative of other major problems in the school district, music has long reaching effect on student's education because music has shown signs of intellectual positives in the formation of the human brain and intelligence. School districts have a major issue with supporting band and the entire music curriculum. The major issue is that it is very expensive. In low income school districts without fine arts programs the students tend not to do as well in the major school subjects as the students in …show more content…
Historically, teaching music dates back to circa 470 B.C. Educators believed that music education was very import for the development of the child and society. As the New World in America became populated and the religious leaders began educating the youth, music education was included in their curriculum. In America, the first singing school was in 1717 and located in Boston, Massachusetts. Schools opened in other colonies and were the sole purpose was to teach the students how to properly sing the church hymns. (Stanford, 2012) In the 19th century, the music education expanded to add instrumental learning and music theory components. As the music curriculum grew in the 20th century, colleges began to offer Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Oberlin University was the first to offer it. (Stanford, 2012) This encourages younger students in high school to form orchestras, bands and marching bands. Throughout these centuries, music education was always being questioned by parents and school boards on how necessary it is to learn music. The school boards were always trying to cut it from the curriculum. Even today, school boards wrestle with this …show more content…
Some studies have suggested that music, in particular, does have some affect in the other fields of education, especially math. Noted childhood education expert, Ellen Booth Church, writes, “Neurological research has found that the higher brain functions of abstract reasoning are enhanced by music activities.” (Slaton, 2012) Professor Laura Jenschke at Texas Lutheran University agreed in a recent interview by stating, “Music in the elementary schools enhances all the students learning skills.” (Slaton, 2012) Professor Jenschke noted that in her area schools, the students that participates in the the music program tends to have a higher than average SAT scores. She concludes that students that participate in music programs appear to benefit academically from it. (Slaton, 2012) The general consensus is that music students tend to do better in the other core subjects and