Summary: Should The Government Fund The Arts

My argument will be whether or not we should continue to fund the arts programs such as art, drama and music within the education system. Can the funding come from the government? The opposing view would be that there isn't enough impact of the arts and that academics should be our main focus. Also, the argument could include that government backed funding could be overreaching by the government. I plan to become a substitute teacher one day and maybe a teacher eventually and I am a musician and value the importance of the arts programs in schools. Three possible key points are the history of arts in education, the effects that the arts have on students and the education system, and finally where we can get funding from. These points support my main argument by showing the importance and value of having the arts available within the education system and that with effort from multiple

This article gives a great history of the integration of the arts into the education system and how they are viewed by teachers. "A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Arts Education In the New York city Public Schools", by Eva S. Moskowitz. This article talks of the arts within New York and how they are inadequate and offers examples on what can be done. I believe this can be an example of a model for change. Another piece of evidence would be, "Music education and the Brain: What Does It Take to Make a Change". This article has scientific evidence of the affects that music has on the human brain. One last resource I would like to use is, "Arts Funding", by Charles S. Clark. This article references places where funding could come from and also has information on the value of the arts. I believe all of these resources will help back up the argument that I will be placing of continued funding and emphasis on the arts in the education