| Art programs, such as art appreciation, drama, theater | | | | Studies have proven that a strong arts program can |
| and music, have been suffering across the nation for | | | | be linked to improvement in everything from math skills |
| 30 years, as school officials concentrate on the basics | | | | to truancy. Arts education in elementary and |
| of learning. With federal programs, such as No Child | | | | secondary schools produce skilled sculptors, actors, |
| Left Behind, even more focus has been placed on | | | | musicians, singers and so many other arts-related |
| basic learning skills, which excludes the arts. This also | | | | careers. The arts also improve the socialization skills of |
| means that any extra funding is funneled into these | | | | students. |
| basic learning programs in order to meet state and | | | | Bill Eriendson, assistant superintendent of the San Jose |
| federal-set standards. Arts education is one of the | | | | schools, stated that the level of funding for the arts is |
| standards that should be met by schools within the | | | | inadequate. Last year, the state budgeted $500 million |
| state of California, yet the state does not impose | | | | for the arts and physical education; however, this |
| penalties on schools that do not met these particular | | | | amount was a one-time deal. The norm is $105 million, |
| standards. | | | | which is about $15 per student. According to Eriendson, |
| A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that | | | | the San Jose schools requires about $800,000 to |
| of the 1,123 schools surveyed: | | | | restore just their music programs at the elementary |
| • 89 percent failed to meet state standards | | | | San Jose schools. This figure does not include the |
| for arts education; | | | | purchase of instruments. |
| • Nearly 1/3 offered no art education | | | | San Jose schools are a good representation of the |
| coursework that met state standards; | | | | statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and |
| • 61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, | | | | federal standards in the basic coursework, the San |
| with classroom teachers without adequate training | | | | Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was |
| teaching arts education at the elementary level; | | | | passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for |
| • Kindergarten through 12 enrollment in music | | | | Californians and greatly reduced funding for arts |
| classes declined by 37 percent over a five-year | | | | education. The arts were first cut in the secondary |
| period, ending last June; and | | | | San Jose schools and then in the elementary San |
| • Poor schools have the least access to arts | | | | Jose schools. By the late 1980s, arts education was all |
| education; whereas better income schools (where | | | | but gone in the San Jose schools. |
| parents can afford private lessons) are more apt to | | | | According to Funk, there currently is a waiting list of |
| have it. | | | | 225 San Jose schools' students. He finds San Jose |
| Chris Funk is the San Jose schools' principal of Lincoln | | | | schools' students are drawn to the dance, theater, |
| High School, a stellar magnet arts school. He believes | | | | music and visual arts programs offered by his school. |
| that the more San Jose schools' students are | | | | Without the support of the Lincoln Foundation, which |
| exposed to the arts the better they will do in testing | | | | donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose |
| within other coursework. | | | | schools arts magnet would not exist. |