On the contrary to my inner-most beliefs, art is an important part of human life. Art and the arts can teach us to interpret the world and understand complex ideas. Art gives us something many other fields can't, a sense of self. Art can entertain us, enlighten us, broaden our understanding and create joy and happiness. It can evoke feelings. It can move us. It keeps us thinking and curious about the world in which we live.
Many argue that art is an important program to have in educational systems. They say that the arts empower students to express themselves and broaden their intellect, and that the arts constitutes an emotional value in society. Without art, society and culture would loose sense of themselves, and life would be boring, dull, and uninspiring. Maybe so, but let's look closer...
Many schools across America in the last several years have been forced to cut certain programs due to tighter budgets. Funding for art programs and classes have been the target. In CT alone, Gov. Dan Malloy is supporting statewide cuts which add up to $1.6 billion over two years. CT technical schools are looking at taking a hit. "They will lose $14.2 million next year and $15.6 in the following fiscal year, threatening art, music and sports programs as well as school social workers, administrators, adult programs and a proposed licensed practical nurse program."
Why are these program cut over others? I would say that art is not a necessary life skill. Art does not give us the basic tools kids need to operate in society. It is not crucial to learn about art (the arts). Art may increase our creativity and broaden our understanding but it is more important that kids learn to read, write and do arithmetic. Science and math take a much larger role in understanding the world and molding a better, smarter society.
In order to operate on a daily basis, art is unnecessary. It does not help me balance my checkbook or plan my day. It does not help me learn how to drive a car or operate machinery. It does not help me understand the Earth and outer space. All it does is wave itself in front of my face and tricks me into buying some product I don't need.
In struggling economic times, who could argue for the arts to stay funded, while math, science and English programs be cut? There is no real concrete learning in the arts, and there are certainly more fruitful careers to be had out of the science and mathematics industries. We want to create an educational system that builds strong scientific minds, minds that will help to evolve our species. There are so many secrets in science and math not yet revealed. We need to be exploring the universe, building spaceships and learning about time travel, not dancing, painting, singing and acting. Where has any of the arts really gotten us as a society? The arts were designed for nothing except to be forms of entertainment, and as a culture we love to be entertained. Anything to keep our minds off of real significant work and progress. You don't see many artists winning a Nobel Prize or developing cures for cancer. Not many artists can lead a country or command an army. Not many artists can create anything worth while for society.
Society needs more brain surgeons, lawyers, rocket scientist and financial gurus, not artists. Students do not really need the arts to be educated. Go ahead and cut the arts programs, they are a waste of money.
Sources: Mary E. O'Leary. "Malloy's revised state budget slashes arts, courts, technical schools". Published: Saturday, July 16, 2011. minutemannewscenter.com Accessed September 12, 2011.
I liked the way you began the piece, acknowledging how the “arts empower students to express themselves and broaden their intellect,” and how without them “society and culture would lose sense of themselves, and life would be boring, dull, and uninspiring.”
ReplyDeleteI found myself nodding in agreement.
Then you presented the cold, hard facts (nice transition!), focusing on Connecticut: Gov. Dan Malloy, you point out, supports cutting up to $1.6 billion over the next two years. I was a bit confused, however, about some of the details since I’m not from Connecticut. Are these cuts still in the proposal stage? Are they for the entire state, or just for school aid? I also wasn’t sure who or what you were quoting here: “They will lose $14.2 million next year and $15.6 in the following fiscal year …”
You make some solid arguments supporting your stance, as in these lines: “Art may increase our creativity and broaden our understanding but it is more important that kids learn to read, write and do arithmetic.” And, “It does not help me balance my checkbook or plan my day. It does not help me learn how to drive a car or operate machinery.”
My favorite was this one: “There are so many secrets in science and math not yet revealed. We need to be exploring the universe, building spaceships and learning about time travel, not dancing, painting, singing and acting.”
You also talk about how artists don’t win the Nobel Prize. (Does literature count?)
One thing I kept thinking about was sports. Should these programs be cut, too? But I guess that’s for another essay.
Your ending was strong and to the point: “Go ahead and cut the arts programs, they are a waste of money.”
Over all, nice job.
Your post read like an editorial article, which I think worked perfectly to illustrate your role as the Devil's advocate. I think what worked really well with your post was the way you blended your opinion with fact/statements from other sources. This not only served to give your opinion credibility but also showed your conviction is 'real' since you do your research to back it up.
ReplyDeleteOne sentence that I felt a bit forced was ' We want to create an educational system that builds strong scientific minds, minds that will help to evolve our species. ' I think the paragraph works well without it.
On the contrary to my inner-most beliefs, art is an important part of human life.
ReplyDeleteYou could simply say, Contrary to my beliefs, because what beliefs are not inner-most? Your more shallow beliefs?
Once it is better stated, the statement still confuses me. You know art is an important part of life, but you don’t believe it?
I know you are attempting not to express what you believe for the assignment, but in a debate, if you were forced to take this side of the argument, you have already lost. Right up front you express arts ability to understand complex ideas. That doesn't help your counterargument.
The assignment still works for you. Similar to what I said about the Irene piece –you are exploring in words. Now is not the time to edit, not yet, but to explore and seek out what you want to express. The exploration brings up all kinds of ideas about what I believe you really want to say –that art is just as valid as science and math.
In describing the reason the sciences are considered superior, you are reaching for the reasons they are not.
We often take a side in an issue without really exploring the opposition for many reasons. A writer knows the issue inside and out. Like a lawyer, he is prepared for the opposing bench.
Having read two long pieces of yours now, I can see you have no problem getting your thoughts down or reaching for thoughts. You need to work on phrasing and choosing your words more carefully. Whether you are playing with ideas or getting difficult thoughts down, you must find the best sentences that say everything you want.
Repeat yourself and say something ten different ways, but then pick one and toss the rest.
Let all the thoughts come out, pell-mell, helter-skelter, in run-on sentences filled with conjunctions. But then separate the thoughts, make them clearer, and put the best ones forefront.
I can already see a change between the last piece and this one. Towards the end, your counterargument is clear and passionate.
Nice work.