Dear New Hanover County
School Board,
It
has come to my attention that the arts are potentially going to be cut. The
arts are essential to many students. They allow students to express themselves,
help them succeed academically, and teach them how to work well and cooperate
in groups. They are even what some students, including myself, look forward to
every day. Many students, including myself, would be absolutely devastated if
the arts were cut.
Now I know you are probably thinking that they are just
too expensive to fund anymore. I agree that they are very expensive; research
has shown that it is about an average of $158,537 a year (Americans for the
Arts), but according to studies most
schools give a lot of money to fund sports teams. Some of that money could easily
be given to fund the arts, and I know it would make a lot of students happy.
Many students are afraid to truly express themselves
because they are worried about being judged. In the arts no one has to have
this fear because everyone is meant to express themselves and they all just
embrace their differences. Everyone seems to be more bonded. In my chorus class
we are like a family. We all know each other and we are all friends. No one is
judged and we are all doing something we love.
The arts also help
students succeed academically. Studies have shown that students who are in the
arts program scored 58 points higher on the verbal portion and 38 points higher
on the math portion of the SAT than students who were not in the arts program.
(H, Kevan) The arts has defiantly helped me academically, and made my critical
thinking skills better. Taking away these programs would cause many students’
grades to decline.
Students’ intellectual skills aren’t the only skills to
increase. Participating in the arts also helps teach students how to cooperate
better and work well in groups. In music classes especially, if you aren’t able
to work together and listen to each other than you won’t be able to play, or in
my case, sing well. It’s all about listening to each other and making sure to
sound as if it was only one person. This skill is imperative to have to succeed
in school and in life. I know it has helped me open up more and be more patient
with people. Yes, sports teams can teach this too, but not everyone is
athletic, and I am defiantly not. There needs to be a place for people who
excel in the arts too.
Students need the arts to help them succeed. Music and
art are many students’ whole lives and even possible careers. Taking away the
programs will cause many students to not work at their full potential. Without
music and the arts I wouldn’t be at the academic and social standard I am at
now. It has helped me so much and is one of the greatest things in my life. I
am not the only one out there who feels like this. The school board can’t cut
the arts. It’s not fair to all the students who live for them. They are just as
important as sports, and even academics. Everyone enjoys just a simple art
class even if they don’t have any artistic talent at all. Schools need the
arts. Just simply splitting money a little more evenly can solve this problem,
and everyone will benefit. I know it is important to me, and many more people.
Sincerely,
Gabi Metzger
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