Are Art & Music Programs In Schools Important?

         With the lack of money available to schools these days many are having to say farewell to any and all art programs their schools had previously offered. For some reason it seems that when cuts need to be made the arts are the first thing to go. 
          Surprisingly many people are all for the arts being cut out of our schools. In an article written for the Sun Sentennial a college student named Nadia Abramson goes on about all the reasons she thinks the arts should be cut from all schools. She believes that the arts are just a huge meaningless distraction from the educational process going as far as to say "Students get too passionate about their art classes and completely neglect their core classes." She uses the analogy of a boring academic lecture saying that the artists and the musicians are quick to doodle or think about other things and as a result are learning nothing in the actual lesson. I will admit that there have been many a times when I've zoned out of class thinking about the dance combination I learned in class last week or doodling some crazy little design on a page in my notebook. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it is the art programs fault. I think if I wasn't thinking about the arts i'd be thinking about something else. 
              As a dancer I feel that the benefits of art and music programs outweigh any possible negatives. I found that dance not only taught me to work hard and be dedicated but it gave me a way to express myself and also an outlet for my stress. Let's face it, sitting in a classroom for hours a day and then going home and doing homework can get a little overwhelming and it can suck the life right out of you, I love school, but it's the truth. What dance did for me was refueled me and helped me handle stress better. 
              There are so many benefits to art and music programs. In an article supporting the arts in schools written in the Washington Post. The writer stresses the importance of these programs especially for kids in low-income neighborhoods. The arts have been proven to not only increase academic performance (rather than hinder it as Nadia argued), but it also has shown that it improves the way children feel about school and education. On a website supporting children participation in the arts it says that because students are being taught to the test and are taught that there is one right answer and a million wrong ones they are becoming hesitant in their creative processes and not being able to let themselves go and just create. A quote in the post says " Once children see that it’s okay to try and even make mistakes, it builds their confidence.  This feeling can spill over in to other aspects of their school experience and lives." This is so important especially for children who struggle in academics because it makes school better and makes them not feel like failures. It is also important to realize that if you look at history it is filled with art. Paintings, drawings, music and dance are things that really define a culture. If we are deaming these as not important than what will our culture be. Will it just be check marks on a scan tron sheet? I sure hope not. 

Sources

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-02-19/features/0902180109_1_art-classes-electoral-college-students

http://art4kids.weebly.com/why-does-art-matter.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/will-less-art-and-music-in-the-classroom-really-help-students-soar-academically/2012/12/28/e18a2da0-4e02-11e2-839d-d54cc6e49b63_blog.html

Why Become A Teacher?

          Whenever I tell people that I am studying education I am met with mixed reactions. Some are quick to point out all of the negatives such as limited job availability and low pay. Some respond by saying things like "oh you'll be great at that" or "oh that's cool." Until recently I'd never actually been asked to explain why I wanted to be a teacher. In fact when I was asked this question the first time I didn't quite know how to put it in words. It inspired thought in me. Why do I want to be a teacher? Well after thinking long and hard I came to the conclusion that there were about a million reasons I want to be a teacher. 

        Those people who were quick to focus in on the money aspect of the job make me feel a little sad for them. Sure it's important that you make enough money to live on but to the same token it is not everything. I'd much rather have less money and love what I do every day than have alot of money but hate my job. I recently read a quote that someone in my class posted online and its what I wish I had told all those naysayers.

       

          I want to become a teacher because I want to make a difference in the lives of children. I want to teach them how to love learning and how to think. I want to inspire them to be the best they can be. I have enough experience that I know that I have a knack for teaching and that I enjoy it. There is no feeling in the world like watching a student accomplish something they've been struggling with thanks to your help. The joy that teaching children brings to me is like no other and being able to do that every day and call it work is something I look forward to. It is one of the most rewarding careers. 

       I read an article on a website called takepart.com called "Why Teaching May Truly Be The World's Most Important Career." It really highlighted on some of the reasons why teaching is such an amazing career. According to Jerusha Connor an education professor at a Villanova University "ample qualitative research shows that a single teacher can shape the course of a young person''s future, for better or for worse." There are few professions in which a person can make that much of an impact. I know that my teachers have shaped who I am and I really hope to help shape who my future students become. I think to sum up the importance of teachers I will use a quote from Barack Obama in 2008. He said "The Single most important factor in determining (student) achievement is not the color of their skin or where they come from. It's not who their parents are or how much money they have. It's who their teacher is".

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/09/11/top-careers-jobs-teaching?cmpid=tp-pinterest

Hello Everybody!

My name is Erin and i'm from Melrose, MA. I'm currently studying elementary education at Salem State university. I've always known I wanted to work with kids in some way as a profession. Deciding what area I wanted to pursue involving that was tough though. I have alot of experience working with kids in many different types of environments. I've worked in a daycare for four years. Volunteered at Children's Hospital Boston for two summers, taught dance to kids ages 3 to 12 and even had a little bit of in classroom teaching experience as a part of a high school education class. I originally had narrowed it down to either being a pediatric oncology nurse or a kindergarten teacher. Since I am not a big fan of science I decided nursing wasn't for me.I originally entered Salem State with the intention of studying early childhood education but as my first semester went along I began to question whether i'd prefer to work with older children. I decided that elementary education would be a better fit for me.
         As a dance teacher I have experienced the feeling of helping children succeed. When one of my students masters a trick or a turn that they had been struggling with it makes me ecstatic. It is such a good feeling to know that you helped them achieve their goals. I am sure I will feel this many times as an elementary school teacher as well. I can't wait to learn and grow into the teacher I aspire to be.

Me with some of my students at their performance

Education In Finland

http://www.edudemic.com/education-in-finland/

I chose to include a link to an article about the Finland academic system. Ever since hearing Finland's academics being compared to the U.S.'s in the documentary "Waiting For Superman" I have been very intrigued by it. Finland has a very different way of educating children than the U.S. and they seem to be getting great results. I find it very interesting and I think the United States could benefit from trying to implement a few of the aspects that make Finland such a successful country academically.