Alfreda Kirkwood |
SCHOOL: Alcorn State University
MAJOR: Music Education MENTOR: Dr. Robert Aubrey EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE: May 2002 ORGANIZATIONS & HONORS:
|
ABSTRACT
Arts Advocacy: Maintaining Access For Everyone
| The Arts have been an intricate part of public education and include but are not limited to dance, theater, music, and visual arts. Studies have shown that students who study the Arts have higher scholastic tests scores than none-art students and are less likely to drop out of school. The arts aid in cognitive thinking and decision making and expression of feelings. However, studies conducted by Mississippi State University show that Mississippi employs only one art teacher for every 3,150 students in K-12th grade and one music teacher for every 840 students in K-12th grade. This same study concluded that five public schools provide no drama instruction and seven out of ten public schools provide no instruction in dance. Consequently there are many Arts advocacy groups that support the arts and provide funding for many communities and schools. In order for the arts to survive we must understand the importance of Arts education and support our local and state Arts advocacy groups, policy makers, and Arts events. |