How+does+history+&+literature,+and+arts+affect+a+student's+achievement?

Arts Education. (2012). //CQ Researcher//, //22//(11), 253. An education in the arts benefits children of all ages. Courses such as music and general art provide the student with an opportunity to expand their mind in ways they cannot in regular classes. These are the classes that students look forward to; these are the classes that they can actually enjoy because they do not have to follow a specific lesson plan. Students have more freedom to pursue their interests in these classes. Art classes “offer students a unique, valuable way to grow intellectually, socially and emotionally” (Arts Education). By broadening their creativity and intellectual growth, these classes prepare students for high stakes testing. Creativity grows in these classes and helps the child with problem solving skills. They are able to think of things in a new and creative way. This helps them in testing because they are able to think of more than one way to solve a problem. With the shrinking budgets of schools, art classes are getting taken out of the curriculum. Educators believe that since standardize testing focuses more on English, science, and math, that the majority of the time should be spent on those subjects. Diane Ravitch does not agree with this, she states “These arts are absolutely crucial because these are the subjects and activities that bring children to school.” This is seen particularly in African American and Latino students. Without the classes that they enjoy, they have lost their motivation to attend school and do well.
 * Research Question: Do the arts affect student’s academic achievement? **
 * Author: Sam Casler **
 * Source 1: CQ Researcher **

I completely agree with this article and particularly with what Diane Ravitch is arguing when she says “These arts are absolutely crucial because they are the subjects and activities that bring children to school.” I know that when I was in middle and high school, art class was always the one class that I always looked forward to. It was how I got through my day sometimes. Just knowing that I had that class later in the day was my motivation to get through a test or quiz. I definitely think that these classes are important to help shape and expand a child’s creativity. I agree that when students do not take advantage of an art class, they are missing out on the opportunity to learn how to see things in a new way.

Aronson, J. (2013). No Child Left Behind: An Overview. //Points Of View: No Child Left Behind//, 1. Laws have been set into motion that changes the way in which schools run. The No Child Left Behind Act has made it so that certain requirements must be met in public schools. If students do not meet the goals set for them, the schools will be corrected in order for the child to meet those goals. A goal that must be met is that of academic proficiency. Students must complete their work within the timeframe given and must be of sufficient quality. This is important in art classes because children often view these classes as simple, easy classes that do not require much effort. It is for this reason that they do not mind attending these classes. They enjoy being able to create something on their own.
 * Source 2: Points of View Reference Center **

I focused on this article because it showed a different side of No Child Left Behind than I had seen before. I am not sure if it is referring to arts classes specifically, but I think that this would be a good thing to implement in arts classes as well as other core classes. I think that a lot of students view art classes as “easy classes.” They take these courses just to fill a requirement or to get an easy hundred. I think that when goals are introduced that the student has to meet, it will push them to doing the work and actually trying.

Young, J. E. (2005). KEEPING THE ARTS ALIVE. //School Library Journal//, //51//(2), 88. No Child Left Behind was created to benefit the student. Despite this, the law does not protect core subjects such as art and music. NCLB puts emphasis on subjects such as math and science and does not recognize the importance of art classes. This results with less time being set aside for arts classes. This negatively affects students because they loose the basics of critical thinking skills. These classes offer students with the opportunity to see things in a new way. They also provide students with a sense of motivation. This motivation urges them to step up achievement and do well in school. The arts also provide students why might not learn well from just reading from a book, a chance to learn in a different way. They learn this information through different pictures, music and stories. This way of teaching can also transition into other core classes and help students further in their academic career.
 * Source 3: Academic Search Complete **

I completely agree with this article. I do not feel like people see the importance of the arts. I think that people put too much emphasis on math and science. I understand that these topics are important for the success of our society, but I think that without the arts, these topics would not be the same. Without art classes, students will not be able to solve simple math problems because they will not be able to see how to solve the problem in a creative and different way. I think that the arts do motivate students to do well in school. They provide students with a new way to see things.

Baker Jr., Richard A. (2012) “The Effects of High-Stakes Testing Policy on Arts Education” 113, no. 1: 17–25.
 * Source 4: ERIC **

Music classes make an impact on how well students do on high stakes tests. After thousands of students, some taking art or music courses and some not, were examined based on their success on standardized tests. This study found that students who took a music course had scores that were much higher than those who did not take a music course. While students who took an art class did score higher than those who did not, they were not as successful as students who took a music course. The study also introduces ideas that can be further researched in another paper.

I found this article really interesting. I am not surprised that students who took music classes did even better than those who just took art or who did not take anything at all. I feel like in music, not only do you need to learn what the notes mean, which is almost like learning another language, but you also need to translate them and perform them at the correct moments. I feel like while art classes are more creative based, music classes are more on the same level as core curriculum classes. I feel like if either music or art were to get more funding, music should get the majority. I think this because music classes have a more obvious impact on student’s academic thinking. I think that these courses are just as important to a student’s academic achievement as art classes.

“11 Facts About Arts in Education | Do Something.” Accessed December 4, 2013. []. This website states that No Child Left Behind lists the arts as a core academic subject. This puts the arts in a category that they are not normally put in. The arts are usually looked at as an elective, not a core class. This is one of the reasons why funding for the arts is not nearly as high as it is for the sciences. The National Science Foundation receives around five billion dollars a year while the arts and humanities only receive about two hundred fifty million a year. However, leading nations in education such as Japan, Hungary and the Netherlands require students to take a music and art education course. A reason for this might be that music improves skills in math and reading. The arts help the student to develop socially, and adjust their personality.
 * Source 5: Reputable Website **

The reason I liked this website is because it listed what I think, are the major points for why the arts are important for students to learn. I think that when they say what the difference is between funding for science classes and funding for the arts, it is a real eye opener. I know that art classes can be expensive because of the materials, but science classes can be just as expensive. I do not understand why there is such a large gap between the funding for science courses compared to funding for the arts.

My research has taught me that the arts really do have an effect on student’s academic achievement. Both music and art classes help the student to become well rounded in their academic thinking. Art classes provide the creativity, which helps students to solve problems in new and different ways. Music classes help students to be able to translate information, which is helpful when learning a foreign language. These courses should be offered to all students. If taken, these courses will result with students having more motivation to go to school as well as a different outlook on their classes and other important aspects of their life that they did not have prior.
 * Overall Reaction to Your Research **