Arts vs. Sports in Schools

In this month's issue of "RedBook" there was a wonderful little article about 4 Ways You Can Help Save the Arts Programs at Schools. The article focused on Suzanne Nichols, a California mom who set out to inform parents about staffing cuts that would take out the art programs in their schools. She then organized fundraisers to help keep the arts programs in her schools going.

This story brought up some very strong feelings about schools, parents and priorities for me. First off, I would like to say Congratulations to Mrs. Nichols for recognizing a need and finding interesting and great ways to solve the problem before her. She organized a talent show and an art auction (some of the art being children's art), and accepted donations. Mrs. Nichols states, ""When music, drama, and visual arts are a part of the curriculum, children perform better in reading and math, too." While I don't know if there are statistics to back up her statement, I do know that it make sense. Having a music or art class in the middle of the day helps to break up the monotony of reading, writing, math and science. It also provides the children an outlet for feelings that might not otherwise be expressed. It is a form that many therapists use to aid a child in achieving better self-awareness, relief from stress or anxiety, learning disorders, autism, and other traumatic experiences.

As we all know, not every kid is meant to be a book kid and states/schools that are lacking funding for art classes are really hurting their kids. While we as parents might be sick of fundraisers (girl scouts, boy scouts, various sports, 4-H and the list goes on and on), we should also recognize the importance of the arts in our children's lives. Now undoubtedly someone will say that's what the sports are for. Even though I will be crucified for this next statement, I must say that if the schools around here ever cut their art departments, I would hope it would be after they cut their sports programs. Sports aren't cheap. I would expect them to be much more expensive then paper and crayons. For one you have to pay all the coaches - from what I read in the school minutes, it looks like the average coach in Le Mars receives around $2,000 a school year. Why you may argue this isn't much, if you were to cut all head and assistant coaches from the school programs - Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Football, Track, Cross Country, Wrestling, Volleyball and whatever else I might be missing - the savings would be substantial. Not to mention the buying of gear, upkeep, gas money to go places and other incidentals.

I'm honestly not against sports, but if we were forced to do fundraisers for art, I would sincerely say there should be fundraisers for sports too. In fairness, I do not know how much each booster club contributes to each program. I know that there are booster clubs for each sport, as there is music also. I know that each booster club contributes to some of the costs of their programs. I also recognize that there are many children that would not be able to play sports if the school did not help pay for it. However, there comes a time when the extra-curriculars should just be extra-curriculars - like sports, and yes band and drama in high schools - and extra curriculars should not be funded by our high schools to maintain their budgets, if that is what's needed. But especially in the elementaries I believe our children need to expand their minds, have these creative outlets available to them and increase their awareness of all possible outcomes to their lives.

While I hope the decision to cut arts programs never appears before the Le Mars Community School Board, I admit to being worried about it after they had to cut the art rooms in the Le Mars elementaries when they consolidated the schools. So please, if they ever announce that this idea is on the agenda, talk to the school board and let them know how you feel and what you as a parent can help to make a difference. Because as Mrs. Nichols has shown - we CAN make a difference.