Although it is true that most students will not choose...
Tourney Round 2, Debate No. 12: Art and/or Music are Important in Grade School
Quite simply, art and music are integral parts to a well-rounded education system. Since our public schools seek to provide just this, art and music are essential to give students a preparation for any career they might choose. Art in itself is a career, and artistic skills are used in many others, such as drafting and architecture. Music is also a career in itself. It is unconscionable that music or art should be removed from our school system. Removing them would leave a gaping hole for students who wish to enter those fields, and probably cause a drop in then number of artists or musicians. Some people have argued that art and music are fringe skills, and that they shouldn't be taught because (A) most students won't be going into art or music fields, (B) art and music are unnecessary and should be extracurricular anyway, and (C) they are not "vital" skills like 'readin', writin', and 'rithmetic.' Although it is true that most students will not choose art or music as a career, they should still be offered in public schools. Why? First of all, because to not do so would result, as I said before, in a lack of art- and music-trained individuals. Second, because art and musical skills are useful in other fields; third because they encourage right-brain development. Development of the brain in a child should dwell equally on the right and left sides of the brain. Although teaching right-brained ideas is not always compatible with the institutionalized nature of the school system, art and music classes are ways we can do this. (http://www.funderstanding.com...) Most people would agree that art and music are secondary skills to mathematics, reading, writing, languages, social studies, and history. This may be the case but it is still impossible to have a well-rounded education without the arts or music. Also, most careers today need writing and reading more than, say, algebra. Does that mean we should drop algebra to free up more funds for teaching writing? Or course not! Neither should we drop music and the arts.