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Resolved: Budget Cuts to Art classes are justified

The resolution comes down to two central questions: What are the conditions under which we call something “justified”, and do the budget cuts to art classes fulfill those conditions? Let’s start out with a few definitions: justified 1 based on sound reasoning or information 2 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong [1] The art classes budget cuts are the direct result and fault of the education budget cuts, which are part of a larger campaign of budget cuts, which is called the Sequester, according to the White House [2]: “about $1 trillion in automatic, arbitrary and across the board budget cuts”. The Sequester is the result of the President and the Congress not reaching an agreement on a plan to reduce the US deficit by $4 trillion. The sequestration is generally responsible for the education and arts classes budget cuts. [3] If sequestration is not justified, then - in extension - the budget cuts to arts classes cannot gain justification out of nowhere and must be considered “not justified”. In order to be justified by definition 1, the budget cuts must not be unreasoned. The Sequester is admittedly “arbitrary”, which means it lacks basic reason for its selections and therefore is not justified. The Sequester is but one extreme example of the general policy of budget cuts. My research has not come up with any given reasons for specific cuts to art classes budgets. It appears that they are just cut for the sake of it, along with many other budgets. Which shows that all those budget cuts are arbitrary, for all we can tell. By definition 1, all these cuts are hence not justified. By the second definition, in order to be justified, the budget cuts must not be unfair and undeserved. The purpose of education is, among others, established as: - To prepare children for citizenship - To cultivate a skilled workforce - To teach cultural literacy - To help students become critical thinkers - To help students compete in a global marketplace [4] It is suspected - not ever explicitly admitted by schools, though - that art budgets are cut because ”a common cost-cutting measure is to slash funding for arts education, prioritizing what are deemed more essential subjects such as math, reading, and science.”[11] So, if I can show that arts classes substantially aid the above purposes, cutting their budget must be considered undeserved and unfair, as other subjects are prioritized wrongfully. Business expert Daniel Pink argues in his best-selling book “A Whole New Mind” that our society is now in “a Conceptual Age where our problems no longer have a single verifiable answer. [...] education is still firmly geared towards the needs of the Information Age, a quickly disappearing era. It’s as if our children are moving along an assembly line, where we diligently instill math, reading, and science skills and then test them [...] Today, a successful member of society must bring something different to the table. Individuals are valued for their unique contributions and their ability to think creatively, take initiative and incorporate a global perspective into their decisions.” [4] Online Colleges has compiled no less than ten scientific studies that support art education. [12] According to those, art education: - increases performance in reading, writing and math. Thus enhancing all those subjects that are most often deemed “more important”. Specifically, “students who received more arts education did better on standardized tests, improved their social skills and were more motivated than those who had reduced or no access”, based on 62 studies. - makes children “better on six different categories of literacy and critical thinking skills” - “helps students improve visual analysis skills, learn from mistakes, be creative and make better critical judgments” - “can actually help connect [children] to the larger world, ultimately improving community cohesion”. - makes pupils “more cooperative and expressive and enjoy a better rapport with educators”, who in turn are happier and more satisfied with their jobs. - “has a quantifiable impact on levels of delinquency, truancy and academic performance”, leading to lower dropout scores and more graduations - “can be a valuable education reform tool, and classroom integration of creative opportunities could be key to motivating students” - “can help rewire the brain in positive ways”, increasing fluid IQ measurably. - is denied to more than 50% of all pupils, especially underprivileged ones who might profit the most So art classes teach creative thinking, problem solving and focus less on competitive thinking, making our children more inclined to cooperate. [5][6] We have major problems to solve in the future that need creative solutions. Creative thinking is at the core of innovation, and with conservative energy sources running out and the demand for energy increasing ever more, we need very innovative ideas if we want to keep our way of life. Media are also a huge business, and growing fast. [7] By cutting art classes, we do not prepare our children for a future in the media industry. The results are showing already. Despite the US producing one billion-dollar movie after the other, most of the visual effects which attract large audiences are outsourced to Australia, Asia and New Zealand. [8] This means billions in revenue and taxes going to other countries. So in cutting art classes, the US forfeits a lot of money its people could better use practically anywhere. Art classes are a long-term investment in the future of entrepreneurship. In 2010, the director of the Arts Education Partnership reminded readers in her report: “The arts are also defined in federal legislation as a core academic subject and an important component of a complete and competitive education [...] they must also possess a deep and broad knowledge of [...] the arts. The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce noted: ‘In fact, mastery of the arts and humanities is just as closely correlated with high earnings, and, according to our analysis, that will continue to be true. [Arts] and economics will give our students an edge just as surely as math and science will.’”[9] Fundamentally, if we are to assess the importance of art classes, we must also assess the importance of education as a whole. The UN have also established the importance of education: “Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to education”. Education is not only a right but a passport to human development. It opens doors and expands opportunities and freedoms. It contributes to fostering peace, democracy and economic growth as well as improving health and reducing poverty. The ultimate aim of Education for All (EFA) is sustainable development.” Education for All Goals Goal 1: Expand early childhood care and education Goal 2: Provide free and compulsory primary education for all Goal 3: Promote learning and life skills for young people and adults Goal 4: Increase adult literacy Goal 5: Achieve gender parity Goal 6: Improve the quality of education”[10] Cutting the education budget AT ALL is thus damaging to the basic rights of those it affects, reducing the quality of and access to education. Hence, cutting the budget of art classes is in extension also wrong on the same levels. [1] http://tinyurl.com... [2] http://tinyurl.com... [3] http://tinyurl.com... [4] http://tinyurl.com... [5] http://tinyurl.com... [6] http://tinyurl.com... [7] http://tinyurl.com... [8] http://tinyurl.com... 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