Keep the Arts in Our Classrooms

We are facing difficult economic times. There is no doubt about that. And I believe that it is going to get worse before it gets better. I'm not here to write about the recession or any proposed plans to correct our problems. These are not local issues, they are national issues, and some would argue, international issues. Just like every other time we have faced a financial crisis, it will work itself out, and we will have better times. In the meantime, though, it will be difficult.

These times make me think about those programs that are eliminated first, however, and that is what bothers me. In our schools, the very first programs that get eliminated are art and music. In fact, many of those programs have been eliminated long ago. I remember when I first started teaching in the early 1990's, art and music programs were already being cut to nothing. Within a five year time-frame, schools that had those programs were forced to modify those classes to the point where one teacher had to travel to several schools to teach classes. Many of those teachers had to teach both art and music in the same class although they were not qualified to teach both subjects. At some schools, there were no art or music classes being offered.

I know that many people consider art and music as non-essential to education, and that they should be the first things cut. I disagree. I think that these are the most useful and influential classes in our curriculum. I don't say this just because I'm a writer. I say this because, having some business experience, I know the usefulness of people who are creative thinkers.

America was built upon creativity. Call it what you may. Some people say it's "thinking outside of the box," while others say it's having "an open mind to all things." Whatever it is, it's creativity. Many of the problems adults are asked to solve require creativity, and creativity isn't a natural instinct for most people. It has to be taught. If we eliminate those courses that introduce creativity, we take away most people's ability to solve problems in a unique way. And that takes away an advantage that we've always had in America.

We're seeing the effects of reduced creative curriculum in the United States already. We've all heard the jokes of the engineers who can't write or the techies who only think in code. Take away the joke, and you really do have a problem. The problem is, there are good ideas hiding in those people's heads that cannot come out. They can't express them, and if they can't express them, they can't be visualized. And if they can't be visualized, they can't become reality.

The countries that have established themselves as technology and science-driven over the past twenty years are in decline. Japan and the United States are leaders in this category. Countries that put a lot of emphasis in creative thought are on the rise and are now becoming world leaders because they can take their ideas and make them happen.

And let's look at it from a cultural perspective. Art, music, and poetry are the epitome of culture. Where those things thrive, you have a vibrant society, full of life, and full of hope. Europe is still the harbinger of much of this mentality, and regardless of what you think of some of their politics, you only have to visit places such as Austria, France, and Germany to see the positive affects that the arts have upon society as a whole. Those people are happier than we are, more relaxed, and more appreciative of beauty. They have a sense of national pride that is unparalleled to ours. It's not from military might nor from having a better economy. It's a heritage that is rich in history, architecture, and art.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of spending a week in Vienna. This is a city with a rich musical history, and to this day, the city is full of music. They are still art-centered, and it shows in the day-to-day lives of its citizenry. They were a warm, inviting people, and it was evident that they were happy. Music performances were nightly, art exhibits abounded, and even their newest architecture was full of beauty.

I know there are pockets of art in the United States, and there are many people who keep it first in their lives. But it is not state-supported for the most part. If our non-profits and charitable individuals stopped funding arts, there would be little left. Perhaps I am too sensitive to this, but I see the affects of the loss of art here. I feel the coldness of our society as we become the embodiment of an industrial capitalist country. There is nothing wrong with capitalism, but capitalism without creative thought initiates a dying economy. Trust me. If we lose our creativity, then we will become the makers of other people's inventions. We will be the printers of other people's ideas. We will become the attorney's for other people's patents.

And what I fear the most is that we will lose sight of what is beautiful. We will forget that joy and satisfaction and fulfillment can come from reading a good poem or looking at a beautiful painting or listening to moving music. Instead, we will achieve happiness through buying things. Isn't that where we are at right now? Hollywood and the record labels don't qualify in this world. They will always exist. They are the capitalization of popular art, but are not part of the true creativity that builds nations.

I think what bothers me the most is the loss of the arts at our "liberal arts" universities. When I was teaching at a college, I witnessed the elimination of an entire art and theater program while, at the same time, the re-building of a football stadium and a multi-million dollar biology building. The English Department also received major cuts and lost all of its creative writing courses. A tasteless cartoon was posted on my door one morning which showed a man crowned with a "Science" cap with a long, flowing robe walking down a hall. Hanging on the tails of his robe were small people with tattered clothes who were labeled "art," "poetry," and "music." Some Biology professor must have been proud of himself. Perhaps this was the same professor who later came to my Writing Center to have his grant proposal written because he could not write a complete sentence himself.

I'll leave you with this. It is a proven historical fact that those societies that put the arts first survive. Those that don't, fall into obscurity. Where is the United States heading?