Performing Arts Programs In Schools

“Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it.” (Aristotle) Throughout the country, school officials are cutting the performing arts budgets and getting rid of the programs altogether. There are many different opinions and ideas about the positive and negative affects of having performing arts programs in schools, like why they should be cut or kept. Although many believe that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs have more benefits than performing arts programs, this is untrue because performing arts programs help students in many different areas, help their overall brain …show more content…
This is because it takes an extreme amount of concentration to be able to play an instrument, dance, sing, paint, or act. The concentration skills one learns from performing arts can impact how one acts throughout life and help students focus more in the classroom. Stacey Boyd, who was a former principal and teacher once said when talking about the skills students can acquire from performing arts programs that, “These changes last into adulthood and are proven to affect the ability to listen and communicate as an adult” (Stacey Boyd). This shows that all the skills from performing arts programs are actually applicable in every …show more content…
Cameron et al. 11-13). In actuality STEM schools are considered extremely competitive, stressful, and a male dominated field, which can exclude females. While some arts programs are competitive they are more about supporting the arts in general rather than comparing them to one another. By having the arts in schools it would be able to balance out the stress from academic classroom and break up the competitive attitude between