Everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness, whatever that may mean for them. From a young age, my source of happiness was the fine arts. With fine arts, I was truly free.

I almost had that freedom stolen from me because of one issue. Budget cuts.

In my old school, there was an art teacher who would visit our school every month. Whenever she came, I was given time to create whatever I wanted with sheets of colored paper and paint. However, that all changed because of budget cuts. Fortunately, the PTA raised money to save the art program. However, as I grew up, I realized that I was lucky to have this opportunity that not everyone had. Why is this?

According to Jen McDonald from the Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance, about 80% of schools throughout the nation face budget cuts. These schools have to decide which classes to remove, fine arts generally being the first to leave the curriculum. McDonald also states that the No Child Left Behind Act and Common Core Standards Act gave extra attention to core subjects, leaving there to be less funding for the arts. However, ridding students of opportunities in fine arts can eliminate opportunities to learn important skills and have a negative impact on their mental health. Fine arts should not be removed when budget cuts arise, but instead should receive extra funds to ensure these important opportunities for all students.

Just as sports improve our physical health, fine arts enhance our mental health. The National Association for Music Education highlights that music helps kids cope with anxiety and have a higher self-esteem. In fact, research has shown that arts have therapeutic effects. In my experience, practicing my violin always makes me feel better after a bad day. For many students – myself included – the load of homework and the preponderance of tests can escalate stress levels and, as a result, damage mental health levels. Moreover, a study by New York University emphasizes that 49% of the high school students who reported felt stressed everyday. Fine arts, which for many students is a well-deserved break for enjoyment, may just be the cure for this.

Furthermore, fine arts education improves problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity, traits desperately needed in all occupations. A study by Judith Burton, a professor of art and art education, that was referenced by Katy ISD highlights that students in fine arts programs were better at creativity, cooperation, and problem-solving than those who were not in fine arts. A creative and problem-solving mind in the workplace can create solutions that break the status quo. Collaboration is needed in all careers, from the group of actors performing on stage to the team of architects designing a building. In other words, fine arts help students prepare for their futures. 

Fine arts education educates students about different cultures and teaches them about the importance of inclusion. Katy ISD expresses that fine arts are something that is open to people of all races, genders, and economic status. As it also involves communication and collaboration, students are exposed to different types of people and gives them an appreciation of the diversity of this world. I for one learned about a different culture through music. In orchestra, we played a piece called Lion City, which was based on Singaporean culture. Diversity is an important part of our world, and fine arts teach that to students.

Some may say that students need to focus more on their core classes to succeed academically. However, the truth stands that fine arts improve cognitive function. Referenced by Laura Brown from PBS, a study by Christopher Johnson, a professor of music education and therapy, found that elementary schoolers in schools with a good music program scored 20% better in math and 22% better in English than those in inferior ones. Likewise, Jen McDonald emphasizes that those who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on the SAT on average. Particularly, the motor skills needed in art and memory recall in music contribute to brain development. Indeed, fine arts bolster, not hinder, academic achievement.

So let your students keep creating. Continue to support and fund arts education, for the sake of their health and the nation's future. We all must recognize the importance of fine arts and give every student the opportunity to make music, put their paint brushes on the canvas, and perform in the spotlight.

After all, doesn't everyone deserve to pursue happiness?