Bill would add arts requirement


Becky CarneyA bill would require high school students to finish at least one arts class.

The legislation filed in the House this week would add an arts credit to the statewide graduation requirements.

Rep. Becky Carney, a Charlotte Democrat who sponsored the bill, said students who have studied the arts do better on tests of math, science and reading.

She said arts classes also boost students' self-esteem and creativity, traits that will help them succeed in the business world after graduation.

"In these tough economic times, I feel that it's a perfect time to reach out to our students and send a clear message that we value their creativity," she said. "The arts brings out what's inside of us that makes us unique and different."

Carney, a former county commissioner who has haggled over school budgets before, said it would also help protect arts classes from cuts.

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Re: Bill would add arts requirement

This coming from the same legislative geniuses that think "corporal punishment" (legal right for teacher to hit a child) is okie dokie without considering how many teachers are charged with child sex offenses; giving the perverts the legal right to take a child private and hit them... gasp.. Also these same genuises made it mandatory for a student who passed all subjects and end-of-course tests but missed too many days of school to have to REPEAT THE GRADE HE/SHE ALREADY PASSED. Anyone think this is a good idea and that it will motiviate the student? It is not surprising that North Carolina has been a bottom feeder in Public Education for a long time... With all the budget cuts and the added expense of a CEO salary -- where's the money coming from to implement this?

Stop repeat offenders; don't re-elect them!!!

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

Jacnun, we require high schoolers to graduate with at least one gym/PE credit, so you contradicted your own point.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

At last. Us rednecks need more culture. Art classes would help our children to compete in the global economy. We could make Dale, Jr., bobble-head dolls for use in automobile rear windows. And I'm sure art classes would help us appreciate all those museum exchanges that will most definitely result from Gov. Easley's, et al, European Cheeseburger Tour.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

"At last! Someone who understands the importance of increasing classes which encourage students to unleash creativity and broaden their horizons. As the parent of a Band student, it is evident that the discipline required to learn and perform have improved performance in my child's other classes"

"The data is there to support the legislators proposal as she mentions. I can see by the first few comments that they must not have participated in any arts activities and therefore would not have any appreciation for those activities."

Sorry, I have to disagree with both of these statements.
I have participated in multiple arts activities and
observing my fellow arts students is why I think art
education is a dodge to avoid actual learning.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

"students who have studied the arts do better on tests of math, science and reading"

If math, science and reading are so important maybe we could have a extra class in, you guessed it, math, science and reading.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

I see the bill comes with no indication of funding source or trade offs for this. I am certainly supportive of teaching the arts in school and could be convinced of it needing to be a requirement, but if the trade off is even more over crowding, lower pay for teachers in general, etc then I'll pass.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

martial arts?

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

While I support and encourage the artistic side of anyone. I don't think that it needs to be a requirement. Their have been studies to show how athletics also helps to improve social and academic skills in some but we are not making it a requirement. Just like every student isn't athletic every student isn't going to be artistic either.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

At last! Someone who understands the importance of increasing classes which encourage students to unleash creativity and broaden their horizons. As the parent of a Band student, it is evident that the discipline required to learn and perform have improved performance in my child's other classes. The requirement of performing in front of others has brought a child from terror to confidence that can only improve self-esteem in future endeavors.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

The data is there to support the legislators proposal as she mentions. I can see by the first few comments that they must not have participated in any arts activities and therefore would not have any appreciation for those activities.
Great to see somebody actually standing up for arts in schools. Similar to athletic activities, the more options that kids have to do something like the arts, the less free time they have to get into troubled activities. Hoo-ray...

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

What a waste!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

From what I seen, studying the "arts" is usually a method to
avoid leaning actual knowledge.

Re: Bill would add arts requirement

Will there be a hip hop class?