A 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.




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!!!