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INDIANAPOLIS

BY: Levi Lotz


FINE ARTS IN INDIANA EDUCATION
Money dictates a lot of what people do on a day-to-day basis, but
when it comes to any other institution that requires money to support
it, almost the same rules apply. High Schools around the United States
must make decisions on what areas receive more or less funding just
as a person prioritizes what parts of their budgets is spent where.
Although schools can receive public funding, what they do with the
money they get can only be so much. Location, demand, enrollment,
and booster programs play a role in how much money a school can
work with when deciding which programs to fund. Lately the main area
of study to receive less funding and even excluded from the curriculum
is Fine Arts. Fine arts consists of many different programs within itself
like band, choir, which are the preforming arts, and painting, and
drawing, which are the visual arts.
The main factor affecting the arts is their ability to bring in
money to the school. Compared to some athletic teams, who bring
money in with ticket prices and concessions, the arts can be seen as
less of a priority. This factor is greatly affected by the schools actual
location in Indiana, the rural areas being the ones under the most
strain monetarily. Rural areas then must prioritize their budget and will
fund programs more likely to bring in some revenue, compared to
visual arts, which require more equipment than typical programs and
do not bring in any money for the school. This is not the case for most
suburban and urban areas, which have high enrollment rates. These
areas have a greater budget and allow for those schools to fund certain
areas better than others.
Another way schools can receive funding for certain arts
programs that are under pressure is through booster programs, this is
very prominent in the preforming arts. Todd Bess, the Executive
Director of Indianas Association of School Principals stated, I know
certainly that the majority of band, or vocal, or orchestra programs
have a strong strong booster program. Those booster programs along
with student fees, another way preforming arts is funded, really allow
for the programs to thrive without any large monetary pressure on the
institution itself. Visual arts, on the other hand, struggles to find
funding because of other influences besides the high monetary strain
put on the school itself, needing funding for teachers, and equipment.
Equipment being the biggest influence as in some cases must be
replaced yearly.
Another factor that allows for the arts to fund themselves is that
of student fees. Student fees are exactly what they sound like, fees a
certain student pays when taking a certain course or participating in a

certain extracurricular activity. This fee will provide funding for


equipment and can even come in the form of a student purchasing an
instrument in order to enroll into the schools band or orchestra.
Student fees, which can be very controversial, can have a huge impact
on families that cannot afford it. Not being able to afford student fees
is a big issue but many schools take some monetary responsibility
when in areas that are low income and reduced rates are commonly
imposed. One example that was explained to me by Todd Bess was
that of a band member who came from a low-income family. The
student, instead of purchasing an instrument, was provided with an
instrument through a program provided by the schools that allow
students to rent instruments.
Demand for a certain subject can be another variable that will
vary from location to location. This demand forces schools to place
funding in places that have high demand. Some areas that are in low
demand will not get funding as there will be a greater demand for the
money elsewhere. Another statement from Bess states Some of the
general fund helps in the coaching world. This just goes to show what
pressure some schools can be under when their general fund is low
and when it comes down to paying for a football coach or a painting
professor, if the demand for visual arts is low, the program will lose its
funding. Teresa Lubbers who is the Commissioner for higher education
stated I think how school districts choose to do that (provide funding)
will be depending on the communities in which they are located and if
the community actually feels, which I think a case could be made for a
strong affinity to make sure the arts are provided mostly school boards
will respond to that kind of pressure. This can show how demand is
very important in rural areas because being that their funding is low,
whichever areas have a higher demand in their communities will
receive the most funding.
"In the push for quality math, science, technical, humanities, and
other programs, please be sure that the arts are not ignored or pushed
to one side. Provide your political support for the total curriculum. The
arts enrich all of us." Dr. Richard Miller, Executive Director American
Association of School Administrators once stated. This quote
represents the idea that art is very important to the education system,
although sometimes it doesnt fit into a particular education system, it
is still important. When it comes to making financial decisions about
education, many programs can find themselves at the bottom of the
list, and although money is tight in many school districts, many other
influences will keep the arts alive. Whether arts are not funded
because it cannot compete with the ability other areas have to bring in
revenue other areas, or because it cannot support itself, high demand,
booster programs, and student fees will keep the arts afloat.

Sourcing
"Education and the Fine Arts." Education and the Fine Arts. Web. 13
Mar. 2016.
"Katy Independent School District." The Importance of Fine Arts
Education. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.
"The Importance of Art in Child Development." PBS. PBS. Web. 13 Mar.
2016.
"Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best." Edutopia.
2009. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

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