THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501190017
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
It is distressing to hear of the state-budget cuts for museums and art centers proposed by Governor Allen. What these institutions provide goes far beyond adding to the cultural richness of individuals' lives. Art programs for young people educate those who will be inheriting our community.
There is growing evidence that the arts strengthen the education of all students and offer special advantages for at-risk students in measurable ways. A better-educated population creates a stronger work force to compete in the global economy. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures:
Studies consistently point to higher test scores when art has been integrated into the curriculum in math and the humanities - even SAT scores.
Countries that provide strong art programs for all ages through schools and communities are the ones where the most competitive products in the world market are designed - Japan, Germany, Italy and France.
By the year 2,000, one in three students in the United States will be in an ethnic or national minority, increasing the need for arts programs that help bridge gaps among the groups and promote multicultural understanding.
Students can use the arts to connect with themselves and their environments, gaining tools that they can tap into for life, such as higher self-esteem and critical and imaginative-thinking skills.
This evidence demonstrates the value of investing in the arts. When we give to the arts, the arts give back to children.
JESSIE L. BROWN
Newport News, Jan. 3, 1995 by CNB