The Importance of Art

     The statement that tax dollars should not be wasted on art, music or theater classes in high school, and that public school should be about training young people to enter the workforce, is a ridiculous statement, and it is by far incorrect. Tax dollars that are spent on the arts programs are technically not wasted, because for some people, the arts are what they want to pursue as a career, rather than an office job, or other standard occupations. Yes, it may not be a traditional, standard, job, but it is what the kid wants to do and it should be respected. It's up to the child on what they want to do for a career for the rest of their life, so it shouldn't be the schools who restrict the kids on what they really want to do. It shouldn't be of one person's negative opinion of the arts to prevent children from carrying on into a career of their desire. If people really wanted high school to be a place to train children to enter the workforce, then tax dollars should essentially go towards all of the arts programs, as well as the standard math, science, english, and history classes. Technically, arts can be a job for anyone, and not supplying the high schoolers with classes that provide preparation for the future is basically the same as not having math classes for someone who wants to become an accountant. Yes, it may be difficult to make it with a career such as an artist or a musician or an actor, it is a career choice and children in high school should be able to apply for those positions with experience like anyone who is entering a "standard" career would. And besides the fact that the arts are an actual profession, for some children, their arts electives are the only thing they actually like about school. Some students may find math and english boring, but thrive in their art class, where they can express their creativity and have something they like to do available to them on an everyday basis. Not only that, but the arts programs have helped a lot of kids struggling with depression, or even just finding who they really are. Even taking a scholarly stance, some students who are really skilled at their instruments, or with music, or visual arts, may find that they receive a scholarship to college, providing financial aid and a way to pursue what they really want to do. Overall, the arts programs are extremely beneficial to the kids and high school, and tax dollars should fund the courses, because technically, they do prepare high schoolers for the future in their working careers. Period.