Student 5

Budget Cuts

Music is highly beneficial in a school curriculum. But recently, budget cuts have been made to that part of the education system. Many people are for these cuts. I would try to persuade an audience against such actions. I would say it is important because music study improves scholastic achievement, promotes student involvement and improves the health and well-being of listenteners. I say the budget cuts are gonna hurt democrates the most.
I would present testimony from the community and students. “If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.” Quoted from Thomas Carlyle, a famous teacher during the Victoria era. Music is an integral part of the community, if it was lost we would surely lose ourselves. After all, where would America be without it’s national Anthem? Music can be both entertaining and enlightening. Songs such as “The Wearing of the Green.”, an uplifting Irish ballad about the heralding tale of the Irish rebellion during the 1700s. The Irish were executed for wearing green. Because of songs like that, their history will not be forgotten.
Music gets children involved in the school environment. Students are not bored or restless. A study of 237 second grade children used piano keyboard training and newly designed math software to demonstrate improvement in math skills. The group scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children that used only the math software. Graziano, Amy, Matthew Peterson, and Gordon Shaw, "Enhanced learning of proportional math through music training and spatial-temporal training." Neurological Research 21 (March 1999). Another important point is that it doesn’t matter what a child’s race is or if he is wealthy. Everyone can benefit from music. In an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students (NELS:88, National Education Longitudinal Survey), researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12." This observation holds regardless of students' socio-economic status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental music vs. those who are not is more significant over time. Catterall, James S., Richard Chapleau, and John Iwanaga. "Involvement in the Arts and Human Development: General Involvement and Intensive Involvement in Music and Theater Arts." Los Angeles, CA: The Imagination Project at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, 1999.
Music is beneficial to health. There is such a thing as music therapy. It has many uses. For instance, it is used to treat patients who have suffered strokes. The brain responds to music stimuli. Music therapy has been shown to improve mood and increase the patients motivation. Music can also make the elderly healthier. It has been shown to decreases in anxiety, depression, and loneliness by just taking keyboard lessons. Dr. Frederick Tims, reported in AMC Music News, June 2, 1999
Overall I would say that democrates would be for budget cuts because their budget would be affected. Republicans would not be affected because of their feelings about government. Republicans want less government. A perfect example is the district of Cornado, California. The Coronado high school was not affected by the budget cuts because, for the most part, it is funded by the parents in the area. Parents pay a nominal fee for participation in the artistic program, it features University of California college credits. That is typical of the low-budget, low overhead mentality that the Republican party favors.
The uses for music are endless. But all this shows that music has important benefits. Music can help children in school. It makes their lives not only more enjoyable but also more productive. It has even shown health benefits. Music is important to everyone and shouldn’t be cut from schools. These points would help me dissuade an audience for cutting music in schools.