Donald Trump. Donald Trump. Cat video. Jennifer Lawrence. Donald Trump.
The usual suspects filled my newsfeed as I mindlessly scrolled through Facebook. Finally, shaking me out of a daze, a headline caught my attention. A headline that sparked as much passion as I had only seen in the comment sections of the latest political intrigue or the video of a seal trying to play piano. It was a headline about cutting the arts program in PUSD elementary schools, with a link to a petition, surrounded by heartfelt explanations of why the arts are so important. Upon first glance, I was outraged. Music and art should be a requirement for every child. They work a different part of the brain and provide a creative escape different from that of recess or P.E. I nearly put my name down on the petition right then, and questioned what kind of people would deprive elementary school kids from something as vital as the arts.
But after some research, I saw that the issue is not as black and white as it first seemed. It’s not the good guys versus the bad guys, or a clear cause with an obstacle. I learned that PUSD, as a public school, is required to meet common core demands.
One of which is the time required for students to take state prerequisite technology classes, which in turn would lead to shorter period blocks of art class in elementary schools. Another is the requirement for every teacher to have their credentials, which is not for all of the art teachers.
I understand why people would be in uproar about the possibility of an arts program being cut. Funding for public schools is often not enough, and music and arts always seem to be the first to go; a pattern which is completely unfair to the students and teachers whose lives are shaped by the arts.
However, I urge people to learn all the information before they dedicate themselves to a cause that may not be as straightforward as it seems. I also understand how social media and the press can be a great way to spread ideas and persuade others, as long as the correct and complete information is being portrayed.
It seems to me that the best way to solve a problem is to research the underlying cause and throw one’s efforts into that problem, as opposed to having a negative and knee jerk reaction to the perceived opponent. Instead of furthering a controversy and demonizing the challenger through unnecessary simplifications, it is always more productive to attempt a compromise.
In this case, there is not a group of villains trying to take art classes away from a group of heroes and their young students. There is a state requirement for a common core curriculum, which the school district must meet in order to receive funding. I have so much respect for people who push for worthy causes, but I hope that anyone who truly supports an idea will take the time to learn both sides and portray it accordingly.
