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Should fine arts be required?
December 28, 2012
By observing an elementary school playground, it is easy to distinguish the artistic kids, who are drawing or making crafts, from the jocks, who are zooming around with a ball on the tattered fields. But how can people be sure that the boy shooting the winning goal does not also have the voice of an angel?
In elementary and middle school, every student is required to take different classes such as Music, Art, Drama, Applied Science and Wellness, so they can be exposed to a variety of different subjects and adequately choose a secondary pursuit in high school.
Up until last year, WHS has given students almost full control in choosing electives and extracurriculars. Now, all students have a mandatory arts requirement at the school, which means they have to take at least one fine arts class before they graduate.
The principle of this new rule is understandable, even pleasant. The idea of a “High School Musical”-like education is appealing; the athlete discovers a love for the arts and unites the school.
Yet, however noble the idea, this new requirement seems highly unnecessary. After all those middle school years when the jocks suffered through learning the dulcimer, why should they be forced to have to take an arts class again? If a student has a secret artsy talent he is interested in pursuing, he can make it clear. Those students are fully capable of selecting the “Art 1” box on their class selection sheets, but that doesn’t mean all students should have to.
Furthermore, students who are completely uninterested in these art courses are using up the limited resources and creating an unenthusiastic environment for students who actually want to be there.
We believe that this new rule has only created resentment among students. Upon entering high school, students look forward to paving their own road and getting their first taste of freedom. This new fine arts requirement is too reminiscent of middle school to be effective and appreciated.
Being well-rounded is something to strive for, but it’s also something students need to be independent and mature enough to achieve without the school’s regulation.
See the opposing viewpoint in “Fine arts requirement is necessary and rewarding.”
jack clark • Nov 21, 2022 at 10:32 AM
hey jessica im in that class too. good luck on your assiment!
Jessica Faye Stanley • Nov 8, 2022 at 1:57 PM
The reason why I’m on this site is because I have to do an assignment in U.S History about if students should be required to take fine arts courses to graduate from high school. I think fine arts shouldn’t be required, but that is my opinion some one might think differently. The students who want to do art, music, drama, etc.. should select what fine art they want to do but that doesn’t mean that all the students got to sign up for one. I also see the other side why people would say yes that fine arts should be required.
juan • May 6, 2021 at 8:25 AM
The whole system is cracked, don’t get me wrong I like to draw my own way I hate being forced to do these huge unnecessary projects that take up like 3 of my other classes. and to make it mandatory we have enough pressure with 6 other classes in general for them to just make Art mandatory. The big point here is they are focusing on our education a little too much. Also, how are they going to bring the school to our chill zone IDK about yall but home was my only free time now I have none. Art should be a choice!!!!
Vilma • Apr 1, 2021 at 1:26 PM
la verdad no pienso nada
Name (required) • Jan 27, 2021 at 5:33 PM
Sam, I think that was good! 😀
Boycotting at its finest. You’ll go far in life… maybe.
Name (required) • Jan 27, 2021 at 5:31 PM
😀
Sam • Nov 13, 2020 at 9:50 AM
I was required to do Art and I was the brat of the class. I would purposely do the art in the worse way possible and make it so I was kicked out of class. I didn’t do it in that class only I did it for music as well. I was trying to get a message that “I wasn’t going to do well in this class because you made me do it”
Mercedes • Oct 19, 2020 at 11:59 AM
Forcing students to do fine arts isnt right. A better program would be to have the students take one class, see if they like it, and decide off of that.
Jessica Faye Stanley • Nov 8, 2022 at 1:59 PM
Yes, I agree with you forcing students to do fine arts is not right.
bob • Sep 24, 2019 at 11:05 PM
june on feburary in=m here too cause i need to do a speech about this and is suk
Regina • Oct 11, 2021 at 1:30 PM
Correction: ‘and it sucks’ Just saying. If your going to say words do it the right way.
my name is my name • Oct 14, 2021 at 1:52 PM
LMAO- grammar police much ?
kosovo is serbia • Apr 11, 2022 at 8:24 PM
fr fr ? ?
Name (required) • Jan 10, 2023 at 9:37 PM
You’re correcting someone but you need to be corrected yourself not to be rude. *If you’re going to say words do it the right way. You’re = you are.
oil • Sep 24, 2019 at 11:02 PM
dude is so right
Germany • Sep 24, 2019 at 10:50 PM
this is bs why do we need to take art and music
we probably aren’t going to become artists or musicians
so y do we need it
Regina • Oct 11, 2021 at 1:27 PM
Totally BS. I agree we shouldn’t have to do something that we don’t want if it isn’t going to affect our future
Pablo • Feb 12, 2019 at 9:12 AM
Preach
June • Feb 27, 2017 at 1:52 PM
the reason im on here, is because I have to give a speech. and its on this. guess what? this isn’t about the other way around. this is about kids being forced to be in music and art when they might despise it. other classes that are required, like gym, are required for a reason. gym keeps you healthy. especially nowadays when there are cars, and busses, and barely anyone walks or does anything truly active. gym is the only way some kids can burn off calories. now im not against being a little lazy, but gym is useful. music and art, is definitely not going to help every single person in high school with their future career and/or everyday life. unlike English and basic math and gym. all of you negative people need to cool your jets, and realize that you don’t sway another’s opinion. and that your comments wont make the author of this article take it down. guess what else, im in choir, and theatre. and I love it. but it is so annoying when someone has been forced to be in there, and now the teacher has to deal with their snotty attitudes and snide remarks. imagine yourself having to teach that. would you want to deal with that on a daily pattern? yeah, I thought not.
Random • Jan 13, 2015 at 2:53 PM
the cos(30) degrees is the same as the sin(60) degrees and is used in the real world when you are trying to find out something you dont know about something in the shape of a right triangle without taking out a freakishly long measuring tape that astronauts could use to measure the distance from earth to the moon but fine arts some people just arent good at it so why force them
Person • Oct 30, 2014 at 5:57 PM
Do what you want. Teachers shouldn't make you do something you don't want to do! What if the kid is terrible at what they (unwillingly) sign up for?! They don't even like the class! What would happen? I personally love fine arts and it's difficult for me to see the other perspective, but if the kid could maybe try it they might enjoy it. If they don't they should be able to quit. Why would someone force people to do stuff they don't like? I'll bet they wouldn't like someone to do that to them. They should all read this and think about it.
emilay • Apr 23, 2015 at 8:56 PM
Artistic and musical kids are forced to take classes they don't like as well. Think about it the other way around. If science and such is mandatory, then arts should be too. everyone should equally bare the burden
Nobody • Oct 20, 2014 at 12:11 PM
No
Nobody2 • Dec 4, 2014 at 9:02 AM
Yes?
myself • Jan 2, 2015 at 4:38 PM
yes
Fabulous1 • Oct 7, 2014 at 1:12 PM
I believe that this rule can help students expand there minds.
nobody • Aug 14, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Honestly, I think schools have too much control now-a-day. I mean, seriously, come on guys, it shouldn't be up to the school to decide if a student wants to stay fit (gym) or if he even has an interest in any type of art. I've even heard of some schools not allowing junk food! If a student wants to stay fit, they'll apply for track or work out on their own. If a student wants to lose some weight, they'll cut back on the sweets, /on their own/. If a student likes art, they can find a pencil and start drawing, or painting or playing a guitar of making pottering for Pete's sake by their own choice!
Student • Jul 8, 2014 at 10:52 AM
I think it is a waste of time to even write this article. im in fine arts classes and there are student s that dont even want to be there, and it just holds those who sho want to succeed in the fine arts. when you give a kid that wants to learn an instrument they will cheerish it like it is their child forever. and love it nd succeed and go far. if you give a kid who doesnt care an instrument they will abuse the art and the absolute beauty of it. so i say dont make it mandetory to join a fine arts class… it will just hold the rest of us back…
Random • Jan 13, 2015 at 2:57 PM
if someone doesnt want to take it they dont have to im homeschooled now so i get to choose my own classes i want to learn spanish cuz i can speak to ppl who dont know english and guitar cuz i love music but thats it
anon • Jan 4, 2013 at 12:11 PM
I, personally, do not believe that this requirement is not meant to make us a "High School Musical-ish" sort of school. I believe that it's about the responsibility that comes with the class. Classes like chorus, band and orchestra give students a responsibility to practice and improve upon themselves. And although I don't agree with the "High School Musical" kind of community, I do believe that this brings all sorts of personalities together. Of course the teachers know that this won't unite the whole school, but it may bring together people that would otherwise never speak.
student • Jan 3, 2013 at 9:07 AM
After all those middle school years when the jocks suffered through learning to write effectively, why should they be forced to have to take an English class again? Being well-rounded is something to strive for, but it’s also something students need to be independent and mature enough to achieve without the school’s regulation.
^As you can see, the arguments you've offered against the Fine Arts requirement could just as easily stand against mandatory English classes. The only difference is your narrow perspective on how the fine arts actually benefit students; no, it's not about "High School Musical." We make students take English because it's an important part of your education— so the article only makes sense under the assumption that the fine arts are inherently less valuable. Which has been disproven pretty much consistently.
QED
supermanxtt • Nov 2, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Really? becase last time i checked, i use english and any other subject for that matter (even including gym) in my everyday life than i use what i learned in art
Unanimous • Dec 28, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Then why is gym required, it goes both ways.
Anon • Mar 2, 2015 at 4:42 PM
So kids do get fat.
no • Nov 7, 2021 at 8:45 PM
Hahaha