The Arts in Schools

The Arts consist of many different facets for creative expression in schools including music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. Each of these categories gives students an opportunity to express their passions and immerse themselves in things other than standard school subjects. There has been heavy debate about the position of the arts in school for many years and the decisions are not always consistent across the country. Articles have been written for and against having the arts in schools and debate has even infiltrated state governments and led to changes in school requirements. The arts have been reduced or completely taken out of schools in order to leave more time for instruction on core subjects such as math, science, reading, etc. If schools do have an arts program, they often receive much less funding than other extracurriculars, like sports. As structured and standardized as schooling across the United States has become, it is a shame that the arts have been put on the back burner when they are such a great outlet for students to show off their special and unique talents.

I first got involved in the arts when I was in elementary school, and have loved them ever since. I did competitive dance outside of school for 10 years, but would also participate in several dance events that were hosted at my school. I performed in several plays and musicals all throughout middle and high school and still enjoy going to the theater to see performances. The arts have always been an outlet for me

Two students perform onstage dressed as Dorothy
 and the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz

to relieve stress and get my mind off of school. My theatre class would always make my day so much better during all of high school when I got to spend time being creative and doing something I was really passionate about. School has become very structured and students need a space to feel safe and accepted and the arts can do that for them. I was never in the band, but I would still attend some of their performances to show them support. The arts are interactive, fun, and teach students lessons that they would otherwise never learn. They are able to build deep relationships with their peers and increase their social skills as well. Even though the arts aren't for everyone, this doesn't mean that they should be removed from schools completely. For some, it is a chance to get experience in a potential career, while others may use it as a way to expand their horizons and gain knowledge about something they are not as comfortable with. The arts are too valuable to keep being pushed aside when there are very few negatives to them, and they provide so many students with a place to call home.

Standardized Testing

The field of education is filled with many important lessons that can be used in and out of the classroom. Teachers work tirelessly all year to give their students the most knowledge that they can carry with them throughout their lives. Creative lesson plans are made and fun activities are conducted in order for students to get a good grasp on the material. However, not all of these lessons matter when it comes to testing students on their knowledge. Standardized Testing is admitted all throughout the state in order to gauge how much the student has learned about the material and standards. The tests are administered to all students to find out where they fall in comparison to their fellow classmates and to see if they have mastered what they are expected to learn that year. These tests are supposed to be consistent and in the past have been administered on paper and on the computer. Despite the continued wide use of these tests, the public seems to vary in their opinion, and be very outspoken about it.

As a student in the United States following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, I have completed years and years of standardized testing. Every year my teachers would prepare us for these large scale mandatory tests that were usually conducted at the end of the year to see if we had learned what the state thought was important. Classrooms were stripped and desks were spaced to avoid any possibility of cheating. Once we were old enough to have phones, those were taken out of the classroom

Six students sitting in desks while their 
teacher reads a book in the classroom

by our teachers and school faculty. Number 2 pencils were passed around the room until testing was moved onto the computer and we instead were taught how to take tests on the computer days prior to the testing. As a young student all of this seemed very intimidating and frightening. I have always been good at taking tests and moved quickly through them so I never worried about finishing on time, but this is not the same situation that many of my classmates experienced. Many students, who are very smart, test very badly and receive low scores on the standardized tests. Many opponents of standardized testing claim that it is unfair and doesn't really test a student's knowledge, but rather their ability to take a test. Most of the material we learned throughout the year did not even appear on these exams. Many of the questions have also been found to target specific groups and leave out many students. However, these tests are not all bad. They are very efficient, when conducted properly, at getting an overall picture of what the students have learned. Teachers can use results to target certain content areas that the students might be struggling with. And they also make sure that each student is being taught similar things. With all of the pros and cons that have been heavily debated it seems that there could be a way for improvements to be made to standardized tests in order for students to get a more well-rounded education. Standardized testing will probably stick around for years to come, but with improvements that make it fair for all students, it could become a better indicator of students' knowledge and future success.

Virtual Schooling

Many things changed across the world when the pandemic struck back in the beginning of 2020, but perhaps the thing that has changed the most is the world of education. Instead of having face-to-face interactions and building relationships with teachers and peers, students were thrown into the world of virtual learning. Of course this is what was best during the pandemic, but how has it affected this generation of young students? Virtual schooling is when all teaching is done online either through a virtual meeting application such as Zoom, or when videos are recorded and shared with the class. All assignments are submitted online and all communication is done through email or another type of messenger program. Virtual schooling has become very important in the field of education since it is so heavily used and can accommodate those who are not able to come to school in-person. Many authors have written about virtual learning and how it has affected the classroom.

As a student during the pandemic, I have had a lot of experience in virtual schooling. Through my time in virtual schooling, I have learned many things about it. First, for the most part, it is very user friendly. Programs such as Canvas and Blackboard have been relied on by many colleges and high schools across the country, and with a little practice and experience they are very easy to work. If you have an organized teacher, all of the resources you need should be easily accessible to you. Assignments are turned in one

A student participating in their online class

place and quizzes are completed through the program as well. Second, Zoom and similar applications make it easy to meet with a class. Students are able to get a similar feel of being in the classroom when they meet with their teacher and fellow students in the online format. These programs have been heavily updated since the start of the pandemic and now allow students to raise their hand, share their screen, and even ask a question in the chat feature. Finally, however, I want to discuss one of the downsides of virtual schooling, lack of motivation. Students everywhere are feeling the toll of a lack of face-to-face interaction. With classes online they are unable to make great relationships with peers and teachers that were previously achievable. Having class online for hours leads many students to lose focus and interest in whatever subject matter they are covering. In a class where cameras aren't required to be on, many students give into the temptation of scrolling through their phone instead of listening and learning. As a student myself, I have found it very difficult to find the motivation to pay attention during class when I know I can complete all of my homework assignments and still achieve an A in the class. Of course there are students who really enjoy virtual schooling, as it is very accessible, but it is definitely not for everyone. As we move into a world where the pandemic has slowed enough to allow consistent face-to-face interaction, it will be interesting to see just how much of impact this period of virtual schooling has had on today's students.