Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is calling for the termination of 43 education programs at the U.S. Department of Education, including arts education. (H.R. 1891) This bill is more serious than the annual funding measures that threaten to de-fund arts education, as HR 1891 would permanently strip policy language out of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that allows the Arts in Education program to be funded each year. Contact your Member of Congress to register your opposition to this legislation and let them know the importance of arts education to students and the critical role this program has had in supporting arts education throughout the country.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Due to so many drastic cutbacks and a misguided move towards teaching students to pass standardized testing, rather than educating them—our schools are failing miserably to educate our youth and oftentimes art is the only resource that keeps students engaged and learning.
The arts open doors of learning and are crucial in the development of critical thinking skills. Art is a bridge, a crossover tool—especially for the sciences. Cripple the arts, and cripple all forms of learning. Art is integral to all learning styles and multiple intelligences.
The Arts in Education program is the ONLY source of dedicated federal education funding to support arts education, a core academic subject of learning proven to improve schools, teaching, and student success in school, work, and life.
The arts have too often been shoved to the margins when our schools need them most. Don't let HR 1891 further narrow the educational opportunities of our nation's students. Protect the Arts in Education program.
Maureen Hurley
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