Gym, music, art, computer lab; those are the things that kids get excited about in school. These classes help students to learn how to use their imagination and creativity. "Specials" as they are sometimes called, are also a very important part of the student's learning. Unfortunately, schools have been cutting funding for the specials, or limiting the amount of time the students spend in those classes each week. This only hurts the child because then school isnt as fun anymore and they have to stay in one place all day, every day, without any change. We all know that kids tend to get bored easily, so instead of keeping them engaged, the schools make it so that all school is, is boring and repetitive. This needs to change because we will soon have a deficiency in creative and imaginative minds in our world because the schools didn't encourage this way of thinking, they encouraged, the curriculum and state standards.It is proven that music can help children learn and understand math better, and art classes help to develop one's own sense of individuality and creativity. Gym makes it so that children know that exercise can be fun, and not just the boring chore that most adults make it out to be. If we continue to cut gym classes, our obesity problem in America will only worsen because we didn't show children how to stay physically fit. Also, as for computer class, we are in a technological age where we depend on our computers and other electronic devices in our everyday lives. While most students already know how to use a computer, they only know how to play games and access the internet. In school computer labs, they are taught how to use the different, and sometimes important, programs on the computer, and even more importantly, they are taught how to type correctly, which can help them with school work and possibly their future careers.
Another blog that speaks about this controversial issue of cutting specials from the school day is,
I believe that cutting "specials" is a HUGE problem the school systems are having and that this blog is extremely significant in trying to vocalize opinion about it. Personally, I was very into music, the school band, and the drama club when I was in high school and they were the best experiences I had while I was there. My entire social structure was based out of the band, and I don't know where I would have been without the band and drama club. I learned so much from my teachers, and although they were time consuming, the time I spent with the band was all positive, and the time other students spend doing things like band, drama, and art are all time they AREN'T spending out on the street, doing drugs, or other negative things they could spend their free time doing if they weren't provided these other wonderful opportunities. You mention that "specials" enhance creativity and help students while they're studying for their other content areas, which I absolutely believe to be true as well. When students are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively, they are more likely to have a positive experience in school and will be more motivated to do well in their other classes as well. While there might not be a whole lot individuals can do about school systems cutting these special classes, writing about it and speaking up is definitely a great start.
ReplyDeleteI am so upset about schools talking about cutting gym classes! This is rediculous especially for like elementary kids. With all day kindergarden becoming the way it is now these kids need time to run around and get their energy out, you cannot expect a 5 or 6 year old to sit in a classroom for seven hours and not want to run around. Sure there is recess, but it's not the same as a gym class. I agree with this post in that people make such a big deal about our nation's children becoming more and more obese when schools are only giving each class room 30 minutes of gym time twice a week (at least at the school I work at). That's hardly anything when you see commercials on tv that are promoting kids to be active daily for 60 minutes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, taking away music and art is something I cannot grasp either because there are schools that people can attend for music and art. How might some kids who have no opprotunity outside of school discover that they are the next Van Gogh or the next great opera singer if they don't have the opprotunity to explore this in school. Where else would they do it?
As a parent, I can honestly say that my children enjoy their time in speacials. They know when and what time for everyday of the week.They can tell me everything they learned in their speacials as well as how much fun they had. If you ask them what did they learn at school or how was school they will say they were bored. I think its important for children to have speacials during the the school day. They have to sit in their seats and learn all this new information and don't have a out let for all the energy they have. Children have to have a chance to be children to play and learn. Children have a wonderful imagination thats why I think its important for their developement as a person to be able to express themselves in a art or music class. Teachers are always complaining about students in their class who lack focus, they tell parents to make sure they are well rested before sending them to school. Rest isn't a cure for focus all the time, it can only help.
ReplyDeleteAs future teachers we can't expect our student to sit still and be instructed for over 7 hours and still learn something. They need to burn some energy. You are right when you say that they are bored because they are doing the same thing day and day out. We need to keep speacials in our school and find the funding for them. Cutting speacials isn't going to make our test score go up, hiring teacher that know how to teach will.
Keeping the classroom fun and interesting will boost a students interest to learn. Cutting specials throughout the day does not keep the day, especially for the younger grades, fun and interesting. Keeping their curiosity and attention is key and I believe that having a time in the day either to run around, draw, or sing brings that attention back into the classroom. Students that do not have that special time either loose that curiosity and attention and may act up or not get anything completed throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteCutting specials is a huge problem in many of our schools today. What many people don't realize, I think, is that these specials schools are cutting are often times the only creative outlet or exercise that these students get all day or even all week. Keeping specials in schools helps the students have an interest in school. Music classes are very beneficial for students and this is one of the specials being cut as well. Parents and teachers need to stand up for the kids and try to figure out a way to keep the specials in schools so that the kids have something to look forward to during their school day.
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