To think if more emphasis was put on the arts in schools then core subjects would fall into place

[ConfuciousSayWhat]

I get that the funds aren't there for the arts and that in times of funding cuts they are the first thing to go, but Aibu to think the arts support academic learning?

Music opens up maths, languages, science
Drama opens up literature and languages
Art opens up maths, physics, biology

Nevermind how they feed into technology, design and architecture.

Aibu to be saddened at the loss of focus on the arts in schools?

I'm with you in that there isn't enough funding for the arts.
But from personal experience, the Arts most definitely did not support my academic learning. I stupidly chose dance, drama and music as 3 of my 4 optional GCSE's. I took part in every single school production, dance showcase, musical recital etc during my 5 years at the school. I ended up focusing so much on dance/music/drama that English/maths/science took a back seat. I was in the bottom sets for all 3 core subjects, and by the time year 10 and 11 rolled around, I would bunk off of maths and science and spend those hours either in the dance studio working on my exam pieces, or in my music teacher's office working on music exam theory. As a result, I got A*'s in dance and music, and an A in drama at GCSE - I was chuffed to bits!!!.....then I had to show my mum the rest of my GCSE results I scraped a D in English, E's in maths, science and ICT.
I think it was a bad decision on my school's part to allow me to study all 3 performing arts - they even adjusted certain aspects of the school timetable to allow myself and 4 other students study all 3 subjects.
Looking back, and looking forward at my non-existent career prospects now, I want to punch my 14 year old self in the face for being such a muppet!

No I don't think that was the case Vestal, neither of them ever liked singing even before school as toddlers at preschool etc. They have never enjoyed it. Or going on the stage for school plays etc. It's just not their thing.

Singing, music and drama are OK if you are into that kind of thing. Its a bit like PE. Those that love it try to force it on everyone else. None of my family would EVER dance around on stage or sing in public.

My DC's hate the 'arts' and we said those subjects won't help you get a job like science, business, ICT etc will.

I agree Touche Singing, music, drama, art are all about putting yourself out there for judging and some DC don't really want or like that.

I did a drama degree (50:50 theory and practice) and the transferrable skills have been pretty valuable.
Communication skills, self-confidence, public speaking, working as part of a creative team, working to a brief, working to deadlines, project development strategy, project evaluation etc etc.
If we want true diversity in the media and broadcasting industries, if we want more working-class and BME actors on TV, if we want working-class voices in the theatre and writing/directing/producing film and television then cutting creative arts subjects in state schools is really not the way to go.

I've a computing degree but loved doing drama at GCSE I'd have done music too if I'd been able to ( our only options were 1 of 3 arts subject and whether or not to do a second language).

It certainly helped keep me sane. I think everyone should do a practical subject whether it's an art or home ec or pe or drama.

www.newstatesman.com/culture/2015/01/privileged-are-taking-over-arts-without-grit-pop-culture-doomed

I think arts should be available to everyone because some people will be able to develop their talents in these areas and it will have cross over for other areas. They also give the brain a rest/change so they are fresh for their academic subjects.

The UK used to be a leading country in arts but this is now falling by the wayside.

Pursuing any arts subject out of school is hugely expensive. Young people with latent talent and no financial resources or school support will simply fall by the wayside. Decent teaching of the arts is hugely empowering for students. Poor teaching (to which some of you refer) is poor teaching regardless of the subject.

Do schools still do vocational things? I'm in my late 20's and at my school there was only Health and Social, Plastering and Building vocational work. And no-one from the top sets were allowed to chose them.

Dd1 does music, drama, art and dance at her secondary school, plus there are many artsy extra-curricular clubs to choose from.

Dd2's primary school does art about once a term, no music, no drama, no clubs except a pretty rubbish choir. Just SATs SATs SATs practice. I hate how the joy is being sucked out of primary education, and I think the OP makes a good point.

I'm lucky in that I can afford for dd2 to have piano lessons and go to a drama club in town, but her equally keen and talented friends have to miss out.

Yes, I agree with you. Music and maths are clearly linked.

The UK used to be a leading country in arts but this is now falling by the wayside.

Don't worry, other countries are way ahead and already cutting the budget of the human sciences at universities. Or the whole subjects.

Singing, music and drama are OK if you are into that kind of thing. Its a bit like PE. Those that love it try to force it on everyone else. None of my family would EVER dance around on stage or sing in public.

Most arts-related jobs don't involve performing in public.

E.g. events manager, illustrator, librarian, art/music/drama therapist, publishing, teaching, arts administration, broadcasting, audio engineer, recording video game soundtracks, costume designer, set designer, cameraman, gallery owner, agent, photographer, stage manager or animator.

My DC's hate the 'arts' and we said those subjects won't help you get a job like science, business, ICT etc will.

As well as performing and directly arts-related jobs, there are also many employers who don't mind what subject your degree was in, as they all develop transferable skills such as research, debate, analysis, collaboration etc. Additionally there are many fast-track graduate schemes where again a degree in any subject is fine, and conversion courses for careers such as law.

Head of Music in a comp here

We've consistently recruited two full GCSE classes for years, by making music relevant and exciting. We cater to our Grade 8 cellists and include our students with SEN who love to sing.

I was top in most subjects all the way through school, which I put down to my musical training.

DS (3 yo) also seems to be musical and is starting to read independently and loves maths.

I think Music boosts so many functions/attributes which are central to learning (self motivation, performing, practising, resilience, listening, social skills), I can't see it being edged out of the curriculum anytime soon.

Yoko - I'm intrigued. How do you make music exciting for those who aren't interested in it?

Surely you bring it into the realms of their understanding? Relate it to their favourite singer or band?

Surely everyone, even those proclaiming to hate learning music, love something about music if so there's your hook

It doesn't work. My mother teaches in a prep school in which the kids have 3 1/2 hours of English and maths a week (compared to 5 hours in most state primaries) to make way for dance, more music classes than you'd ever get in a state primary, ditto drama, art, and an entire afternoon of PE once a week plus gymnastics, DT and cookery. A lot of what would traditionally be core subject time is compromised and as a result over half her current class have a tutor for English and Maths outside school. Much better to get the core stuff done in school and spend the evenings doing whatever takes the child's interests, be it dance, gymnastics, art club etc, than force them to use that time for tutoring and probably make them spend time in school doing at least one extra curricular type subject they hate.

I HATED art, drama, dt, all that kind of stuff in school. I did 10 GCSEs in traditional academic subjects (despite school trying to change my mind) and am now studying a 'traditional' subject at a RG university. Arts aren't for everyone.

gleam

We do lots of cross-curricular stuff so African Drumming/Samba topics incorporate Geography, languages, Maths and dance. Dance Music topic is done exclusively in Garage Band so ICT. I think it helps that the lessons are fun and varied (or so I'm told) and there's quite a lot of 'informal learning' where the teacher is facilitator and students are in charge of the direction their work/performance takes.

dona I strongly believe arts support more 'academic' subjects. I went to Oxford with straight As - entirely attributable to learning instruments from an early age. Most of my friends were also very good musicians, regardless of the subject they were reading.

Yoko that I completely agree with, I also learnt instruments throughout my time at school. However, I benefitted far more from out-of-school instrumental lessons and sport than I ever did music lessons, drama etc in school; unfortunately, the nature of school music lessons means they're often dumbed down for the kids who haven't studied music and therefore of little benefit. Much better IMO to focus on English and Maths in schools rather than taking time from these for art and drama like the school I mentioned in my pp, and encourage children to take part in extra-curricular music outside of schools. Many counties have music programmes which allow children to access music lessons at a reduced fee. They'll learn more in those than they ever will in a whole-class music lesson.

dona as a teacher of whole-class music, I disagree.

My students at KS3 learn about some very high-falutin concepts that I didnt even touch upon in my instrumental lessons: cross-rhythms, heterophony, texture, how to structure compositions in various styles. They also learn about music from other cultures and music from a variety of genres.

They get less than an hour a week, though, so it's hard to make a real impact.

Studying arts subjects can be really valuable. Yes the link with music and maths, drama and communication etc. But every person in my family has a creative career: actor, artist, graphic designer, tv director, musician, set designer and a VT editor. We all love our jobs and have done really well. I couldn't imagine giving up work - it's a fantastic job. It makes me so mad to hear people and politicians denigrate the arts as if they weren't useful. Or valuable. I have two really creative children, one who is also academic, one who isn't. I don't want educators insinuating that what one child does is better for their lives tan what the other can realistically achieve. Especially when that really may not be the case. I was totally crap at physics, chemistry and maths. It has done me no harm at all and, hand on heart, most of the maths I learned in the last two years before o'level has never darkened my door again.

Thanks Yoko.