When educational institutions are forced to tighten their belts, the first programs to get the ax are generally the arts. True to the norm, Brandeis University has announced that it will be closing its Rose Art Museum and selling the 6,000 pieces in its collection in an attempt to recuperate some of the $163 million its endowment has lost in the economic downturn. While there has been an outcry from Brandeis alums and students, as well as the greater Boston community, this action on Brandeis' part seems to be a reflection of a more widespread trend in allowing the arts to occupy the spot on the bottom of the list of educational priorities.
Almost anyone who has ever been a part of the visual or performing arts, especially in public schools, is probably all too familiar with the complaints of teachers and students about a lack of funding, and is used to watching classes, shows and events get canceled in the name of frugality and budget maintenance. Especially since the implementation of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act, schools tend to prioritize subjects that appear on statewide standardized tests over the arts when considering the allotment of funds.
Although No Child Left Behind did allocate more money than ever before for arts programs, its emphasis on measuring scholastic achievement through standardized testing continually manages to negate the effects of extra funds. Since art is notoriously difficult to quantify and assess, very few states have any form of standardized test for the arts. As a result, art programs fall by the wayside while public schools focus on upping their standardized testing scores by emphasizing reading and math. This concentration on "testable" core subjects generally also means that, along with little funding, the arts receive less class time and fewer class offerings, making it even more difficult for a wide range of students to have the opportunity to participate and learn about the arts.
While it is indisputable that math and reading skills are essential and invaluable, there is a lot to be said for the arts. Art is a reflection of culture, knowledge and the human experience. It is another medium through which people connect with each other and understand the world around them. So much of our understanding of the past comes from art, whether it be the cave paintings at Lascaux, the works of the Dutch masters or even the post-World War II modern art of Brandeis' Rose Museum. The closing of the Rose Museum is disheartening, not only in that it is the loss of an incredible collection of contemporary art, but because it shows us how little value we place upon preserving and perpetuating our own culture in the face of tough economic decisions.
