Parents tell the story of the state of the arts and humanities in Utah schools.
"During the last few years, the arts and humanities have been shortchanged in the system. We need to reimplement these programs to make them a `given' instead of an exception," wrote a parent in the recently concluded statewide survey of arts and humanities education in Utah schools.The parent's comment was consistent with survey findings, among them that nearly all parents surveyed want arts and humanities disciplines to be included in their child's curriculum.
Findings of the survey titled, "Keeping the Promise: An Imperative for Survival in the 21st Century," were released in a press conference Wednesday at the Utah Arts Council's offices. The survey, the first of its kind in the state, polled educators, administrators and parents.
Although arts and humanities are part of the state core curriculum required by the State Office of Education and the objectives for implementing this instruction are included in the Utah State Plan for Arts and Humanities Education, the study found "these goals and objectives are not uniformly carried out in every school."
The survey found only 35 to 45 percent of Utah's elementary schools offer instruction in instrumental music, dance or drama during school hours.
At the secondary level, art courses are generally limited to visual art or music with very little available in dance, drama, literature or creative writing. English, history and social studies are the predominant humanities courses taught, while foreign languages, cultural geography and anthropology are lacking.
Teachers surveyed expressed a serious need for professional development opportunities to increase knowledge and teaching expertise.
The survey was compiled by the Utah Alliance for Arts and Humanities Education, Utah Arts Council, Utah Humanities Council, Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers and the State Office of Education.
Sue Heath, executive director of the Utah Alliance for Arts and Humanities Education, said while the report points out some lackluster findings in arts and humanities education, it also represents a starting point for improvement.
For instance, the report provides ammunition to lobby for a $650,000 "new partnership and strategic plan." Supporters plan to pitch the plan to lawmakers next year.