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The arts has been a low priority for funding by the federal government.

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That art helps with critical thinking and has a positive affect on academics.

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It helps to support learning and lowers drop out rates.  It lets students have a creative outlet that is so important and vital.

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Art education is important because it allows a student to express themselves, get them "out of their shell" and be creative.

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There are some schools that don't have the funds for art or don't see the importance of it.

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I found it interesting that students with low socioeconomic background have reduced drop out rates when there is high impact on integrating art.

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It's interesting that arts are the one of the first programs to be cut and defunded. I have witnessed this growing up. P.E. was also cut :(

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I didn't realize how much a formal art program could cost as much as it does. Now I know why Evergreen Schools District relies so heavily on volunteers to go into elementary classrooms to teach are once each month. Free labor costs nothing. :\ Sadly, most teachers in the building I volunteered in, only allotted 1 hour each month for formal art instruction.

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While the arts are the first subject area to be cut from schools in order to save money, art education is an essential component of a student's development

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It gives children the opportunity to learn about other cultures.

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What stuck with me the most is how sad the state of funding for the arts is. I think there is a danger of thinking that all of these great points the video had are ways to justify something that is still a fun little thing that kids do before naptime. In reality it's so crucially important (and for many students will impact their lives and education far more than core curriculum), we as a country need to reflect that in how we arrange our funding.

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Art education helps students develop expression, and the earlier you introduce art the better it is for the child.

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I loved when the little kids were talking about what they loved most about doing art. I thought that was so cute! Also I think it's really important to know that art fosters critical thinking skills, and social emotional learning skills as well. They are so important, and now I just want to go paint everything!!!

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creativity is problem solving.  I see it as a strong component of SEL. It is another way of thinking.

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They really emphasized that art is critical thinking. I love art and took classes up through college but I've seen art as being part of developing critical thinking but It truly is. Cutting art programs is such a shame... :(

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The fact that there is evidence of how it positively affects academics.