During times of monetary constrictions, schools have been forced to cut the budgets of many of their programs. When faced with this decision, most schools opt to cut funding for arts education programs, such as music, theater, and visual art, with the intention of putting more focus on subjects such as math and science. Because of this lack of support, arts programs are deteriorating. The role of arts education in schools has been and continues to be a major part of my life, both in past experiences with band programs and my future as a music education major. Throughout high school, my band program struggled to receive sufficient support. We were provided with low quality equipment and received little recognition for our achievements. Without proper funding, each member had to pay more money out-of-pocket to cover costs. Despite our best efforts, some students were unable to afford these fees. It was heartbreaking to see students have to turn away from band because of the additional finances. Knowing the deep impacts that band had on my life, I always wondered how the lives of these students would have been altered if they were able to fully participate in the program. I saw this happen not only in band, but in other arts classes as well, such as orchestra and theater. This is the reasoning behind my interest in this research project, to discover the true impacts created by arts education in order to conclude whether or not they should be supported in schools. 

The main source for my research question is the article "School Art Programs: Should They be Saved?" by Valeriya Melta. In this article, Melta defends the importance of preserving arts education in light of frequent budget cuts. She provides statistics confirming the eliminations made to the arts, as well as studies that prove the powerful influence these programs have on children. Judging from the information included, this article places a high value in arts education and the recovery and preservation of these programs. The author is troubled by the outcomes of budget cuts, and seeks to find a solution that leads to an increase of support. Even though the article depicts a strong bias towards the arts, Melta has no apparent direct affiliation. However, she is an accomplished journalist, showing that she has the ability to conduct extensive research. This shows in the references she includes within the article, adding credibility to her work.

My next source is the article "Public Schools Slash Arts Education and Turn to Private Funding" by Marina Fang. This article aims to describe the truth behind budget cuts and teacher layoffs in various arts programs across the country. It does this by detailing specific statistics related to various cases of budget cuts. This article does not take a direct stance for or against the arts. It simply strives to inform readers that these budget cuts and layoffs are indeed occurring and that there are limited solutions in place. Despite this, the article still seems to place value in arts education. Like the author of the previous article, Fang has no apparent affiliation with the arts. However, she is a notable journalist, and provides many credible statistics throughout her article. While her intention is to primarily report this information without choosing a side, it could be said that some of her phrasing suggests bias towards the arts.

The final source is the article "Budget Cuts to Art Programs in Schools," written by Linda Emma. This article strongly advocates for the arts, stating that cutting these programs can have serious negative long-term effects on children, both in their childhood and future. Cited studies are provided as evidence for this claim. This article appears to greatly value the benefits of arts education, and shows great interest in exposing the shame of cutbacks. The direct negative effects of budget cuts are provided, as well as the benefits of the programs, to emphasize the article's stance and call for justice. Just as the previous two authors, Emma appears to have no direct affiliation with the arts. She is, however, an established journalist with a degree in journalism and more than twenty years of experience. All of her sources are cited and show in-depth research on the topic, contributing to the credibility of her article. While her lack of relation may decrease her direct bias towards the arts, her writing still suggests a strong bias in favor of arts education.

During times of recession and budget cuts, arts programs have had to work tirelessly to defend their importance and necessity, since they are often the first ones on the chopping block. In today's society, schools are concerned with achieving the highest test scores possible, and parents want their children studying subjects that lead to a career with the highest salary. This is the main source of disagreement I have found in my research, between those who do not believe in the importance of the arts and those who strongly advocate for increased support of the arts. I have a firm stance on the importance of the arts, so while the opposing arguments help broaden my understanding of the issue as a whole, they do not sway my opinion. My original plan was to focus on the general lack of support given to arts programs and whether or not this is a problem for students in schools. However, I may need to narrow my question to focus more on the direct effects from budget cuts, since a majority of my research involves these direct effects.
