The Importance of the Arts Essay Example for Free

The Importance of the Arts Essay Math was always my least favorite subject in school. I always had difficulty remembering the formulas and all the different rules. I didn’t do well in all the other core subjects either. With no motivation and no interest, my grades quickly suffered. I was always watching movies and television instead of doing homework. So when I saw that I could take acting class as an elective in high school, it was obviously my first choice. Acting class came a little more naturally than math class did. Memorizing lines to a monologue was much easier for me than formulas to some equation. It made me come out of my shell more and communicate more effectively. I began to look forward to tests, which were usually performances, because I would be adequately prepared from all my practices. After taking acting class, I decided to take more performing art classes. Luckily the high school that I went to was the top public school for performing arts in the state. It allowed me to take chorus and dance along with acting. With so many classes I enjoyed taking and doing well in, my grades improved drastically. Taking all these performing art classes quickly became the salvation I needed and taught me many other important lessons. But towards the end of my high school years, funds were cut from schools again. The performing arts department in my school struggled to keep the program strong with the budget cuts. By the time I graduated, a few classes were cut and the ones that were left couldn’t afford the same things. These cuts affected other schools as well. For most schools across America, art programs were first to be cut. An article written by the Education Fund states that, â€Å"during these difficult economic times, arts programs are the first to be sacrificed. In addition, in many schools where classroom space is limited, art studios are now only contained in a cart that is wheeled by teachers from room to room, severely limiting the arts education students receive. † Although our program had not been cut, I was sad to see some of the classes go at my school among many others who enjoyed the arts. In an article written back in 2011 in the New York Times, Anna M. Phillips states, â€Å"The situation is likely to worsen next year if the city goes through with its plans to layoff 4,100 teachers to save $269 million. Estimates released in February project that 350 of those let go will be arts teachers, which would be a 15 percent drop in art, music and performing arts teachers. † With all the classes being cut, students will be the first to suffer. Why would they cut classes that students enjoyed to come to learn? The Arts have become a vital addition in education to help students become more successful. I was firsthand to witness this. The Arts allow students who don’t grasp the teachings of subjects like math and English to learn in a way that is more easily understandable to them. Not all students are the same nor do they learn the same. In an article from USA Today online, Tamara Henry states, â€Å"Schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance may do a better job at mastering reading, writing and math than those who focus solely on academics. † Keeping art programs in school can help students do well in school and lead to successful futures. Though it is said that careers in the arts are limited and that being an artist isn’t a real job, Valerie Strauss disagrees. In article she wrote in the Washington post titled â€Å"Why we love artist but not the arts education† she states, â€Å"Top CEO’s around the world are seeking out new employees who can think creatively, be innovative in business development and marketing strategies and show outstanding leadership qualities that will â€Å"wow† clients. This is what businesses need to compete in the global marketplace. In a 2010 study by IBM, interviews with CEO’s representing 33 industries and 60 countries identified creativity as the most important leadership skill for the future. † Despite counter arguments against the arts, it is proven that it can help. That is why the arts are fundamental in education for improving children’s academic success, communication and social skills, and teaching them discipline. After I began to take performing arts class, my grades improved dramatically. The arts have helped many students across America better achieve higher education standards. Test scores prove this and the organization Arts for LA states that, â€Å" In a national sample of 25,000 students, those students with high levels of arts-learning experiences earned higher grades and scored better on standardized tests than those with little or no involvement in the arts-regardless of socioeconomic status. Learning through the arts also appears to have significant effects on learning in other disciplines, with students consistently involved in theater and music showing higher levels of success in math and reading. After a raise in my GPA from my performing art classes, I soon saw another raise. I noticed that I was beginning to do better in my core classes as well. Memorizing lines of monologues and choreography improved my memorization skills helping me with the different formulas and steps of math. Skills learned in art programs can be used towards learning math and English and help students. Jessica Velasco also states in her blog, â€Å"Studying the lyrics of music can teach students about syllabification, phonics, vocabulary, imagery, history, myths, folktales, geography, and culture. † It’s evident that the Arts can improve student’s grades and test scores. It also can improve students’ attendance records. The Arts for LA also states, students involved in art are three times more likely to win an award for their school attendance. I knew when I went to school that I didn’t want to miss any of my acting classes because I didn’t want to miss out on learning something I enjoyed doing. The arts not only benefit students’ minds, but also their social and communication skills. With all of the performances to the public, it’s no wonder that the Arts can improve these vital skills needed everyday. When I first began performing, I was always nervous about talking in front of people. But the pure joy I found in performing made me more comfortable with public speaking. I remember when I was younger I had a bad habit of speaking really quickly when I got nervous. When I took acting class, my teacher made me very aware of the matter. She was constantly telling me not to rush my lines during practices. Now whenever I’m speaking to anyone, I can hear my acting teacher’s voice in the back of my head yelling at me to slow down! As I became more comfortable being in front of people, I began to more make friends as well. The arts are a great way to bring students together and have them work together in a positive way. Henry also states, â€Å"Multi-arts helps with reading, verbal and math skills; improves the ability to collaborate and higher-order thinking skills. † After taking acting classes, I became much more confident with public speaking. It has also helped me to do well in job interviews as well. The communication skills that can be learned through the arts can help students interact with others. Henry also states, â€Å"Drama helps with understanding social relationships, complex issues and emotions; improves concentrated thought and story comprehension. † In acting classes, the teacher not only teaches you memorizes lines but teaches you to be able to comprehend that which you are reading. You learn to express different emotions and work with other people. Working with a group of people so often, your team working skills improve which is very important to a students’ success. As students learn something they enjoy doing, it becomes less of a chore. This makes it much easier for a student to learn discipline. Despite the lazy artist stereotypes, the arts can help motivate students to do work. When I began to take dance much more seriously, I started going to practices 6 days a week. It taught me that if I worked hard enough at something, I would reap the rewards. Henry had this to say about dance, â€Å"Dance helps with creative thinking, originality, elaboration and flexibility; improves expressive skills, social tolerance, self-confidence and persistence. † Students learn persistence not only in dance but also in other areas of art like music. Velasco states, â€Å"Students who take the time to master a musical instrument learn about hard work, practice, and discipline. While performing in a group – like an orchestra, band, or choir – students learn to work together, appreciate teamwork, strive for a common goal, and develop negotiation skills. † Students who learn discipline through art can then apply that to other fields in their lives.

An Interview with a Juvenile Offender Essay -- Interview Essays

At the age of 23, Charlie has a fairly good life. He has a good job with a national insurance company, and recently married his girlfriend of three and a half years, Autumn. They are expecting their first child this November. But things have not always gone so well for Charlie. When Charlie was two and a half years old, his mother Laura and father Jose Chili Pepper gave birth to their second child, Chloe. Jose and Laura knew there was something wrong with Chloe right away, because of the way she turned her hand, but no doctor in Fudge Brownie, Montana, would confirm Jose and Laura’s suspicion their daughter had Cerebral Palsy. Frustrated and unable to find work, Jose moved his family from Fudge Brownie, Montana back to Watershed, Kansas, where they had originally lived before Chloe was born. The Chili Peppers stayed with Jose's sister Carolina for a time along with Jose's niece Catherine Sanchez and another of his sisters, Juanita. After a short time Jose decided he and his family needed their own place to live. He and Laura packed up eighteen-month-old Chloe and three-and-a-half year-old Charlie and moved to a small house on Sunny Days Avenue where the family lived for the next few years. Charlie loved living in that neighborhood. It was almost like living in the countryside, with little traffic and wide-open fields where Charlie and his friends could run free and be kids. According to Charlie's father Jose, "It was the perfect place for a little boy." But Charlie's happiness would be short-lived. Due to medical problems with his mother and sister, the family moved once again when he was five years old. "Charlie really loved living there and was happy in his first school," Jose recalled. "He was very upset that we had... ...l unloved at times. His parent's when he was eleven only seemed to aggravate the problem. Discipline was inconsistent, and often he was able to get around punishment by wearing down his mother, who could be easily persuaded to give in to what he wanted. Family finances were strained. Although Charlie went to school in an upper middle-class neighborhood, his family could not afford to buy him as much as many of his friends’ parents. He began to run around with kids who were associated with a local gang and was rejected by other friends because of his behavior. Today, Charlie is closer to his family. He spends time with his mother father and sister. His relationship with his wife, Autumn, while occasionally rocky, has been a positive influence. He is a responsible young adult, who has been fortunate to have gotten the intervention he needed as a troubled teenager.

Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Ping-Pong Diplomacy From 1949 to 1972 there were no diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. No group of Americans had been invited to China since the Communist takeover in 1949 but that all changed with â€Å"The ping heard round the world†. Ping-Pong Diplomacy begun in April of 1971 when the U. S. Table Tennis team was participating in a World Table Tennis Championship in Japan when they received a surprise invitation to visit China.Nine American players, four officials and two spouses spent 7 days in China playing exhibition matches with their hosts, touring the Great Wall and Summer Palace, conversed with Chinese factory workers and students, and attended the Canton ballet. All while the American public followed the progress of this visit daily through the newspaper and on television.The visit opened a new door that changed the relations with the people of China and those of the United States as well as ended a 22 year embar go trade between the two countries. Soon later the Chinese Table Tennis team visited the U. S. in a similar manner as well as other countries to reach out to them using this Ping-Pong Diplomacy. The event showed the first instance that a sport such as Table Tennis can be used so effectively it could become a political tool for international diplomacy between nations.Even so that just a few months after the trip by the U. S. team President Nixon’s National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger secretly visited Peking and a Presidential visit to China was arranged. As the first President of the U. S. to do so President Richard Nixon then journeyed to China in what would become one of the most important events in U. S. history. It was all a result of Ping-Pong Diplomacy.

Islam Empire of Faith - 1335 Words

In the movie Islam of Faith Part 1, the narrator starts off with the translation of azan to highlight the strong words and the strength of faith. The movie talks about how Islamic civilization has been one of humanities grandest achievements. It was muslims scholars who reclaimed the ancient wisdom of Greeks while Europe were in the dark ages. They who served the seed of the renaissance 600 years before Divincci. From the way we heal the sick to the numerals we use for counting,. Cultures have been shaped by Islamic civilization. A world wide power founded on faith a spiritual revolution that will shake the nations of three continents and launch an empire. This all started by the birth of single man, his name was Muhammed. Muhamed†¦show more content†¦People soon realized that it had to be written down so that it wouldn’t be corrupted and original message maintained. The Quran is a revelation of spiritual teaching of both ethical and social guidance. It was revealed and remains in Arabic. With words alone the quran delivers its vision to the faithful. As Mohammed followers grew so did the opposition. People were skeptical. â€Å"Look if you are prophet, where is your miracle.† The quranic answer to this question is that the quran is your miracle. This wasn’t enough for the oppositional tribes, and the idea of an after life left them exteremly skeptical. Out of all the things included in the Quran this left the people not to believe the most. To the non believers his dismantling to their heritage and customs deeply unsettling. It was a threat to their social order, ancient traditions and economic threat. As mohammed followers increased, business suffered as pilgrims worried for their safety left town. The tribal leaders decided that Mohamed and his message must be removed. They planned his assignation. They demanded his uncle to remove the clans protection from the prophet. His uncle refused and battle lines were drawn. Mohammed followers were left to starve, those without clan protection were tortured and killed. When Khadiga and his uncle died, it was an opportunity for his enemies to kill him. Mohamed then went to Yathrid to settle tribal rivalries in exchange for a safe place for him and his people. ItShow MoreRelatedIslam: Empire of Faith647 Words   |  3 PagesIslam: Empire of Faith is a pretty general documentary about a large history of Islam in such a short viewing time. Sometimes the moving picture media can have a different effect than the static reading media. I think this is a great counter to the normal textbook learning that occurs during class. While reading about the beginning Islam, I felt more of an oppression of Muhammad as he was trying to get his word of God out to the people around him. When he left Mecca it was not pleasant but it didn’tRead MoreThe Movie, Islam Empire Of Faith And Islam Essay2407 Words   |  10 Pagesinto two parts, one about the documentary we watched in class before and the lecture we had learned. For the first part, we watched the movie, Islam Empire of Faith and it talked mainly about Muhammad, how Islam was formed, and the ottomans. I never really learned anything about Islam but I frequently heard some rumors about the Middle East and the Islam but when I watched the movie, I felt I learned a lot from the movie because there were a lot of important information and I am surprised to knowRead MoreIslam, The Ottoman And Safavid Empire1528 Words   |  7 PagesIslam, the Ottoman and Safavid Empire Every empire that has ever been created constantly evolves. They will grow or they will diminish. Many empires cease to exist and some even start over under a different name. Throughout history, faith and religion have been at the core of almost every successful empire. There are a lot of factors that play into their faith. Two of the greatest empires to ever exist were the Ottoman and Safavid Empire. The Ottoman Empire was so large that it spanned from the IranianRead MoreA Discussion Of Faith Rose Surrounding The World Trade Center1630 Words   |  7 PagesAfter the Brussels massacre that took place on March 22nd, a question of faith rose surrounding the sanctity of the Islamic faith. In an article meant to expose answers to this very question John Kasich brings up a point that when people claim France is at war with Islam, they actually should be referring to radical Islam. This point pulled further controversy as those who were not Islamic began to wonder if the faith condon ed suicide bombings in the name of expelling infidels and bringing theRead MoreInformative Speech Outline1074 Words   |  5 PagesAchaemenid Empire, Iran’s history when Islam enters to it and Iran in present time. Transition: how great was Persia? And when Persia was at the peak of glory? Body I. Iran’s history during the Achaemenid Empire. A: we were peaceful people during the history and the evidence for this is the first human rights document word (Cyrus Cylinder) by Cyrus the Great one of the Achaemenid Empire king. 1. What is Achaemenid? Achaemenid Empire was the greatestRead MoreIslam s Influence On The Middle East And Beyond1711 Words   |  7 PagesBefore it completed 100 years of its origin, Islam had expanded across the Middle East and beyond. The rate and success of Islam s expansion were nothing short of breathtaking. Due to Muhammad’s alluring message, personal charisma, political ingenuity, and his ability to appeal to his followers; their loyalty and devotion laid the foundation to Islam’s great conquest. When the Muslim armies swarmed through the Arab frontier, their experience with the terrain and their self-determination allowedRead MoreThe Rise And Further Development Of Islam741 Words   |  3 PagesWith the rise and further development of Islam, the Middle East emerged as a key world region. The religion not only dominated the Middle East but was also spread to the West, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa as it gained followers and influence. Why was the s pread of Islam so quick, extensive, and influential? What was it about Islam that appealed to so many individuals and converted such a large geographical part of the world? This can further explained by the process of globalization andRead MoreIslamic Religion And The Islamic World959 Words   |  4 PagesAs the Islamic religion rose, both the Persian, and Eastern Roman Empire began to collapse. In the seventh and eighth century, the rise of Islamic religion began to quickly move to rule the territories, taking over to create what is now a very important change in Islamic history. The rise of Islam began in the Arabian desert, showing great change for Islam as a religion, as well as the nature of the Islamic empire, but eventually this great rise began to collapse. The events that took place, is consideredRead MoreIslam Change over Time Essay1324 Words   |  6 PagesIslam Change Over Time The spread of Islam throughout the world was among the most significant worldwide movements in history. Beginning as the faith of a small community of believers in Arabia in the seventh century, Islam rapidly became one of the major world religions. The core beliefs and culture of this faith is the belief that Muhammad (570-632), a respected businessman in Mecca, a commercial and religious center in western Arabia, received revelations from God that have been preservedRead MoreEssay on Islam: A Religion and Culture1630 Words   |  7 PagesIslam: A Religion and Culture Islam is one of the oldest religions in history dating back to about 600 AD. It began when a man named Muhammad heard a voice from the heavens instructing him to proclaim the word of god. Currently there are over 800 million followers of the Muslim religion. The main text of the religion is the Quran which is said to be the word of God, or Allah as called in Muslim. Within the Quran, The five pillars of Islam are proclaimed along with many other concepts very unique