im doing a debate on the importance of phys ed, music and arts classes in school and i need some help........?

Question

i know a main argument for the debate is going to be that the nations standardized tests do not test on music and physical education therefore making reading writing and math more important or whatever....i just need some information or data backing up against that argument......i need to know why the arts are still important to the standardized tests, and an argument in that general direction or rebuttal to this...i am stuck.....

Answer 1

In that debate, I'd counter against using the test as the basis of what should be taught - not whether certain subjects have value.

"Imparting the ability to score well on a standardized test is not the primary purpose of school, the primary purpose of a standardized test is to measure the educational outcome. When we allow the content of the standardized test to dictate what is taught, we have effectively eliminated the value of the test itself." (cite me or rephrase this)

What I'm saying here is this: if the purpose of the test is to see how much our students have learned, but we teach them only how to pass the test, then we haven't tested how much they've learned but instead how well they can prepare for a test. At that point, the test is no longer valid for what it was intended. The test has become the "subject" we're teaching.

As for the value of art, music, and PE. I can't speak on art - I'm not an artist or art educator. My educational philosophy is that music (band, orchestra, and choir - not history and theory) and PE (not health) should not be part of the academic curriculum at all - they are activities and not classes. Many will vehemently disagree with me here but I've taught both and we are lying when we say these are "a class" and not an activity. A band has far more in common with the basketball team than it does with an English class.

There is educational value in both during the school day - but they need to be separated from the academic fields and treated as what they are - group activity. Group activities are important; they teach interactional skills, teamwork, and socialization. Music classes teach a certain level of multi-tasking that we don't get in other activities in school. Musical ensembles are an excellent alternative to athletics for the teaching of teamwork.

PE (athletics) is essential to health. Even if all we required was a 30 minute walk around the track - PE is the only physical outlet for many students. That it isn't required every semester of every year is sad. But then, trying to make a PE class something it shouldn't be is the problem -- PE is an activity and not an academic class. It should be an opportunity for a physical outlet daily; not a place where we take a test on the rules of volleyball - but instead a place where we play some volleyball for no other reason than "it's fun" and good for us. It should be based on the old adage - "all work and no play..."

That said then, if we make the argument that whether these fields are tested in standardized tests is immaterial because their purpose is different than the purpose of math and English class, we can make a valid and strong argument for their continued existence. If, as we tend to do these days, we try to argue that band, choir, and volleyball are equal in purpose and need to English and math then our argument will fail, they simply aren't. They are group activities that serve their own educational purposes that are not generally measurable in a standardized test and need not be considered "the same" as academic classes in order to remain valid needs.

For example, there's a cafeteria where we eat lunch during school. Lunch is important. We don't have questions on the standardized test about lunch. Then again, before long, someone will start writing educational objectives about a good, healthy lunch and we can start giving a test during lunch hour too.

just a few thoughts to ponder....

Answer 2

Music, Arts and P.E. subjects are also the same as the other academic subjects for they touch all the aspects of human learning. Like reading,writing,analyzing and others. Much more, physically through movement or developing psychomotor skills, a student will be more mentally alert and is more active. other academic subjects do not usually require psychomotor skills. And one of the best asset of these subjects is they can teach values and students understand them well because it is learned in enjoyable manner. Like discipline,sportmanship and competitiveness in P.E., valuing through the different kinds of songs may it be spiritual,nationalistic, environmental or even be popular music which tackles friendship and other human emotions which other subjects does not have, in music we also learn to read notes, understand rhythm which is also the same with mathematics becasue of note values, appreciation through listening. And of course visual arts which helps develop creativity, critical thinking and discipline. Actually there are hundreds and thousands of reasons on its importance. It is almost the same as other academic subjects and must be given equal importance because what students learn from these subjects is different from what academic subjects give them which is limited to its own scope.

Answer 3

Sorry yet i think of that the babies could get grades. Now I’m 23 so it can not be the comparable now, yet in my day the grades we gained in common paintings and music have been linked with the quantity of attempt we utilized to our paintings and music classes, not organic skill. I did so properly with music (saxophone) that I have been given into the experimental direction (xylophone/piano). I haven't any skills. i won't play the sax and that i won't rock out the bars like Roy Ayers. I sucked, yet i replaced into needless to say training like the instructor informed me and that replaced into how I scored properly. the different experiential scholars and that i confirmed we could prepare attempt and pay interest. whilst quickly as I took extreme college guitar we've been graded on our skill to accomplish extremely common music and our very final examination consisted of four songs which needed mere weekly prepare to suitable. I understand your factor: You don’t think of babies with organic skills could have the skill to out-score different babies in a needed direction whilst the two contraptions of scholars could be working the two as problematic. nevertheless, i'm particular instructors nevertheless grade based upon attempt and lecture room habit. i anticipate we are talking approximately common classes right here so it is to your benefit to communicate different strategies the lecturers of those classes could make a contribution to the form comments of their little scholars. it may be extra problematic to your combatants to attack you on factors made in that course for the reason which you aren’t technically in opposition to their factors. only be prepared to argue the place your opponent won't have the skill to guard him/herself.