07/04/2016
...And I'm back! I've spent the last few months developing my leadership skills and exploring how the arts can impact student achievement in other curricular areas. One area that is frequently under attack is elementary music pull-out programs (band, strings, and chorus). We are fortunate in my school district that these programs are never on the chopping block in terms of budget cuts, however parents, teachers, and administrators frequently voice concerns over the amount of instructional time that students miss due to their participation in these programs.
Multiple studies have shown that students who participate in extracurricular music programs are not negatively impacted in their general education settings. Some studies have shown that students who study music have higher math test scores than their peers, however it is impossible to know whether studying music causes higher math skills, or if students with greater mathematical aptitude are drawn to music. Either way, there is no empirical evidence showing that missing a half hour of classroom instruction twice a week will cause a drop in grades.
What is your opinion of music pull-out programs? Do you believe they should be protected by school districts?
