[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E458-E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN CELEBRATION OF ARTS ADVOCACY DAY 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Arts 
Advocacy Day. As Congress considers the budget and appropriations bills 
for fiscal year 2006, the importance of the arts should be recognized 
for a number of reasons.
  First, the arts contribute significantly to local economic 
development. As of January 2005 in the Eleventh Congressional District 
of Ohio there were 1,212 arts-related businesses that employed 10,174 
people. This data, from Dun & Bradstreet, indicates that between 2004 
and 2005, arts-related businesses grew at a faster rate than total U.S. 
business growth. At the same time, as total U.S. jobs shrank by 1.9 
percent, the decline in arts-related businesses was 0.8 percent, in 
other words less than half that rate. Arts-related businesses are 
clearly good for business and good for the economy. But the arts have 
greater effects than these.
  An examination of SAT scores from the College Board in the period 
2002 through 2004 reflects a startling effect. Data from Ohio students 
that studied Art History, Dance, Drama, Music, Photography/Film, or 
Studio Art reflected higher Verbal and Math SAT scores than students 
that didn't study any of these subjects. To further quantify this 
effect, let me provide an example: Ohio students in music performance 
reflected a Mean Verbal SAT score of 554 in 2004 and a Mean Math score 
of 552. In contrast, Ohio students not exposed to arts courses 
demonstrated a 2004 Mean Verbal SAT score of 497 and a Mean Math score 
of 511. This forty point differential benefit is very easy to 
understand. Nationally, similar effects were reflected in the test 
scores of students that studied a variety of arts disciplines: Art 
History, Dance, Drama, Photography/Film, or Studio Art.
  As schools focus on raising test scores, the importance of arts 
cannot be overstated. But conflicting attitudes and practices exist in 
Ohio's schools. A 2000 survey by the Ohio Alliance For Arts Education 
reflected that more than 70 percent of those surveyed in Ohio's public 
schools believed that music and visual arts are as important as other 
academic subjects. Yet, in practice over 11 years, public schools 
demonstrated overall reductions in arts and music education. Fewer 
private schools (than public schools) required achievement in the arts 
as a graduation requirement. But a higher percentage of private schools 
believed that creative writing, music, visual arts, and drama are as 
important as other academic subjects. Here, theory and practice don't 
match.

  It is clear that the arts enhance student ability. During this time 
of enhanced accountability and high stakes academic testing, it would 
make sense to ensure that every child, kindergarten through twelfth 
grade, is provided an opportunity to participate in the arts. Many 
school districts are experiencing financial difficulty. To that end, 
instead of punishing schools for failing test scores, we should provide 
them with the resources needed to implement quality arts education 
programs--which correlate with increased test scores. Arts education 
enhances literacy. And we should go further than haphazardly sticking 
in a few programs here and there. Quality matters. We must be concerned 
about the quality of subject matter as well as teacher training and 
development.
  The No Child Left Behind Act, NCLB, has recognized the arts as a core 
academic subject, making arts programs eligible for inclusion in broad 
funding categories such as teacher training, school reform, and 
technology. In spite of this designation, NCLB has led to the erosion 
of arts education. Economically disadvantaged schools don't have 
sufficient resources to cover enhanced intensive math and English 
studies, and quality arts education programs. A 2004 report by the 
Council for Basic Education found that ``the greatest erosion of the 
curriculum is occurring in schools with high minority populations--the 
very populations whose access to such a curriculum has been 
historically most limited.'' We

[[Page E459]]

must do better. The arts impart discipline, improve literacy, and 
enhance cultural understanding. If we have determined that students and 
teachers need to be held accountable, we must also ensure that schools, 
particularly schools that serve disadvantaged students, have adequate 
resources to provide strong instruction in math and English, as well as 
the arts. Complex problems like student achievement require varied 
solutions and rich curricula.
  Finally, as Congress considers the fiscal year 2006 appropriations 
bills, we should support increases in public funding. Each dollar of 
funding to the National Endowment for the Arts leverages at least $7 
from other sources to support full time jobs. This returns revenue to 
the Federal Government in income taxes at a rate of nearly eight to 
one. That's not a bad investment. Public spending on the humanities 
through programs such as the National Endowment for the Humanities 
initiative We The People, advances understanding of American history, 
culture, and values. Increasingly, we live in an interdependent world 
in which cultural understanding is a key aspect of cooperative efforts 
ranging from economic development to security cooperation.
  I salute the arts industries and cultural organizations of the 
Eleventh District of Ohio as well as the individual artists, educators, 
and advocates. I thank the arts community for effectively conveying its 
importance on Arts Advocacy Day, and hope that we as a Congress 
continue to demonstrate a level of support that will enable the arts to 
thrive.

                          ____________________