School Funding and Extracurricular Activities

This poster describes the benefits of performing arts in students’ academics, as well as school funding policies that affect the overall success of students. Differences in funding by district and state are explored and how the unequal distribution contributes to school inequality. With the performing arts often being ignored, the importance of funding students’ artistic endeavors is explored, as well as how the performing arts increases students’ academic performance. The performing arts can benefit children in multiple different ways. One way is the use of theatre inside the classroom. Studies have shown that by integrating the arts in other subjects, students’ interest in school increases, and so their performance also benefits. The arts have been shown to increase language skills and interpersonal skills, which help underprivileged kids especially since often they are behind in these rudimentary skills. These skills do not have to be learned in a classroom, however, and can be learned if students participate in the performing arts outside of school as well. These theatre experiences show benefits such as cooperative skills and can be used in any grade. They should not be ignored in early childhood classes, but more frequently have been shown to decline in schools.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/2550/thumbnail.jp