Those who oppose theater programs in schools argue that budgeting and financial troubles are the main cause of the elimination of these programs. Due to fear of financial strain, cuts of art programs in public schools have become a more frequent occurrence. Overall, reports have shown that the percentage of kids with access to theater has declined fifty percent in the past five years (Hurley). Nationwide, schools have been focusing on reading and math testing requirements that were issued by “No Child Left Behind”. Some states have doubled their time spent on reading and math classes to ensure that they do not fall behind the requirements that are continuously being raised by other schools. “No Child Left Behind,” with its pressure to raise test scores, has reduced classroom time devoted to the arts.
About one hundred of the school 's lowest-performing students are barred from taking anything except math, reading and gym (Dillon). Although these opposing arguments do hold some truth, it has been
Cited: Dillon, Sam. "Schools Cut Back Subjects to Push Reading and Math." 26 Mar. 2006. 16 Nov. 2008 . Hurley, Ryan. "Cuts in Art Programs Leave Sour Note in Schools." 14 Nov. 2008 . Nieves, Anne-Marie. "Advocates Gather at Public Hearings on September 9 to Contest Further Cuts to Music Education Programs in CA Schools." 7 Nov. 2008 . Smith, Fran. "Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who 's Doing It Best." California School Boards Association. 28 Jan. 2009. Web. . Winner, Ellen, and Lois Hetland. "Art for Our Sake." The Boston Globe 2 Sept. 2007. Print.