What role has art played in your life?

It has become more and more of a debated issue whether or not different arts and extra curricular activities are necessary and beneficial in the classroom. With all of the new educational laws such as no child left behind, many people have argued that school time should be used for the purpose of strictly learning and drilling the curriculum and content into a child's head in order for them to be capable of passing an assessment. While content is certainly important and we all agree that there are some things that you just HAVE to know, this does not mean that the arts should not be included in the classroom as many children express themselves in different ways.

In my own educational career, I attended an arts middle school. Many of the students in the school were in the same boat as I was; they were very enthusiastic about whatever art they took up whether that be visual or performing. This enthusiasm and dedication allow us to succeed academically and become passionate and excited to attend school. The school actually wound up being ranked as one of the top schools in the city. This is why I could never understand taking away something that someone is passionate in order for them to succeed academically. People think and learn differently and should not be deprived of possibly the one thing that they enjoy and are good at, for confidence and motivational purposes.