Budget cuts for education have steadily increased over the past decade. Teachers have voiced their frustration over certain stipulations outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act, which they say has put pressure on schools to improve test scores in the areas of math and science and pushed fine arts education to the bottom of the priority list. The combination of these factors has caused the majority of the cutbacks in arts programs across the country, leaving hundreds of students without the proven benefits of creative learning.
According to a study (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/27/books/27gugg.htmlex=1154232000&en=f7f8d1a6d57486c7&ei=5087%0A) released in July 2006 by the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan, students who participate in arts programs show increased performance in their critical thinking, literacy, and language assessments, in addition to increasing their involvement in school and allowing them to express themselves. With no end in sight to educational budget cutbacks, more art programs are sure to disappear.
"Encouraging creative learning at home and outside of the standard curriculum will be key for those students who are not able to experience arts programs in school," says Les Harvey, manager of Arsa Toys. "It can be as simple as sitting down with your kids and drawing a picture together, or taking them to a museum and talking about the pieces that you view."
About Arsa Toys:
ArsaToys.com (http://www.arsatoys.com) is an online store committed to providing a large selection of fun and educational toys to inspire and intrigue children. They feature a wide variety of arts and crafts products, now including a large line of Crayola brand products.
For more information on how you can incorporate creativity into your child's life, contact Christina Maki at (913) 748-4777.
Schools Forced to Remove Art Education Arsa Toys Responds