Arts and creativity 'squeezed out of schools'

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Arts and creativity 'squeezed out of schools
18 February 2015 
Source: BBC News: Education & Family
URL: http://www.bbc.com/news/education-31518717 
Intended Audience: Parents, educators
Key Points: This article share highlights from the Warwick Commission on the Future of Cultural Values in the United Kingdom. The study found that "between 2003 and 2013 there was a 50% drop in GCSE [General Certificate of Secondary Education] entries for design and technology, 23% for drama and 25% for other craft-related subjects". Other findings included a decrease in teachers and course offerings in arts, design and drama as well as specials or other related subjects. On the other hand, there was an increase in cost for extra curriculars making them out of reach for students from low SES.  A couple of other interesting quotes from the study:

"It found that youngsters born into poor families with few qualifications were the least likely to work and be successful in cultural and creative industries."

"There are major concerns that the educational system is not focusing on the future needs of the cultural and creative industries and the broader needs for innovation and growth in the UK," the commission said.
 
Relevance:  It is interesting to note that the US is not the only educational system that is cutting back on arts and extra curriculars as part of the regular curriculum offering. The article mentioned that the focus on STEM should move to an emphasis on STEAM to include the Arts - an issue that is also debated here in the States. However, it was not clear whether the decline in arts and extra curriculars is related to the increased focus on standardized testing that we are experiencing here in K-12 education.

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