STOP THE ERADICATION OF ARTS PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND THE POSITIVE EFFECT THAT EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS HAS ON A PERSON'S LIFE,I URGE YOU TO SIGN THIS PETITION AND PASS IT ALONG TO THOSE WHO ARE LIKE MINDED. PLEASE DON'T DELAY. STATE. FEDERAL, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE STRAPPED FOR FINANCES AND HAVE BEGUN A COUNTRY-WIDE ELIMINATION OF STUDIES IN THE HUMANITIES, IE: VISUAL ART, MUSIC, THEATRE, CREATIVE WRITING, DANCE AND THE LIKE. ONCE THESE PROGRAMS ARE GONE, IT WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM BACK.

EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS FOSTERS A LIFE LONG APPRECIATION FOR NON-VIOLENT SELF EXPRESSION AND HAS BEEN PROVEN TO DETER OUR YOUTHS FROM PERSUING LIVES OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE.  WHILE CRISIS IN BUDGETS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, IT SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF CULTURE.  FAR TOO MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY CUT PROGRAMS IN BAND, CHORUS, THEATRE AND DANCE. AS ANYONE WHO WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS  WILL ATTEST, IT BROADENS ONE'S VIEW OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY AND FOSTERS AN APPRECIATION NON-VIOLENT SELF-EXPRESSION THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SIGN THIS PETITION, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, AND SEND THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR LOCAL  SCHOOL BOARD, YOUR MAYOR, YOUR CITY COUCIL, AND YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS YOUR GOVERNOR.  WE ARE UPON A SLIPPERY SLOPE FROM WHICH THERE MAY BE NO RECOVERY. DO THIS FOR OUR FUTURE.  DO IT NOW!