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Study
Finds More Students |
The percentage of students leaving high school with a credit in the arts increased from 55 percent in 1982 to 69 percent in 1998 according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This means that over the last two decades, roughly one more student out of seven graduated with at least one arts class credit. Students participated in arts courses across disciplines, although more 1998 graduates left school with fine arts or crafts (53 percent) or music (34 percent) credits. Students were less likely to obtain credits in drama (12 percent), dance (6 percent) and art or music appreciation/history (3 percent). Geographically, 71 percent of urban and suburban high school students graduated with arts credit, whereas 66 percent of their rural counterparts did so. Additionally, since 1982 the highest percentage of students with at least one arts credit was in the West, reaching 79 percent in 1998. The Northeast, South, and Midwest remained relatively equal over the last two decades, increasing to around 66 percent in 1998. While public schools produced a higher percentage of graduates with arts credits in the 1980s, nonpublic schools exceeded public school rates in the 1990s. From 1982 to 1998, the percentage of nonpublic school students who earned arts credits increased, rising from 51 percent to 76 percent. In the same time period, public school rates grew from 56 percent to 69 percent. As of 1997, 32 states and the District of Columbia required a full or partial arts credit for graduation, which likely contributed to the volume of students taking classes in the arts. |
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_________________________________________________________ Eileen
B. Mason to Serve as The National Endowment for the Arts recently announced that Eileen B. Mason will serve as acting chairman of the agency until a new chairman is appointed. Michael P. Hammond was sworn in as NEA chairman on January 22 and died suddenly a week later. Mason, 58, began her tenure at the Arts Endowment as senior deputy chairman in November 2001. Previously, she worked for 22 years as a manager and administrator at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She has served on the board of directors of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD, as vice president for grants, and as a music advisory panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council. |
artsPerspective
Published
by the Ohio Arts Council
This
newsletter aims to keep Ohio's
decision makers
informed about the
work of the
state's arts agency.
We'd like this
to be a two-way
street. If you
have comments about
the OAC's involvement
in your district
or area of expertise please
send them to
Katie Popoff at the
address below.
Thanks for reading.
Gregg Dodd, Public
Information Director
Katie Popoff, Publications
Editor
Jen Poellot, Coordinator
We're Building Ohio
Through the Arts
The Ohio Arts
Council, a state
agency established
in 1965, builds
the state through
the arts -
economically
and culturally -
preserving the
past, enhancing the
present and
enriching the future for
all Ohioans.
The Council believes
the arts should
be shared by the
people of Ohio.
The arts arise from
public, individual
and organizational
efforts. The
OAC supports those
efforts.
The Ohio Arts Council is an equal
opportunity employer.
Visit Us on the Internet
www.oac.state.oh.us
Ohio
Arts Council
727 E. Main
Street
Columbus, OH
43205-1796
614/ 466-2613
For TTY/TDD use Ohio Relay Service
1-800-750-0750
Bob
Taft
Governor
Susan R. Sofia
OAC Board Chair
Wayne P. Lawson
Executive Director
With support from the National
Endowment for the Arts.
