I decided to address this topic after reflecting on the beginning of my elementary education journey. I like music (all kinds), art, museums and theatre. I remember the experiences being part of our Library Club program. I'm from a small southern town and went to elementary school during the civil rights movement. Remembering those experiences makes my elementary school, high school, and high school days stand out. So, I thought that if the fine arts program helped me discover pleasant memories throughout my schooling, how would it impact the educational experience of others. During my research, I found that fine arts influence test scores, attendance, participation, and discipline in rural schools. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay According to Eaton, the arts should be considered part of the core content of any school curriculum. (Eaton, Living, Learning, and the Arts: Integrating the Arts into the Rural School Curriculum. October 9-11, 1985) The arts contribute to the freedom a student can experience in presenting the application of the concepts he or she has been taught. While a student may not be able to write an explanation of how they arrived at a certain solution, the arts would allow the student the freedom to use a creative yet informative presentation. They must first be exposed to these types of experiences. Given that most rural schools are located in remote areas, access to museums, theaters and symphony music would make it difficult for schools to obtain the finances needed to allow students to enjoy these experiences. The use of the arts was trialled in rural schools to measure any effect they might have on students. In a study conducted by the Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services, a marked improvement was found in the behavior of students involved in the project compared to those who were not. (A Coordinated Fine Arts Program in a Rural Setting: Final Project Report. Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Leicester, NY) The program included art, theater, dance, and music. These were the items measured with students' pre- and post-test responses. The problem with school budgets is that whenever they are tight, arts subjects are cut. If ballet helps improve the performance of football players on the field during a game, why can't the same logic be applied to the arts for students who may struggle or even gifted ones? Some may view the arts as just part of the divide between rural and urban schools. I prefer to think of it as another form of lack of equity. As I stated before, this type of program was how I was introduced to the arts. I like to think it has made me a better person with a broader perspective of our world. I couldn't afford the minimum fee, but a teacher paid it for me. I tell my personal children and my school children that they should participate in these three types of events. It helps you see the world in a different light. We have empirical evidence that the arts improve behavior, but I still needed to discover the other aspects of the educational experience. After doing more research, I discovered that Garcia conducted a study on the effect the arts had on reading and math achievement as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. The students included third through eighth graders?