By Michael Casazzone, 8th grader from Central Middle School

From the Addams Family at Central Middle School. Contributed photo

What is an Arts education? Is it a meaningless time during the school day, a waste of the budget, or is it something more? One of the biggest myths about an arts education is that it does nothing for students, as it is often the first thing to be cut from the budget. Unlike popular belief, not only is it one of the most important parts of an education, but I would argue that it is the most important part of an education. My name is Michael Casazzone, and having an arts education has helped me manage stress, become more creative, and even improve my social skills.

When I entered middle school, I quickly discovered that stress would be one of the biggest problems in the future of my learning career. I did not have the proper skillset to manage stress, nor  did I have the social/emotional skills, and the workload that I would be facing in the future weighed heavily on me. However, I was taking some classes in the arts.

From the Addams Family at Central Middle School. Contributed photo

Performing Arts
In all three years in middle school, I have taken chorus. This class has helped me become more confident, not only while singing, but my confidence in social settings skyrocketed too. Chorus is an example of a performing arts class, and the performing arts can be extremely beneficial to a student.

The performing arts played a significant role in my mental growth during middle school. Every year, I participate in the school plays, where I learn many valuable lessons. For example, I learned to manage my time in an effective way, as I had to learn my lines and dances by a certain date.

Furthermore, I learned problem solving skills. Improvisation is a large part of theater, an example being when someone forgets a line, you need to improvise, showcasing problem solving skills.

From the Addams Family at Central Middle School. Contributed photo

I also learned crucial emotional skills. For example, acting helps me understand how other people feel, improving my empathic ability. Moreover, acting gives me a way to express my emotions in a way that isn’t unexpected or disruptive. Having a performing arts education has also greatly improved my memory and focus due to having to learn and memorize lines in a certain amount of times. I have been able to apply these skills to things such as studying, making it much easier for me to pass tests and get better grades.

Another Student’s Experience
Performing arts not only help me, but they also help other students too. For example, a student named Nate Engle stated that performing arts has “given me a way to express myself and have a fun time,” which proves that having performing arts available to you is extremely beneficial. Nate also mentioned that it helped him “unwind from the day,” which is exactly what students need.

With an arts education, you can relax after a tough day at school, but it is often the first budget to be cut. Let’s stop that.