The arts have been disappearing from schools for years even though there is plenty of evidence that says that is a bad thing. The arts— music, visual art, drama, and dance—must be put back in schools now.
It takes money to run schools. When that money is limited, schools have to trim or cut back on the things they do or programs they offer to students. One thing that many school leaders decide to cut is arts programs. Why? Many people believe that in order to help students succeed in the future, time and money must be spent on subjects like math, science, and reading. They believe that if students are well-prepared in these subjects, they can grow up to be successful in many different kinds of jobs. And that is true.
But, the value of studying the arts has been known for hundreds of years. Benjamin Franklin spoke of their importance back in 1749. Since then, it has been suggested that no education is complete without the arts.
Certain skills, called "21st Century Skills," are very important for success in today's world. They include personal expression, imagination, teamwork, curiosity, and many other skills or habits that are practiced in the arts. There are no tests for these skills, but studies show that they can help students perform better in subjects that are tested. Also, studies show that more students graduate and even teachers benefit when the arts are kept in schools. So, they must be put back.
Based on the information in the passage, what can be inferred about the arts?
A.
They cannot be tested like other subjects in school.
B.
They keep students from learning as much as they can in school.
C.
They help develop important skills that students use throughout their lives.
D.
They are not that important to future success.