Everyone knows that when a state's school system has budget issues the arts are the first to go.

What is not entirely known is the impact of removing the fine arts from the education of children.

'Champions of Change, the Impact of the Arts on Learning' is the most comprehensive study on the subject of students involvement in the fine arts and how it relates to academic success.

The study builds a strong for students achieving higher levels of academic success and in higher overall numbers when involved with fine art.

Per the study;

- 82.6% of 8th graders earned mostly As and Bs who were involved heavily in fine arts versus 67.2% earning As and Bs who were not.

- 30.07% of the respondents who participate in fine arts performs community service where only 6.28% of the respondents who do not participate in fine arts perform community service.

- Students who are not heavily involved in fine arts have more than double the chance of dropping out of school by the 10th grade.

- 56.64% of the respondents who participate in fine arts read for pleasure where only 34.Chances are you will a handful of musical instruments in good condition gathering dust in a garage or attic.

These are only some of the findings in this study.

The arts show students much more than how to paint a picture or how to play the piano.

Fine art helps the creative aspect of your child's mind grow, instills discipline, provides a sense of pride, self-esteem, and accomplishment.

These skills not only aid your child in doing better in school, but they will do better in their adult life, with their work, their family, their mental well being.

So what do you do if your child's school has had major cuts in their art program?

Private instruction can be a great alternative. You need to be cognizant of the pros and cons in this option.

Lets look at the pros first.

First, due to budget cuts and pressure for schools to ensure their students score well on standardized testing (oddly enough the students who are involved in the arts score better on average) the arts get less attention that other subjects in school. Thus the lesson quality is diluted.

Meaning your child has an excellent chance of getting better fine art instruction in a professional fine art instruction environment. The classes are smaller, sometimes even one on one. The art instructor has just that particular art form to teach.

Another plus in private fine art education is that your child's success is directly tied into the instructors income.

A public school teacher who has half of their art class receive failing grades will still be paid the same at the end of the week.

The equivalent in the private art instruction world would mean a bankrupt business in a very short order.

Private art instruction is a business, they have to deliver a good product or they will not be around for any length of time.

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