Res. No. 19
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to provide a music teacher in every school.
Body
By Council Members Cabrera, Brannan and Koslowitz
Whereas, Instruction in the arts is an integral part of a quality education; and
Whereas, Considerable research shows that arts education significantly enhances students' cognitive, personal, and social growth and increases analytical and problem-solving skills; and
Whereas, Further, low-income students who have access to arts education "tend to have better academic results, better workforce opportunities, and more civic engagement," according to a 2012 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency of the federal government; and
Whereas, Music education is particularly important, because research shows that music education facilitates language development, as musical training physically develops the part of the brain involved with processing language; and
Whereas, All students in New York State from pre-K through high school are required to receive instruction in the arts, including visual arts, music, dance and theatre; and
Whereas, State requirements for the amount of arts education vary according to grade level; and
Whereas, New York State Education Department (NYSED) guidelines for grades 1-3 recommend that 20% of the weekly time spent in school should be allocated to dance, music, theatre and visual arts; and in grades 4-6, 10% of the weekly time spent in school should be allocated to dance, music, theatre and visual arts; and
Whereas, Over the course of grades 7 and 8, the State requires students to receive one-half unit of study in the visual arts, and one-half unit of study in music, where one half-unit is the equivalent of approximately 55 hours of instruction by a certified arts teacher in New York City; and
Whereas, In high school, New York State graduation requirements include one unit in the ...
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