YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — State budget cuts themselves may not be the biggest threat to fine arts education in Washington. Instead, increased requirements for high school graduation and college admittance are leaving students with no time for music.
The Yakima Herald-Republic says (http://bit.ly/Aokrh5 ) that music teachers say their subject is faring as well as other elective subjects and extracurricular activities in a leaner budget environment.
Class sizes are up and in some districts, music teachers are being asked to pick up classes in other subjects to make up for layoffs, but music isn’t bearing the brunt of the cuts.
The freshmen class that will enter the state’s high schools next fall are required to take an extra year of math leaving less time for elective courses like music.