Fewer showing interest in becoming art teachers

While educators and administrators are touting the benefits of arts education, potential teachers have lost interest in the subjects of art and music.

"One of the problems we've had, and I have heard of this problem in Southeast Missouri, is there is a shortage of music and art teachers," said Deborah Fisher, fine arts consultant with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Division of School Improvement. "It's a fairly recent trend."

Budget cuts in recent years haven't impacted public school arts programs to an exaggerated degree, said Fisher, since high school graduates are still required to have one unit of art at the high school level.

But cuts have created teachers like Beth Thomas, who travels between Cape Girardeau elementary schools to save money on having a full-time art teacher at each school.

The teacher shortage has caused the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to work with schools on getting art teachers into the classroom in a more timely manner.

Since fewer music and art teachers are graduating, the department has allowed some fast-track certification to fill those positions in schools with need, Fisher said. And groups like the Missouri Music Educators have held conferences on getting more teachers into the classroom.

The best answer to this problem, said Fisher, is mentoring. Reports show that many people who go in to art and music education do so because they were mentored by a teacher who struck the right chords.

The future of arts education lies in today's arts teachers and how they can reach students who may one day fill their spot in the faculty.

-- Matt Sanders