Imagine. A school system with students who are passionate about what they do and care about others around them. A school system where everyone could be themselves and not worry about what others would think. Now let's go back to some of your high school memories. I can almost guarantee that almost none of our experiences were what I just described. However, on a smaller scale it can be found in clubs such as orchestras, choirs and theaters. In today's society, schools focus too much on sports and academics to realize that the arts are suffering, crippled by lack of funding from the school districts that control them. There are many reasons why schools should fund the arts more equitably than they currently do. Many students today face the problem of not being physically able to play sports, whether due to injury, disability or physical condition. The arts provide a way for these students to be a part of the school, just like athletes can. The arts also promote good habits in academics, such as time management. Numerous studies have shown that academics thrive through the addition of the arts into students' daily lives. Students are also able to better express themselves through the arts, increasing their social confidence and teaching them valuable lessons along the way. Many people underestimate the values ​​of the arts and, as a result, they are often neglected and underfunded. I believe that every child deserves the same right and opportunity to participate in their school. To do this, schools need to start funding school in a more balanced way. I have participated in over 8 drama/musical productions, including choir concerts as well as dramatic performances. I have personally witnessed and experienced the benefits of paper... Undeniable value. " Burlington Post March 1, 2013, final edition: n. pag. Print. Baker, Beth. "Arts Education." CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press, March 16, 2012. Web. November 11, 2013. Cain, John. " EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD : Arts education improves students' minds and academic performance. " Nwitimes.com. Np, June 24, 2012. Web. November 15, 2013. Edmundson, Courtney. Personal interview, November 7, 2013. Edutopia Staff “By the Numbers: The Impact of Arts Education on Students,” January 28, 2009. Web. Fanela, Rachael. Personal interview, November 7, 2013. Johnson, Marina Area High School, Altoona, Pennsylvania, April 15, 2013. Kolenich, Eric. 2012. Web November 11, 2013. Ruppert, Sandra S. “Critical Evidence.” National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2006. Web... 2013.