Is art at schools on chopping block?

SALT LAKE CITY — Paint brushes poised for action, sixth-graders at Wasatch Elementary School squeezed thick sky-blue and neon-orange paint out of bottles and onto trays.

As part of their World War II curriculum, the students have written essays about bravely overcoming a challenge and are now creating badges of courage. One girl's badge reads "DROP" in red glitter and shows an elevator dial on "10" from when she visited the Empire State Building.

Wasatch Elementary principal Julie Miller is putting on a brave face herself as the Legislature approaches a decision on a potential 5 percent cut to education budgets for fiscal year 2011.

School art programs are on the chopping block, along with myriad other programs, from those affecting autistic children to technology in the classroom.

The Legislature's Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee began hearing reports from program directors Wednesday and will continue through next week. A potential budget decision is scheduled for mid-February.

"We know everybody is strapped this year," Miller said. "People are being fiscally conservative and trying to be equitable among groups. But the children are the future of this nation."

The principal points out that "the arts" — drama, art, music and dance — enhance academics. Fourth-grader Caroleine James, 10, said drama has "helped me with speaking in public."

Just a walk through the campus of Wasatch Elementary, nestled in the Avenues of Salt Lake City, is like strolling through an art gallery. The students brightened up the 1931 pedestrian tunnel under South Temple with a ceramic and glass display of sky and stars, for the "Wasatch Stars."

An 8-foot-long by 5-foot-high tortoise guards the west side of the building. Children created multicolored ceramic scales for the giant shell while learning about the desert tortoise and its habitat. Fourth-grade teacher Margaret Lane died that year, so the artwork, including a galaxy-decor sign reading "Margaret's Lane," is dedicated to her.

Fifth-grader Nina Harper, 10, said she likes learning art at school because "we see how creative we can be. Our mind goes, 'Wow — we can do this.' "

If education cuts are sweeping, Miller's school is one of 52 statewide that could lose its art specialist funded through the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.