What better way to begin than with a Bible verse that so beautifully illustrates how the fine arts should be funded: "He said, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest; since all the others have made offerings with their surpluses, she instead, out of her poverty, has offered all her support'” (The Catholic Youth Bible, Luke 21:3-4). Since the arts are funded from the surplus, when budget cuts are necessary they are the first to take the hit less valuable than other programs and courses. While it is easy to dismiss the arts as mere icing on the cake and not really necessary; it is a mistake to remove the icing because it is what makes the cake special. Students benefit from an all-round education round that includes strong arts programs. If these programs are not funded and prioritized, it is a disservice to students. The arts not only help students on tests valued by the education system, but they also help children engage emotionally and discover passion. In today's world, education is changing; the overwhelming focus on testing is stifling the knowledge that every student has the potential to acquire. One might assume that with this increased focus on testing, it would be obvious to fund the arts since “arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that consistently rank among the highest for math and science test scores, such as Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands” (11 facts). This shows that music helps support the prevailing arguments in these important tests. It is clear that not supporting the arts means not supporting mathematics and science...... middle of paper ......c Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. Winona, MN: Saint Mary's, 2010. Print.“Cutting Fine Arts in Schools” StudyMode.com 05 2012. 2012. 05 2012Davis, Beandra. "The notebook." As budgets shrink, arts education is further diminished. Ed. Paolo Socolar. TheNotebook.com and Web. November 24, 2013.Hawkins, Tyleah. “Will less art and music in the classroom really help students soar academically?” Washington Post. The Washington Post, December 28, 2012. Web. November 24, 2013. Kooij, Anna V. “When AllFail, the Fine Arts Speak.” When everyone fails, the fine arts speak. Fine arts in schools when AllFail, The Fine Arts Speak, 25 January 2013. Web. 22 November 2013. “Music and language”. Music and language. Np, nd Web. November 24, 2013."Why art?" Np, 2013. Web. 13 November. 2013.