The arts are important because they give students access to things they haven't been involved in before and help their creativity, band, chorus, orchestra, art, they're all outlets for creativity and teach multiple skills from teamwork to working alone on a project. Sports are important for similar reasons, some students just aren't fans of arts but they really like football or soccer. While not as imaginative, football is great for creating a sense of belonging and growing teamwork and leadership skills.
Though because of funding many arts in schools have to be suspended so the school can focus on academics, but as funding goes down sports are usually the last to go. Why is this? Many people like view schools as businesses that are super focused on money but I don't see that. Schools do need money to continue paying teachers and teaching students, but many times sports stay on because they're the ones creating profit, ticket sales for events primarily. Arts do have options like concerts and fundraising but they're just not as helpful.
I believe that you cannot have one without the other but I also can understand when one must be cut, though it is arbitrary to argue them against each other.
- Casey Brandt