Before cutting up words, analyzing and dissecting them, children should touch the reality behind them. The arts are fundamental to the language experience approach to reading, providing a perceptual framework for a child to express ideas and feelings. The results of selected school programs where the arts have been incorporated into the curriculum are that the arts humanized curriculum and school environment, increased self-concept, reduced vandalism, and increased reading scores. Visual and aural experience allows children to discover and perceive new aspects of their environment, formulate concepts about them, and express them in nonverbal terms. Architecture and the visual arts, music, drama, and dance each have their own contributions to make to the world of the child. Although a case can be made for the arts to be part of the basic education for every child, budgets for funding arts education are low and will be until voters clearly understand that the arts are essential to reading and language development. (TJ)