Dear Commons Community,

The Huffington Post has an article on Turnaround Arts that promotes arts in the schools as a counter-program to the overemphasis on reading, mathematics, and testing prevalent in much of the school reform policies of the past decade. Here is an excerpt:

 
“Turnaround Arts schools across the country — from a Native American reservation in Montana to the Irish Chanel in New Orleans, educators have been successfully using the arts to move the needle on student outcomes in some of the toughest schools in our country. Decades of research show that, used strategically, the arts are an effective tool for improving school culture and climate, increasing student engagement and building parent and community involvement. Yet, music, theater and other arts programs have been disappearing from public schools, often the first victims of budget cuts. According to the U.S. Department of Education, almost 6 million elementary students – overwhelmingly in our highest poverty schools- have no art or music classes. Far too often, the schools that need the arts the most are getting them the least…
The arts are not the whole solution. We need strong leadership, effective teachers and hard work on many fronts. But arts education gives our schools effective tools to reach and teach students.”

 
I agree. The arts should be part of the equation in every school. Music, dance, art, and theater provide important emotional outlets for children and teens.   Too often they are the victims of the time and budget cuts in the drill and kill, teach to the test curricula promoted by too many of our education policy makers.

 
Tony