Thursday, January 11, 2007
Arts in the Public School System
I’m about to ramble… but its a subject I have much feeling for....
My beef is about arts in the school system. I have heard about cuts in the public school system in the arts for many years now. Igby came home today and was telling me about how they don’t have enough instruments in music class (they meet once a week) so most of the time they play games. He goes to “art class” once a week. I personally have been to the art room and this women is making things happen with scraps of art supplies. He “journals” in class, but to the best of my knowledge it doesn’t get any constructive criticism. Everything seems to be geared toward the big test. The test that will make the state of Texas money for the school system.
How much of that money actually hits the kids? Ok, wait… im getting off the subject.
I grew up in an art saturated community. I was afforded instruments to try and art rooms filled with all types of media and actual creative writing teachers who fostered self expression.
My son and your kid(s), if you have any, are probably not as privileged. I know my son will not see those days. He will not be encouraged to be as creative as possible. He will be encouraged to create under a budget.
I don’t think people understand what we are doing to our society. To not cultivate the right side of the brain will have big effects on us. We won’t see it tomorrow, but these kids we are raising and teaching.... they will make the decisions of tomorrow. Cultivating the right side of the brain is essential to progress. Free thought and self expression give way to new ideas and the radical thoughts that are essential for grow and advancement.
It saddens me to think that the arts have been lost in the school system. I am an artist. My son has been brought up in this environment. He has sleep overs two or three times a month. Its usually two or three friends at a time. They do thier thing while I paint or chalk, and sure enough at least one of them askes me if he can paint. It always makes me happy. I set them up and tell them the only rule is “There is no rule in art.” They usually like that and forget what its supposed to look like.
We have heros, though, in the fight. Underpaid teachers like Alejandra Gomez and the work she does with the kids. There is an art teacher in every city and each and everyone of them have my upmost respect for what they do.
So yea, the lack of the arts in the school system. We will feel it eventually. I have no doubt.... no doubt at all. I don’t think people understand how big the impact will be.
melissa jo
