Are the Arts Important?
By Tom Fleecs, Facilitator, Fine Arts
We are all aware of the spotlight on our schools’ literacy and math scores.
The Colorado State School Board has unanimously passed a resolution to remind us
to not overreact to the accountability pressures and jeopardize our children’s
opportunities to be involved in strong arts programs. The resolution states that
the arts are an expression of our humanity, express human intelligence and
foster aesthetic experiences. They contribute to creative, collaborative and
critical thinking skills that are necessary for the global workforce of the 21st
century. The arts increase attendance rates, graduation rates and student
achievement and have even shown an ability to remediate at-risk behavior.
Over time, we have seen that there are students so gifted in the arts that they
actually become “at risk” in a traditional school. We have seen this to be
true in subjects such as math and science as well. School districts have
responded to this need by providing alternative environments where these
students can learn and giving students more choices for success. Last year,
School District 20 launched the da Vinci Academy, a School for Arts and Ideas,
which provides an arts-rich environment for K-5 students.
This year, School District 11 will move forward with arts magnet opportunities
at three schools. Bristol Elementary will offer Suzuki violin instruction
to kindergarten and first-grade students. Their five-year plan will include K-3
instruction in Suzuki violin and also the addition of dance to their offerings. Russell
Middle School will offer arts opportunities to their school day to include
dance, piano lab, drama and advanced music performance classes. Wasson High
School auditions students across the region for an arts school housed within
a traditional comprehensive high school.
The Colorado State School Board “reaffirms the importance of the arts as an
essential part of a classic, well-rounded, strong academic education and
encourages local school districts to ensure equal opportunity and access to the
study of and participation in the arts as part of a core curriculum within the
school day for all Colorado students.” Therefore, as we provide arts magnet
choices for students, we must also continue to build the strongest arts programs
possible in all our schools and ensure their accessibility. The arts are good
for all well-rounded learners!
