I guess it is because I am in between the weekends of Pippin, our school’s spring show that I feel the need to write.  And the kids are doing an incredible job.  So here I go on to my arts in education soapbox!

From the Finale

As we look around our country, and the educational/political drive to standardization, the arts are often left out in the cold. You don’t have to listen very long to politicians, billionaires, or TV pundits to get the idea that the arts are just not necessary. When they discuss student achievement they mean success on standardized tests. Notice they never say student learning.

So As I watch the students in our show learn, collaborate, create, present, and reflect, I can clearly see their achievement. I can see their learning. As the spring moves on, students all over the country will play in spring concerts, (a good friend of mine’s son is playing trumpet in his school’s concert tonight) dance in recitals, perform in plays and musicals, and have their artwork and photography displayed. This isn’t fluff, this is real work. This is authentic.

So how do we get the word out on the arts in education to shake the established values?  I know, we can’t even get most to see the benefits of 21^st century tech embedded learning.  But if the arts go, so does creativity, and where does that leave us?

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to comment and add your thoughts. Peace.