The "Arts" In Schools

[Kathianne]

Myself, my ex, our children were all fortunate enough to have schools that provided music, art, and great literature. Granted we were all fortunate that our parents also enriched the exposure, at home, by library and museums, and trips to other locales.

What about those in less privileged schools, without parents that can afford private music or art lessons? If gone from the schools, then what? It seems small, but it's like the dropping of teaching Western Civilization, the core is lost. If you understand, watch this short video and if your schools are thinking of cutting back on the arts, perhaps say a word:


http://youtu.be/f2p5augniQA

[Abbey Marie]

My thoughts:

I love how every kid in that class was singing with passion. I kept expecting there to be at least one or two who were zoned out, but saw not a one.

I loved going to music class as an elementary school kid. Singing was a way for this shy kid to express myself.

When our daughter started HS, my husband told her that what she would remember most from the 4 years were her hours in band practice and performance, and the friends she made by being in various bands. I think it's true.

[Robert A Whit]

I think most of us are myopic as to schools. I for instance can speak of very rural schools during World War 2 and probably to this day such schools exist somewhere.

The very best K-12 school I attended has to be the now demolished Hayward Highschool.

The school was enormous. And designed along Roman or Greek lines.
Range of courses was very wide.
Of course the language courses were 4 I think. Math up to advanced trigonometry and advanced geometry and algebra of course. No calculus nor anylitical geometry.
We had the major sports teams and things like soccor was part of Gym.
Shops galore. I mean serious shops. A kid could graduate and be good at working on diesel engines or auto engines. We had body shops for cars. We had a range to shoot guns at. We had a full fledged farm. That site is the site today of a high school. Kids could learn animal management.

I really loved that school. I was told by teachers that in 1952, my first year there, the school got the recognition as America's second most beautiful high school. It felt more like a university.

That all said, I am sure I know nothing of the rest of schools. Well, in my city, my step kids and daughter did attend schools up to high school. Still, I did not attend their schools and really don't claim to know all that much about their former schools.

What I am thinking in this post is that if you are blessed as i was to attend school with a large band, a stage to die for so kids could be part of plays, you might not realize that some schools may not have any of that. We had a very large stage and a large theater. i feel blessed to have gone to that school. And the city at the time was small. It might have had 10,000 people living there. But the school served a very large area so it was not simply a city school. I lived 4 miles from the high school and took the school bus daily.

[Kathianne]

My thoughts:

I love how every kid in that class was singing with passion. I kept expecting there to be at least one or two who were zoned out, but saw not a one.

I loved going to music class as an elementary school kid. Singing was a way for this shy kid to express myself.

When our daughter started HS, my husband told her that what she would remember most from the 4 years were her hours in band practice and performance, and the friends she made by being in various bands. I think it's true.

I loved singing as a small child, at home and at school. In 2nd grade when the notice went up to try for 'children's choir', I went. Parochial school. I knew all the songs, I was thrilled!

Then the nun said, "Wow, someone is totally off key," there were like 60 of us, grades 2 & 3. She had each section sing. Localized me. LOL! The deaf one. Yeah, I can't carry a tune, but I always look up lyrics!

I was the only one that didn't make the choir, just as well. Quite traumatic, but heh, we all have our burdens. With my hearing I was never going to be a singer or bi-lingual.

Same school brought in folks for the Art Institute of Chicago, along with the Lyric Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Every year. Same thing with the public schools when I moved onto them. Our library also had framed paintings for 'loan' of up to 6 months, renewable.

One thing to say for Chicago, it's 'art rich.' From the Art Institute, to Field Museum, to the First Amendment Museum, Cantigny, The Oriental Institute of University of Chicago, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts, the list goes on and on.

Nearly all of us have some 'arts' in us, that allows us to express ourselves, if given a chance. Too many that aren't going to be great academics or athletes, are truly gifted in other areas, but will be undiscovered if not given the opportunity.

[Kathianne]

Bottom line, many if not most kids attend high school on a daily basis more due to 'extra-curricular' reasons than academic ones. Of those, many find a 'sport', but there are those in the arts: drama, music, art and those in the 'nerd' categories: chess, debate, newspaper, yearbook, or poetry:

This appears to be high school:


http://youtu.be/jiaWEwNNuJ4

[Kathianne]

While that last video was a bit 'out of sync', I liked it because it seemed most kids were into it. One doesn't have to be 'gifted' or even passionate about music. The fact that these kids were out there, doing their interpretation is exposure.

Now more disciplined:

Acapella:


http://youtu.be/Pr5Em3NlYgc

One of the schools I sub at most often. Nationals:


http://youtu.be/TExYYeegywk

[Kathianne]

I think I failed to mention, they've won nationals, twice. 2011 and 2012.

[Robert A Whit]

I loved singing as a small child, at home and at school. In 2nd grade when the notice went up to try for 'children's choir', I went. Parochial school. I knew all the songs, I was thrilled!

Then the nun said, "Wow, someone is totally off key," there were like 60 of us, grades 2 & 3. She had each section sing. Localized me. LOL! The deaf one. Yeah, I can't carry a tune, but I always look up lyrics!

I was the only one that didn't make the choir, just as well. Quite traumatic, but heh, we all have our burdens. With my hearing I was never going to be a singer or bi-lingual.

Same school brought in folks for the Art Institute of Chicago, along with the Lyric Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Every year. Same thing with the public schools when I moved onto them. Our library also had framed paintings for 'loan' of up to 6 months, renewable.

One thing to say for Chicago, it's 'art rich.' From the Art Institute, to Field Museum, to the First Amendment Museum, Cantigny, The Oriental Institute of University of Chicago, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts, the list goes on and on.

Nearly all of us have some 'arts' in us, that allows us to express ourselves, if given a chance. Too many that aren't going to be great academics or athletes, are truly gifted in other areas, but will be undiscovered if not given the opportunity.

I have noticed differences in thinking processes depending on the size of the city one comes from.

Mostly in things they were able to do. For instance, my time spent in Berlin Germany influenced me as to thinking process. SF is famous but really not a large city. NY City is a city I have visited and life there is much different than in very small towns.

Chicago has many things of interest. Those living there were fortunate they did not live in podunk, USA where such great things were not available.

[Kathianne]

I have noticed differences in thinking processes depending on the size of the city one comes from.

Mostly in things they were able to do. For instance, my time spent in Berlin Germany influenced me as to thinking process. SF is famous but really not a large city. NY City is a city I have visited and life there is much different than in very small towns.

Chicago has many things of interest. Those living there were fortunate they did not live in podunk, USA where such great things were not available.

and yet, over and over again, stars come out of the podunk locals. The kids got some encouragement or their parents ponied up big bucks to give them the incentives. It's not like only from mega venues that the stars are hatching.

Cut the art, music, drama clubs, that will likely no longer be the case.

[Robert A Whit]

I think I failed to mention, they've won nationals, twice. 2011 and 2012.

Not only are they talented, the person directing them also is very talented.

[Kathianne]

Not only are they talented, the person directing them also is very talented.

Indeed. Supportive parents too. As I said, the schools I'm around are high achieving. Doesn't matter if one is addressing academics, basketball, football, show choir, debate or chess club. They were regional math winners too. LOL! State in all I mentioned. No joke.

Good year for them.

But the kids are fortunate with both parents and county and city that provides what they need. At the same time, the parents would be pleased for the most part in what they see day-to-day, regarding the students work ethic.

[Kathianne]

Let me say though, that these 'success' stories, even in well funded areas, do not come without some trials, sometimes of mega proportions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaton_Warrenville_South_High_School


Wheaton Warrenville South High School, or WWSHS, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Butterfield Road (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Route_56) and Wiesbrook Road in the southwest corner of the Wheaton, Illinois (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaton,_Illinois), a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago), in the United States. It is part of Community Unit School District 200 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Unit_School_District_200), which also includes Wheaton North High School (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaton_North_High_School).


The school has had a long history, during which it has had four names, and is considered the successor to a school with a similar name. While the school is known for its academic and athletic accomplishments, it is best known for its association with a number of notable alumni including astronomer Edwin Hubble (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Hubble), football player Red Grange (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Grange), comedian John Belushi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Belushi) and actor James Belushi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Belushi).



Trust me, the rest is even more interesting...

[Robert A Whit]

and yet, over and over again, stars come out of the podunk locals. The kids got some encouragement or their parents ponied up big bucks to give them the incentives. It's not like only from mega venues that the stars are hatching.

Cut the art, music, drama clubs, that will likely no longer be the case.

I don't claim my figures are accurate but it is my understanding that for each actor that makes it a thousand others do not. Same with music talent.

I had a brother in law that had a band and they played some gigs but not to the point they got known or made a living.

[Robert A Whit]

Let me say though, that these 'success' stories, even in well funded areas, do not come without some trials, sometimes of mega proportions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaton_Warrenville_South_High_School



Trust me, the rest is even more interesting...

A high school you might want to check out is De La Salle High school of Concord, CA. They have the most famous football team in this country. I believe they really stress adademics too. They have maybe half a dozen pro football players currently playing. Joe Montana sent his sons there to get them started at QB.