Arts in our Schools – It takes a Village

Here’s to the village!

March is Arts in our Schools month. Have your child hug their music teacher. I would suggest that your child hug their visual art teacher, but most likely they don’t have one. According to Tennessee state law, all students are to have both music and art every week. Due to budget constraints 77% of all Hamilton County students will not receive any visual arts instruction during their elementary school years. In fact, there are less than a handful of Hamilton County elementary schools that have full time art teachers.

More and more research is emerging about the power and benefits of the arts as part of a complete education. The arts increase student engagement and motivation in school. Through the arts, students improve their ability to communicate their thoughts and knowledge, become team-players and develop many skills needed to succeed in the 21^st century work environment.

So what are schools to do about providing quality arts experience for their students?

Schools must rely on their classroom teachers to include or integrate the arts with other curriculum. PTAs provide funding for some of the arts teachers. This year, Allied Arts will provide $160,000 in grants to schools for arts experiences and residencies that bring community artists into the classroom. Allied Arts and Hamilton County schools also offer professional development workshops for teachers through a program with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Parents can play an important role as a voice in support of the arts by contacting their principal and school board member.  Ask them how to increase the arts in your child’s school.

In short, it takes a whole village to provide quality arts education experiences to children. But then…it takes a whole child to build a village.

Rodney Van Valkenburg

Director of Communications/Arts Education

Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga

www.alliedartschattanooga.org