state arts advocacy

I had a conference call meeting this morning as part of the round table of the Arts KY group. Goals and priorities were narrowed for action that is needed for arts awareness in the state. One of the main items that came up was the Senate Bill 1 that was introduced in the last session which would take out the testing requirements for the arts in Kentucky Schools. Because of No Child Left behind the only thing that is federally mandated is testing in reading math and science. Many schools have eliminated activities like gym, recess, and many of the arts and humanities classes in order to teach to the No Child Left behind standards. Because KY schools have a state testing that includes the Arts and Humanities our children get a more rounded education.

The question is how do we educate the average person about the value of arts in schools and in our community. There is a bill to mandate a certain amount of time each day for physical fitness. This bill is partly in response to the cut backs because of No Child Left behind testing and preparation. We know that kids who don't exercise generally have weight problems and health issues. We can see and understand the benefits of physical exercise. But what about the arts?

April had a great response when I told her about the discussion. She sees the need to not separate the arts from reading, math, science and physical education but to use the arts to help achieve the goals. In her drama classes the kids are very active physically. In after school programs and plays the kids learn history and science rules from participating in fun plays about the American revolution or plays like Geology rocks! April has a play about grammar rules that help kids learn the difference between verbs, adverbs, etc... The arts are of value in so many ways. We just need to do a better job of explaining that to our community.

I struggle all the time trying to figure out the best way to tell about the value of local community people performing in plays at the Market House or in the school systems. Self esteem, self confidence, and community pride are much harder to measure on a test. But the results can last a lifetime.

Many community theatres, including MHT, have stories about kids who were flunking out of school but got involved in a play and improved their reading and language skills because of work with a script. Parents come up to me all the time and talk about the confidence that MHT has given their child. Judges and social workers talk about the teamwork that goes on in putting together a play that has saved kids who were involved in gang activity. It literally saved their lives.

It is up to all of us who value what MHT means in the community to figure out ways to explain what it is that we do. We don't just entertain... We change lives!