Advocacy: Using your Voice in Your Community

This week I played my part as an advocate for the arts in schools.  I was on my way home after a data meeting and received a phone call from my mother.  She had told me some devastating news:  the school district I grew up in was planning on cutting the arts (art, music, band, and orchestra) from the school budget.  I was deeply upset.  This was the district that helped start me on my path to becoming an artist and a teacher.  My siblings also pursued their careers and educations because of the arts and music in the school district.  I rushed home to print out what evidence I could share, talked with the baby sitter, and drove straight to the meeting. 

As I sat near the podium filling out my comment card, I noticed the crowd coming into the room.  Many faces from my time in the district and many new faces kept flowing in.  The room was packed…at least 500 parents and students.  The meeting began, the budget was shared, the proposed cuts were noted, and the crowd appeared displeased.  People were forcing their way up to the podium to speak. 

I waited two hours and listened to the public speeches and the students’ cry for help.  The mayor of the town came up to the podium and stood up for the arts.  The band director of 30 years stated how the band program was mostly self-funded through community fundraising.  I noticed the time and started getting nervous.  I started feeling like they skipped over my name.  Did they see that I was speaking about the NAEA?  Were they unfamiliar with my name?  I was about to leave to get my daughter from the baby sitter.  I called her, mentioned that I still did not get my turn to speak, and I was feeling bad about taking so long.  She said she understood my reason and that I should stay.  After thanking her, I re-entered the room.  It’s 9:45pm, and the room is still packed.  Fifteen minutes later, I was finally called up to the podium.

I knew that the board had listened to the public cries for help.  I heard the evidence provided by important advisors claiming that districts that cut the arts from school suffer greatly with their housing market and local economy.  Students stood at the podium singing their heart out and reading their words of anger to the board.  I wanted to give more information to the public.

I stated that I was an alumnus to the school district.  I was an elementary art teacher with a master’s degree in a local school district.  I was also a member for the National Art Education Association and a part of the Student Chapter presidential team.  I didn’t prepare a long speech, I wasn’t dressed professionally, but I needed to be here to share what evidence I had. 

I read the letter from Arne Duncan that was posted on the Advocacy page in this website.  I quoted Arne to the board, “I write to bring to your attention the importance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of a complete education for all students.”  I mentioned the part in the letter about the aide provided by the U.S. Department of Education, and the in-process surveys assessing the conditions of art education.  I told the board I was scared to see the district fall far behind in this area if the arts were to be cut.  I then faced the audience and pleaded for them to write letters to the state and national representatives pleading their concerns.  I thanked the board for the opportunity to speak, put the microphone back, and walked out to go back home and take care of my family.  It was 10:30 pm.  The room was still packed.  I still felt that I could have said more, but I shared my evidence.  I was happy to play my part as an advocate for the arts in education.

Once you enter into your new classroom, you become the promoter of the arts in your setting.  There may be times where you will face the crowd and stand up for your passion for the arts and your students.  It is sad to hear about the arts being cut from any school district, but unfortunately it happens.  The well-rounded education is just not available because the funding isn’t there.  Many of you have probably dealt with this situation that I’ve just been through.  Many faces may plead their cases and prove what a difference the arts can make.  Unfortunately, we are still impacted.

That is still not a reason to give up.  I don’t allow my own students to give up when they are stuck on a problem; I help them to see a way around to find the solution.  I encourage everyone who is struggling to keep their programs in the schools to not give up. 

I would like to share a quote by Allan Randall Freelon (1895-1960).  Allan was a supervisor of art instruction for the Philadelphia school district.  This quote was read by Stacy Fuller from the Amon Carter museum to the NAEA members at the Super Summer Summit in Ft. Worth, Texas.

In 1930, he declared, "...I believe this firmly, despite the howls of some economic-minded legislators who say art in public schools is a frill.  Everything, which makes for fuller and finer living, is certainly essential. And art is certainly one of those things."

Thank you for your hard work and effort in keeping the arts alive in schools.

-Heidi O’Hanley