I’ve had quite a week. I’m writing this from Dallas, Texas, where I’m doing two days of work at a state-wide Safe and Drug-Free Schools conference. I’m leading an all-day youth session today and delivering a keynote to the whole conference tomorrow.
But, despite being out of town, my mind is still back home around a fascinating week with my own sons’ school district. Due to budget cuts, the district proposed to stop all instrumental music programs at the elementary level. What followed this was a testimony to adults joining together for a common cause.
Within days of this announcement, the school board was bombarded with letters. School board meetings were packed. A friend of mine, a local filmmaker and graduate from the district created a fantastic short film using local musicians from the district, and parents from across the district came together to think meaningfully about not only how to save this program, but also to demand that the district re-think how it views young people. I started a Facebook page around it and, within 24 hours, it had about 200 members.
Will the cuts go through despite all of this? Perhaps. But what was really amazing was watching the community rally around its young people. It reminded me of the power that comes when people join around a common cause and common vision for its youth.
In terms of the arts specifically, here’s a great new article from edutopia titled Why Arts Education is Critical, and Who’s Doing it Best.
I’ll keep you posted on how this plays out. And in the meantime, good luck in whatever battles you might be waging yourself!
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