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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-01-08

Education Reform That Is Based In Reality

This piece in tomorrow's WaPo (which, in the interest of full disclosure, is by two clearly interested writers) makes an important point to anybody interested in education: programs that incorporate the study of the arts have a far greater success rate than programs that focus strictly on the "basics".

A study of 23 arts-integrated schools in Chicago showed test scores rising up to two times faster there than in demographically comparable schools. A study of a Minneapolis program showed that arts integration has substantial effects for all students, but appears to have its greatest impact on disadvantaged learners. Gains go well beyond the basics and test scores. Students become better thinkers, develop higher-order skills, and deepen their inclination to learn.


I've known this for years, and music teachers have had data to back it up for years. The problem is, in an age of limited resources and higher expectations, it is difficult to quantify, and thus justify, the important contributions the arts make to a child and to a school. And as a result arts programs are often among the first things on the chopping block when schools try to reform.

Just something to consider.
Posted by: Michael / 1/08/2005 01:18:00 AM

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