The "More" Child

In discussions about the impact that scheduling changes will have on the middle school humanities magnet program, parents and students have been bewailing the potential impact on the school’s music programs.  “What about research that ties music to math achievement?” “Think how this will affect marching bands in high schools!”   For every person who suggests trying out for the local Youth Orchestra, someone else points out that not everyone can afford music lessons outside of school hours. There’s talk of modeling the up-county magnet’s afterschool music program.

Largely overlooked — or at least I haven’t heard it discussed — is the impact on the art program.  You know… art.  Visual art.  Stuff like drawing and painting and graphic design and photography.  An area of study that I would argue is just as valuable — and maybe more than — music.

Why do I say this?  In the past two months I’ve been bemused by the hordes of  old people (ahem) fortysomethings flocking to Facebook all of a sudden.  People from high school have been coming out of the woodwork (Don’t. Want. To go. There.) Amid all the friend requests from people who never gave me the time of day, back in the day, were requests from two women I actually do remember fondly.  They were “the artists” of our class.  And both of them are still artists today.  And doing very well, thank you very much, from what I can tell from their profiles.

For all those people out there who say that art is a waste of time, I have news for you.  It’s not.  We need artists and designers.  We’re visual creatures and good design creates value in the marketplace (Ask Target and Ikea.).  As someone who just helped redesign a website, I can tell you, people with design skills are valuable.  We lay people can appreciate good design.  We can tell you what we don’t like.  But press us to specify what we want…or to realize that idea…or tell you exactly what makes it good?  Not so easy.

The county happens to have some very good art programs at the high school level.  A high school in the Down County has a well-regarded but little known Visual Art Center program.  This fall another school hosted its seventh annual Art School Forum. Visual Art is part of the Arts and Electives Group of the IB “hexagon,” hence the special concern of students who want to–and need to–be prepared in both a foreign language and art.  Like music, becoming an accomplished artist takes years of practice.  But somehow people have the idea that art is something kids can just do on their own.  Maybe some can, but at a certain point it requires mentorship and equipment and space.  Yet it strikes me that there are even fewer outside of school opportunities for the visual arts than there are for music.

Bottom line, these kids and parents shouldn’t have to choose–especially at the middle school level.  A rich arts education is important for all students.  And especially–oh the irony–for highly gifted humanities students.

[If you like the look of this blog, thank a graphic designer ]

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