Doniphan teachers recently spoke to the Board of Education about the importance of fine arts education in schools, sharing it helps foster important life skills, while also improving attendance and offering other benefits.
Doniphan art instructors Jamie Pendergrass and April Black reported on a Missouri Art Education Association conference and the benefits of fine arts.
The teachers appealed to the board to show its support by “attending music and fine arts events, and by sharing our successes with the community, such as on social media and in conversation,” and by making decisions that help equip them with the supplies they need.
“We wanted you to know why are our programs are just as important as others are in bringing education to our students,” Pendergrass said.
Pendergrass shared it is “disheartening” to fine arts teachers to hear comments made such as, “Art and music are just so that regular teachers can have a preparation period.”
“I have heard quotes like this stated numerous times. But, we aren’t just babysitters, and what we do is no less important,” she said.
Pendergrass teaches an art history class, through which she links the art movements of each period in time to events that were taking place.
Moreover, she pointed out that fine arts programs foster important life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, hands-on tasking, how to focus on details and taking the time to be thorough.
Black shared statistics that were presented at the conference.
“We learned that students who participate in fine arts education programs are five times less likely to drop out of school, are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, and are three times more likely to pursue a bachelor’s degree,” she said.
“Fine arts students also tend to have higher attendance records and fewer disciplinary infractions,” continued Black. “Thirty percent or more are likely to pursue a professional career, and 72% of business leaders surveyed say that creativity is the number one skill they are seeking when hiring. This is second to the ability to write clearly and succinctly.”
She said fine arts teachers are incorporating more writing and reading assignments in to their art programs.
On the current wish list for the program are technology upgrades and a kiln to be shared amongst the teachers for teaching pottery.
The board also heard and approved a proposal by Peyton March to begin a photography club at Doniphan R-I Middle School.
March said with today’s technology, students may have digital cameras and also phone cameras which fit into their pockets, but still there is a need for them to be equipped with basic skills, such as lighting, angles, and how to frame a photo, etc.
March said, “Learning the basics of how a camera works and how to take photos are practical skills that they can use immediately by taking photographs at school events, and then take with them to high school to produce photos for the yearbook.”