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Art Guild makes pitch for programs
Without making any promises, the president of the McCook Public Schools board of education assured a group of artists wanting to add elementary art education to McCook schools that the board supports the concept and will research the possibility.
Tom Bredvick acknowledged to artists and officers of the McCook Art Guild that past requests for art education may have fallen on deaf ears or been put on back burners by other boards. He said, however, that this board, with its new and relatively new members, hasn't looked into the possibility of adding art to classrooms at McCook and Central elementaries and at the junior high. Bredvick said the board "will actively look at this. It's a whole planning process ... we have the ability to look at it now."
If the decision is to add art, then the board will also have to figure out how to fund it, he said.
Art guild member Bev Rhea told board members that children are natural learners, naturally curious and imaginative if given the chance. Without encouragement and incentives both at home and at school, those natural tendencies are lost, she said.
Christina Walker, speaking as a mother and also as someone who works with at-risk children, told board members that art develops and/or enhances creativity, self-expression and self-esteem, curiosity and critical thinking skills, and provides a positive outlet for stress. She said she supports elementary art because it will provide a concrete skill to compliment Mayflower ... George Washington ... math facts.
Rhea said that art provides a way for students to cope with the world ... with stress. Art guild member Ann Kennedy said that art makes the world go away. "I lose track of time ... I'm totally involved," she said.
Art guild acting president Ray Walter asked the board why formal art education is provided only at the high school 9-12 level. "You wouldn't start teaching students to read in high school," he said. Art is important to elementary education, he said, and it would only enhance the existing high school art program, and students' achievements in other subjects..
Kennedy said that art is a discipline that can't be separated from math and science. "They're all intertwined ... they can't be separated out," she said.
Kennedy said that research shows there is a correlation between art and high achievement, a link with early literacy. She said she doesn't feel that art "is a frill," that it can't be funded.
Walter said that besides the cost of a teacher, the initial costs to start an art program could be fairly inexpensive, working with the basics of paper and pencil.
Superintendent Dave Schley said that art guild members approached him when he first came to McCook two years ago, and have been persistent in their request to add K-8 art education and in their support of their passion for art. "And I have seen that same passion throughout this community," Schley said.
In the high school, Schley said, he has seen children who don't do well "at the south end of the hall" perform very well and focus intently at the north end of the hallway in the art room. Without art, he said, the school is missing out on creating a well-rounded student.
Schley acknowledged that schools are under pressure by the federally-mandated "No Child Left Behind" program to push/increase students' academic achievement. He also understands the barriers of space and funding. "But," he said, "we could get past those barriers. The key piece here is a teacher."
"This can happen," he said. "I don't know how yet, but ..." he added with a chuckle and a wave of his arm at art guild members, "these folks aren't going to go away."