Blog 3 - Interacting with Professionals

Coincidentally around the time I chose my research advocacy plan the school district which I am using as my host site was holding a board meeting. The topic of discussion was budget shortfalls and budget cuts. Within the agenda the idea was brought to the board to cut art, music, band and athletic programs for all students K-8^th grade. As the community heard of this news and the possibility of losing the arts within the school system, many residents attended the meeting.

I took advantage of the opportunity to attend the meeting as well. While I was there I was able to discuss the outlook of some current Board of Education members. They shared their ideas on how the arts are important within the school system yet budgets are short and something must give. They further explained that cutting certain programs did not mean they did not believe in its value; they just lacked ideas and monetary means.

When asked about arts within the classroom curriculum they advised that arts allowed for creative thinking and can be fun during free time. Furthermore, they recently hired a curriculum coordinator into the district that may have ideas to incorporate creative means but they had no specific details on what that meant. Rather, the coordinator was hired to aid educators in switching curricula from the old standards to the Common Core Standards which included new textbooks and new means of delivery to students.

To continue my observations, interactions and interviews, I had the opportunity to talk with a new board member to be sworn in within the next month. He advised that he would oppose any notion in cutting arts within the district. “Arts are what define our youth.” He had no true experience with arts within the curriculum but personally was able to relate to his own personal life. His daughter was just finishing preschool and about to enter the school system. He advised that she loved showing him her work. The work she seemed to express the most joy out of was/is her pictures or personal writings (journals, story writing, etc). He said that it gives him affirmation that arts are valuable in growth and development.

This particular gentleman was also kind enough to offer insights to advocacy. He said being a part of the board is a volunteer position. Although you get voted in, it is not a paid job. He decided it was time to do something and stand for issues that he believed were/are important. However, he noted that being an advocate does not have to go that far. He offered ideas such as writing a board member and attending the meetings help; furthermore, contact your local and state politicians and email your school’s administration staff. He said to get passionate and involved – that is how we [communities and people] make a difference.

I felt I gained important insights during this task. Through other courses I have discussed thoughts, ideas and interviewed principles, a superintendant and a program director. Prior to this event, I had not considered the other side of administration which includes the Board of Education. After talking with them and those that attended the board meeting as public observers, I discovered that the community has a great deal to do with what occurs within the school system. We [the public] have a great amount of power and responsibility. It is up to us to be our children’s advocate(s).

Following my experience with the board members, I was able to attend the very long meeting and discuss topics with parents…more to come on this in our next blog.