Open Letter To LAUSD Board Members: Save the Arts Program

Please join the letter writing campaign sponsored by Arts For LA. Here's the link:
http://www.artsforla.org/lausd_sendletter



Dear LAUSD Board Members,

I’m writing to thank you for your support of arts education and to encourage you to reconsider the proposal to eliminate 50% of LAUSD’s elementary arts instructional program for the 2010/11 budget year.

I taught at Sendak Elementary last year in North Hollywood through a Community Arts Partner organization. Sadly, my art position was eliminated at spring break. I'm a fully credentialed art specialist, having taught in Washington, northern California, and Texas. It's absolutely shocking to me that this district would consider not fully funding the arts training students need for success in the 21st century.

An elementary art teacher helps provide a balanced education for every child in a school -- the effect more profound than one period a week would suggest. I know, for I've taught thousands in other states. Shouldn't the students attending LAUSD schools have the same chance at a good job in the creative economy? How is it that foreign talent has to be imported because our children haven't been trained for these jobs? It's inconceivable that schools in India or Russia provide better training.

While I know you're under an enormous amount of pressure to eliminate art teachers to help close the deficit, I also know that a lot of our education funding is going to be directed toward more test preparation. The first response should not be to throw out the arts as expendable. That's been the same old response for the last twenty-five years. It might surprise you to know that in Texas -- which invented the testing as proof of teacher /student accountability -- the arts were never eliminated. They were fully funded! Students need a balance and relief from the relentless drill and practice routine of their school day.

The way full-time art, music, PE, and some computer teachers were kept at every school was to tie them to teacher planning time. This model is very effective. All teachers of a grade level are thus given a common planning time. This actually enhances teacher and student performance. It saved the fine arts program. I worked in very competitive and outstanding programs located in tough neighborhoods. Those kids received terrific, comprehensive arts instruction. There was no difference between the education received at a school serving the most needy children or the wealthier schools. The resources were provided.

As a stakeholder and arts provider living in your district, I know firsthand the importance of quality, sequential arts education for all students. Not only does arts education provide the critical skills needed for young minds to become engaged citizens, here in LA it prepares them to succeed in a 21st century workforce created by our regional creative economy.

The creative sector is one of the driving forces of the Los Angeles and Orange County economies, generating nearly 1 million direct and indirect jobs and $140 billion in sales and receipts. In fact, one in six jobs is related directly to the creative economy.

I understand California’s economic crisis has put enormous pressure on the District to fill a $500+ million budget deficit. However, the human cost associated with eliminating elementary arts teachers far outweighs the temporary monetary gain.

LAUSD’s historic ten-year commitment to rebuilding its arts education infrastructure is a success. However, the work is far from complete. Eliminating the instructional foundation from the classroom will only harm students and further push back the District’s goal of providing a complete education for all LAUSD students, regardless of their socio-economic status.

My concern is one of unequity -- children whose parents can fundraise large amounts for their individual school will receive arts training. The parents will pay for it. But what of the schools where that doesn't happen? Those children lose out. We then witness a further erosion of equality and equal access to a balanced education across the district. LAUSD will become a have/have not art education organization.

Your ability to sustain this highly successful program is being put to the test. That is why I am taking this moment to voice my support for this important program and to urge you to maintain the integrity of the arts education program.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring that every LAUSD student has equal access to the tools they need to succeed in work, in our society and in life.

Yours truly,

Tracy Cheney