Equalizing Effects
A 2009 report entitled Arts and At-Risk Youth
looked at a collection of studies. Portions of the
studies reviewed suggest that programs that
offer deep arts involvement may help to narrow
the achievement gap among socio-economic
groups
and
enable
BACK
PANEL
HEADINGstudents from financially challenged background to have a more level playing
field with their peers
Civic Involvement
This report also found that high school students
from low income backgrounds with arts-rich
experiences participated in student government
and school service clubs at four times the rate of
low income students who lacked those experiences.
These students were also more likely than other
young adults to have volunteered recently and
to vote and/or to participate in a political campaign.
Creativity
A 30 year study of the careers of 40 scientists
entitled, Arts Crafts: Keys to Scientific Creativity,
reports that data demonstrated a significant
correlation between artistic hobbies, specific
forms of thinking (visual, kinesthetic, verbal,
etc.) and success as a scientist. The Nobel Prize
winners and most of the members of the National Academy of Sciences in the study were
universally artistic and/or musical, most had
several arts-related hobbies as adults, and they
utilized a wide range of arts-associated mental
thinking tools such as three-dimensional mental
imagery, kinesthetic feelings and pattern formation.
Financial Benefits
Last year Plano ISD students earned more then
$17 Million in scholarships as a result of their
fine arts involvement.
How Fine Arts Contribute
Design
The Texas Cultural Trust reports that the
“Creative Sector” in Texas employs roughly
700,000 individuals in everything from manufacturing of art supplies and musical instruments,
to graphic design, to music and movie production and distribution, to performance companies in dance, theatre and music. These jobs
carry an average annual salary of $70,000.
•The focus is on creating something that is functional while also
being beautiful. – Our art students do this every day.
Fine Arts =Success
We believe that a vibrant Fine Arts education is
the right of every child and that the research
suggests that these experiences can assist students to be more engaged in school and learning in general, to succeed academically, to overcome the challenges of poverty, to participate
more fully in their communities, to contribute
creatively to the world and to make a decent
living.
Plano ISD Fine Arts
Cox Building Annex
1517 H. Avenue
Plano, Texas 75074
(469)752-5380
•When
Story
our lives are brim-
ming with information and
data, the essence of persuasion and communication has
become the ability to create
a compelling narrative. –
Speech and theatre classes
give this narrative a voice
for students.
Symphony
•This idea is about synthe-
sis, the ability to see the
big picture or to combine
pieces into a truly new
whole. – This is the very
essence of a musical performance or the creation
of a visual artwork.
•The ability to laugh, play,
and enjoy oneself will become increasingly more
critical in this new age. –
Participation in the arts in
school lays the foundation
for a life of artistic recreation.
Play
Empathy
A 2007 Harris poll demonstrated that
extended involvement in the arts
increases the likelihood that a student will graduate and go on to college nearly three fold. In addition,
individuals who were involved in the
arts for a longer period of time were
more likely to be college graduates
with higher incomes than their peers
who had a lower arts involvement
Academic
Success
•Those who thrive will
have the ability to understand those around them,
to build new relationships
and to care for others. – To
be a part of an ensemble,
cast or team one must
learn to appreciate others
and work together.
Engagement
Meaning
•In a time when so many of the
basic needs are easily met, human
beings desire to pursue more significant ideas of purpose and spiritual fulfillment. – The arts provide
a powerful vehicle for exploring
and expressing such ideas.
A study conducted by the Colorado
Department of Education in 2008
concluded that students who do well
in reading, writing, and science
attend schools that offer a rich and
varied arts program – regardless of
the population’s racial composition
or socio-economic