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I don't think we'll ever be able to convince school districts of the value of the arts for art's sake only. They're too budget-minded and will only ever see arts as fluff no matter what else is said...unless, that is, someone can prove to them that immersing oneself in the arts also aids one's academic learning. And the exciting thing is that brain researchers are now beginning to publish their findings in favor of the arts as a means towards improved academic success. <P>If ever there's a book that offers proof that the arts improve brain function, it's "Teaching With The Brain In Mind" by Eric Jensen. Please, get hold of this book and get it to your schools. It explains how enrichment (including music, art, dance) changes the structure of brain cells making them more efficient and better able to process new information unrelated to the arts. He lists these key factors as the ones that influence early brain development and academic achievement: nutrition, exercise, genes, challenge, the arts, love and feedback. <P>As Jensen states (and proves with various examples: "Give a school daily dance, music, drama, and visual art instruction in which there is considerable movement, and you might get a miracle." He states that the only way to increase enrichment is to "reaffirm the integration of the arts and movement into the curriculum." <P>Did you know that the USA national Goals 2000 statement hardly mentioned the arts? <BR>Education in America is way behind current scientific knowledge of the brain's workings and somehow, to me, that seems to be ignorance of the worst kind since one would assume that educators would be on the cutting edge of anything that impacts learning.<P>Jensen has suggested that educators, parents, people within the arts should form better alliances among schools, including college and universities, so that these studies will be followed more closely and more studies initiated. He says that there are two rules that come from the recent brain research. One is that we should eliminate threat because above all else, the element of threat a student feels shuts down the brain's workings faster than anything else. The other rule is that we should enrich like crazy because that's what grows a better brain.<P>We all need to get this message out to our local town meetings, PTO's, city, district, state and federal leaders. It's the only way that arts will stand a chance. People have to realize that arts education ISN'T icing but is a necessity.<BR>
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<P><BR><font size=1>MassArt has mailed about 3,000 postcards, such as this one by Ryan Hodson.</font><P><B>Postcards from the edge<P>MassArt students, facing funding cuts, send a creative message to legislators</B><P>By Christine Temin, Globe Staff, 3/27/2002<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In a campaign reminiscent of those waged by such art activists as the Guerrilla Girls, students at the Massachusetts College of Art are protesting the state Legislature's continuing cuts in the budget of the country's only freestanding public college of art and design. The school started the current fiscal year with a core allocation of $15.8 million, which was cut to $15.1 million during the year. The governor's proposed budget for next year would shave off another $1.4 million.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR><A HREF="http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/086/living/Postcards_from_the_edge+.shtml" TARGET=_blank><B>MORE of the article...</B></A><P>see more of the postcards here:<P><BR><A HREF="http://www.boston.com/photo_gallery/massart_postcards/2.htm" TARGET=_blank><B>Postcards</B></A><P><BR> <BR>