Thanks to anonymous, who added the Barry White link to the Pavarotti posting.
There may not be any Pavarotti protegees in Newburyport, but watching and to listening him reinforces the position I have advocated for the past six years on the School Committee and will continue to promote, if re-elected:
A thorough grounding in the Arts provides an extremely important foundation for every student in Newburyport; it teaches them to think critical, develop the ability to see, hear and appreciate the world in new ways, to develop a common language with other cultures. While I doubt I'll win the battle to view the arts as part of a core curriculum, I will never stop advocating against cuts in the arts programs, and do everything in my power to leverage creative additions to our arts offerings.
But you already knew that.
It's been my privilege to serve on the School Committee since 2002. As schools try to make do with less, I've advocated for community engagement, process transparency, open and informed conversation; using best practices and exploring creative use of revenues and assets. I've spoken honestly in service to all of our children. The Schools are not just a budget item, they are a public conversation about who we are and where we are going.
Friday, September 7, 2007
1 comment:
Please feel free to comment, or ask questions in your comments that are relevant to the upcoming election for School Committee, or my positions on issues facing the schools. This site is not to be used to insult or intimidate the community, the employees of the Schools, my family or myself. I reserve the right to remove any comments I deem irrelevant to the stated goals of the blog.
Well stated!
ReplyDeleteThe arts bring together the intellect, the heart, the spirit and the soul. A community that does not realize the essential role art plays in enhancing the quality of life of each of it's members--(and of the community as a whole), whether a person simply appreciate it's many forms and/or actually creates art--has no soul. An education that excludes the arts is sterile.
Not to mention the fact that a school system without a rich arts curriculum denies the potential of many of its students at a critical stage of their development.
Future artists of all stripes need the opportunity to develop the knowledge base and skills they will require to pursue their dreams and their possible careers, to make their contribution to the community--just like the scientist, mathematician, English teacher, entrepreneur, etc., needs to develop the skills essential to their future endeavors.
The arts are not a luxury. Every student, no matter what the future holds for them--deserves an education that includes the arts--in all of its varied expressions--so that the next generation may live enriched lives, and so that they may add to the marvelous legacy of music, theater, films, photography, dance, literature--you name it--that past generations have, thankfully, had the wisdom to bequeath to us.
Keep fighting the good fight! MB