As our student population drifts away from intensely arts focused students and into a broader range, it has brought up some questions. If our mission is arts academy, do we lose some focus by broadening our academic offerings? Yes. But is that loss of focus worth it? I'm not sure yet. It means that my admin hat is very very different than my parent hat, if nothing else!
these are tough questions. I wish I had the magic formula for creating consensus. I had a lot of friends who were in Art programs growing up, and they all 'felt dumb' when it came to Academics. Very different than the kids in band. It broke my heart. Seems like you are dealing with a different community. I wonder, at least in some subjects, if the arts can be used inside traditional academic classrooms to enrich the experience.
When I visited my son's new school, we sat in on a class where the kids were presenting Powerpoints about 'The history of Broadway, by Decade, and how each Decade of Broadway History was influence by the current events of the time.'
Picasso's Painting
Guernicacomes to mind as a way to study History and Politics. And
Mary Cassatt jump up as a way to study gender politics.
Still that hasn't addressed the needs of the hyper-visual kids, who like drawing, on any deep level.
I wish I had more ideas in this area.
Love and More Love,
Grinity
