Report Inappropriate Comments

I understand why everyone is getting very upset about this article - I would as well if I just read what was printed here. Please understand that the majority of the school board supports the Arts. Let me see if I can explain my viewpoint with an analogy. I have a child that is a picky eater - he loves chicken fingers but hates his vegetables. I have want him to have the chicken fingers because I know they bring him to the table and they provide nourishment. However, as a parent, I know he needs to eat his veggies because they will round out his well-being. However, he doesn't even like trying his veggies. Not only do I need to ensure he at least TRIES his veggies, but that I don't overload his plate with chicken fingers so that he has room in his belly for at least an attempt at the veggies. He needs to ensure all of these nutrients go in so that he can be a healthy child. If he eats his veggies, he might (whom am I kidding - will likely) get a treat in a dessert. But he needs to eat both the chicken and the veggies to get dessert.

In my mind - these food analogies are different things for different kids - Some kids love music, some hate it. Some love gym, some hate it. Some love math, some hate. Whatever feeds their soul and gets them to school. So while this article focuses on the Arts, they were victimized in this debate. We need to put all our efforts into ensuring the kids at least TRY, at the same time not overwhelming their plate, so they can be well-rounded. For me, if a child is failing, it is like I didn't even ask them to try the veggie. We have so many dedicated teachers and programs to ensure student success, that we have to focus on making a real effort to raise the bar. It is so difficult for a child who is truly trying to actually fail a class.

And for lack of a better term, sometimes you do need that carrot to get a kid to try. How many of us have offered an extra chicken finger to a picky child so that he will eat that veggie? Even the responder above documented his own case of how that "carrot" ensured he worked hard at his other HS obligations.

So please don't assume the SC is against the Arts, far from it. We do rely on our experts to write curriculum but our role is to hold up a mirror every once in a while to ensure we maintain a high level of academic standards across curriculums. Our MHHS Art and Music department is arguably the best in the state, I wish to support them and provide those students all the performance opportunities available. But I also want our students to pass their other classes as well.