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A call to action for teachers to take a proactive role in advocating for arts education.
Think about the last time you experienced the power of the arts in your classroom. Perhaps a struggling student blossomed while creating a piece of visual art. Or maybe your class made an authentic connection to their history when they wrote and performed a play about civil rights.
As a teacher, you are in a unique position to bear witness to the extraordinary richness that the arts can lend to your classroom. That makes you an ideal advocate for arts education.
Me? An Arts Advocate
Advocacy often has a lofty connotation, and is assumed to be the domain of lobbyists, non-profit organizations, and policymakers. As a result, teachers tend to underestimate their own potential role—and power—as advocates.
Advocacy is really nothing more than influence—and teachers have ample opportunity to influence parents, peers, school boards, and administrators. No matter whom you are attempting to persuade, the key is to make them active partners in your mission.
To paraphrase, Jonathan Katz, executive director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), "Long-term support comes from sharing the experience."
Engaging Your Audience
One of the surest ways to influence a group of people is to give them a firsthand look at the value of arts education. The more active you are in your approach, the greater the impact will be on your audience.
If you make a speech at a school board meeting, you will likely be greeted with polite nods and maybe a little applause. But it's quite possible that your message will be forgotten in the midst of other pressing issues.
If, however, you can get a few of those board members into your classroom to see how your students respond to an arts-integrated lesson, you will leave them with a far more vivid and real impression of the power of arts education. Your classroom is your own bully pulpit for arts advocacy.
Perhaps you can't get your desired audience to visit your classroom. Well then, why not bring your classroom to them? Try bringing students to the meeting. Have them talk about and demonstrate the impact the arts have had on their learning. In the absence of students, consider actually teaching a lesson or a workshop at your next PTA or board meeting. Your "students" will come away with a strong connection to your work, and an even stronger belief in your message.
For assistance in organizing these types of learning experiences, turn to local or national cultural organizations. The Kennedy Center's Partners in Education program offers a variety of workshops for community members and parents. These workshops are designed to allow participants to experience first-hand the benefits of an arts-integrated educational experience.
Enlisting Assistance
Finally, as you embark on your advocacy endeavors, don't be shy about calling on parents to help you. They can often be your best advocacy assistants. Remember, many of the people you are trying to influence (school board members, principals, teachers, etc.) are ultimately accountable to parents.
No matter what method you choose, do not undervalue your own role as a champion for arts education. You have a powerful voice—use it!
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