Take a Leading Role in Your Child’s Education
Six ways parents can play a role in arts advocacy
It’s important to be involved in your child’s education and what better way than to find out what kind of arts education is offered in your school. Ask questions – ask a lot of questions and depending on the answers you hear, you may need to develop your arts advocacy skills.
1. Talk with your child’s teachers.
Start by talking with your child’s arts teacher. How frequent are art and music classes? How long are the classes? Does the school offer any dance classes? Is there any dance covered in gym class? Is there a chance to learn about drama? Is there a district curriculum that is followed? Did you know that the arts are considered a core subject, according to the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act? Your school should be providing a quality arts education for all students, taught by qualified arts teachers. The arts are just as important as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
2. Continue the discussion with the school administrators.
Depending on the answers you received from the arts teachers, you may need to make an appointment with the school principal. Does the principal understand the role of the arts in education? Do they provide professional development experiences for the school’s arts teachers? Are they committed to developing relationships with local arts organizations? You may need to help them understand the value of the arts in the development of your child.
3. Be involved in your school’s PTO/PTA.
Develop a network of parents that can help with the arts advocacy work to be done within your school or school district. Encourage attendance at student performances or exhibitions that take place in your child’s school. Invite local legislators to attend these events, as well as local media outlets.
4. Attend your district’s school board meetings.
District decisions will affect what happens at your child’s school. Periodically attend your district’s school board meetings. Speak up and make your thoughts and beliefs known on the importance of arts education. Sometimes it’s effective to have the students from your school perform or speak about why the arts are important to them.
5. Make your case to local business leaders.
Develop some talking points and talk to the business leaders in your community about why the arts are important for all students. They might take an interest and fund some artist residencies or performances. Remind them that the arts teach students creativity and communication skills that translate to productive workers in the future.
6. Talk to elected officials.
Don’t be intimidated by elected officials. Talk to them just as you have with the school administration or business leaders. They want to hear from their constituents. Share your passion with them about the importance of arts education.
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Writer
Lauren Hess
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Editor
Katie Freeman
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Producer
Kenny Neal
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Updated
January 15, 2020
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning
Eric Friedman
Director, Digital Learning
Kenny Neal
Manager, Digital Education Resources
Tiffany A. Bryant
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement
JoDee Scissors
Content Specialist, Digital Learning
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Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Capital One; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Exelon; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Little Kids Rock; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation;
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; UnitedHealth Group; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Dennis & Phyllis Washington; and Wells Fargo. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts.
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