Advocacy for the Arts

Dear Superintendent,

I am a licensed k-12 Art Teacher here at Blank School District. It has come to my attention that the art program here at Blank Elementary School has a fixed curriculum with a limited budget. I contact you today as a constituent in your district and would like to take this opportunity to share with you a new method of teaching art that is student-centered. This teaching method is called Teaching Artistic Behavior (TAB). TAB is a student-centered teaching practice that allows for inquiry-based learning through problem-solving and self-initiated exploration. There are many benefits to TAB that will ensure our school stands out for its richly diverse arts curriculum. It has a budget-friendly setup as the students are encouraged to create and problem-solve with what they have. TAB fosters a community amongst its students because it teaches students to work and learn from everyone in the room, not just the teacher. This style of teaching also allows for deeper thinking and connections through exploration. Letting students decide what medium(s) they want to use and how they want to use them is a game changer in creativity. TAB is a way of thinking about art education. It allows for district expectations to be met while also giving teachers the flexibility to teach based on students' needs. This approach is a more meaningful curriculum that prioritizes what the students need to learn.

Additionally, I would like to let you know that I am a strong supporter of the arts as part of a complete education for every K-12 student in Colorado. By including the arts as a crucial part of the school day, we are empowering children to develop the creative attributes that will propel them in school and in life. As you may know, strong fine arts programs in schools can help our kids and communities in real and substantial ways. Students benefit from arts instruction in a variety of ways.

This is why I am asking you to consider reforming the arts budgets at Blank Elementary School. The Visual Arts Program instills desirable and valuable traits into the students of Blank School District. With a larger fund, I can assure you that the students will get the most out of their education and a rich understanding of the arts and the benefits that come with it. Some of these benefits include better communication skills and cognitive skills useful in every part of the curriculum, which help students find greater academic achievement. Art education actively contributes to brain development, leading to greater success in developing cognitive reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Our students will only benefit from an intentional devotion to make the arts program succeed.

Below I have included a mockup proposal of a budget redistribution for the arts program as well as an itemized list of supplies that It will go towards.

I hope that we can count on you to fully support arts education initiatives, which help to create a brighter future for our students.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Heather Diviness

Art Teacher at Blank Elementary School