The Role of the Arts

The Role of the Arts in School Reform
Lissa May and Brenda Brenner

National Policy and the Arts

• Ravitch (2010)
• Darling-Hammond (2010)
• California Music Project, Music for All Foundation (2004)
• Abril & Gault (2006)
• McMurrer (2008)

The Value of the Arts in Cognitive and Social Development

• Phonemic awareness and reading development
  • Anvari, Trainor, Woodside & Levy, 2002
  • Barwick, Falentine, West & Wilding, 1989
  • Buzlaff, 2000
  • Douglas & Willats, 1994
  • Gromko, 2005
  • Patel & Iverson, 2007
  • Standley & Hughes, 1997

The Value of the Arts in Cognitive and Social Development

• Cognitive development
  • Bilhartz, Bruhn & Olsen, 2000
  • Costa-Giomi, 1999
  • Shellenberg, 2005
  • Schlaug, Norton, Overy & Winner, 2005
• Brain plasticity
  • Moreno et al., 2009
  • Hyde et al., 2009

Fairview Elementary School

• Urban neighborhood school
• Clientele from government housing project, trailer courts, apartments, and a protective shelter for homeless and abused families
• 90% free and reduced lunch
• 38% non-Caucasian
• Site of hearing impaired program for school district
• Has not met AYP for more than 10 years
• Moved to new building in 2010  and restructured as Bernstein Artful Leaning School 

All Students are Capable of Learning

Teacher behavior affects the learning process

Research Challenges

• Teacher and administrator turnover
• Variable assessments between schools
• Access to students for pre-and post-testing
• Transient students 

Outcomes for Fairview Students

• Skills such as listening, ability to focus, discipline, and working with others carry over to other aspects of school
• Academically and behaviorally challenged students often more successful in violin class
• Confidence and self-esteem

Teaching is Teamwork

• Teachers view themselves as part of a team
  • With fellow instructors and mentors
• Ideas shared and implemented
  • With children
• Listening
• Student led classes
• Games
• Who is learning from whom?

Changes in Attitude and Behavior of Families

Policy Implications

• Impact of small-scale projects to demonstrate the power of arts to impact children
• Need educational policy that breaks the cycle generational poverty
  • Guarantee expert teachers for all children across curriculum
  • Assure a consistent, sustainable, motivational environment
  • Create opportunities for strong community-school relationships

Teacher Development as Avenue to Goals

• High quality pre- and in-service professional development central to improving student achievement
• School/university partnerships
• Observation of master teaching
• Opportunities for per-service practice within school environment