CRITICAL EVIDENCE: HOW THE ARTS BENEFIT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Last Monday we had Cissy Whipp (a dancer and teacher from an arts magnet school in New Orleans) teach our teachers, during an in-service workshop, how to use body movement, the elements of dance, music and African symbols to inspire enriched reading and writing by students. More than 35 teachers from DISES and some from Brooklin and Sedgwick schools participated. The following day, Cissy worked with teachers in their classrooms with students.

Why is it important to keep the arts strong in our schools? How does the study of the arts contribute to student achievement and success? Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement is designed to answer those questions. It describes in non-technical terms what the research says about how the study of the arts contributes to student success. This publication serves as an update to the 1995 publication Eloquent Evidence: Arts at the Core of Learning , and “makes the case” for the arts based on sound educational research. Eleven years later, the evidence is even more eloquent, and the need to demonstrate the link between the arts and student achievement is even more critical. Click here for more information.

These are just some of the reasons why our school has partnered with the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Stonington Opera House to bring in professional artists who are working with our teachers this year.

The importance of the arts in our lives cannot be overstated. Parents can help by encouraging children to sign up for band lessons, to be in the play, to take dance lessons or register for summer arts camp. The evidence is in. It helps learning all around and improves the quality of life. Check it out.

Catherine Ring, Principal