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Nick Licata and Jay Westbrook

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from: Nick Licata

The Importance of Educating With Art

Posted Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 12:36 PM ET

Good morning, Jay,

Getting out to public schools to meet with students has been an unexpected pleasurable task of being a public official. Last week I had visited a class of fourth and fifth graders who were presenting short stories and poems that they had written.

I was struck by the diversity in their skill levels and by how withdrawn some of the students were in comparison to others. I couldn't help but think about the future of these children and how greatly they would vary. I thought about the efforts the city and school district could make to maximize the opportunities for each of these students.

Our school district is independent of city government, but we provide about $24 million a year in some form of financial assistance to the public school system. Much of it funds additional programming before and after school. We also fund artists to work with students.

With local schools joining the national trend to emphasize measurable educational levels to be achieved with each grade, opportunities for challenging our children to think creatively through art programs has been de-emphasized. I think this approach is short-sighted and in the long run may have unintended consequences.

For example, education in the United States may seem to be chaotic with regards to the more structured approach of, say, Japan or Germany, but our educational system has produced more creative-thinking individuals as measured by the higher number of patents, Nobel prizes, and other literary awards that other nations have not witnessed.

I believe that exposing students to art and other cultural experiences not only makes for more thoughtful citizens to guide our democracy but also contributes to a more dynamic economic environment. I've been struck, for instance, by how many Internet and technology companies have hired artists to help them shape their products.

Of course, I am biased because I chair the Culture, Arts and Parks Committee on our council and have had each of my committee meetings begin with a local poet reading an original piece of poetry.

And I just helped initiate a local film showcase as part of the larger Seattle Film Festival to feature locally produced movies, documentaries, and short pieces. I encourage Cleveland to also think about promoting some type of film showcase for your local filmmakers. It would be great to have a group of major cities around the nation hosting their own such programs. It could even grow into an exchange of the best of locally produced pieces between these cities.

With a little imagination and a lot of energy and just plain luck, I think we can make a difference in how we run government so that our citizens can not only achieve life and liberty but can also pursue happiness.

the breakfast table
entries
12345678910111213141516
from: Nick Licata

The Importance of Educating With Art

Posted Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 12:36 PM ET
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Nick Licata is an at-large member of the Seattle City Council. Jay Westbrook represents Ward 18 on the Cleveland City Council.
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