If Becca Graves could press through the less pleasant parts of her junior year schedule at her small-town Massachusetts high school — the peers whose personalities perturbed her, the classes she didn’t care for — she could make it to Ms. E’s art class.
The teacher layoffs come as cash-strapped school districts nationwide must implement costly safety measures to prevent COVID-19’s spread and to equip students with the devices remote learning requires in the meantime. As pressure builds on school districts for more cuts, experts fear the move to single out specials programs portends a nationwide trend that may disrupt the “whole child” approach to education, adversely affect academic growth and disproportionately impact low-income families.
Widespread concern among art teachers that their jobs are in jeopardy prompted the plea, according to Mario Rossero, the association’s executive director. “When lawmakers say they have to address the achievement gap, the way to address it is to make sure those students have access to arts, P.E. and elective programs that engage them and pull them in in ways they otherwise wouldn't get,” Spar said.
“Think about every student — maybe the kids who are quiet and creative and need to express themselves,” Rossero said. “What are they going to do without an art space? It might be the reason they’re really engaging each day.” She has worked to cultivate her classroom’s soothing atmosphere. She understands the turmoil her students feel, and the power of art to alleviate it.“It's a detriment to them to have not just visual arts cut but music, theater, P.E. For some of these kids, it's their only way out,” she said. “It really helps to save lives.”
Soon it will be never-again history
Everyone should a small pay cut and save all the teachers
Yes, we will be the first to go
Costly? Most aren’t even open. Teaching virtually.
Cutefaith__ ifb
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