The high school where I work currently has no art program. There are about 75 kids in Theater/Performing Arts because that is one of their two options (the other being band) to fulfill their art requirement and graduate. We have A LOT of talented kids in the school, but they don't have the resources to display their abilities. On the other end of the spectrum, we also have kids that have never been exposed to anything artistic. For example, they aren't familiar with scissors or glue sticks.
That's right, folks. I work in a high school with 14-19 year olds that don't know how to cut or glue. I am not lying.
Not being able to cut or glue isn't only going to prevent these kids from being super scrapbookers, but their lack of exposure to the Arts takes away from their overall education. Arts education improves academic achievement, aids in social and emotional development, and, in a culture such as the one where I work, it serves as an outlet for the students to positively express their mental and emotional struggles. This is especially important in a town with no athletic facilities (literally none), few after school programs, and a lack of role models to teach these kids how to properly handle stressful situations or altercations from a young age.
With that said, I am working hard to find ways to bring an art program to the school. I have literally spent nearly 2 months just searching for funding. Unfortunately, a lot (and by "a lot" I mean "every single one") of the organizations don't actually fund art classes. They fund large projects proposed by art classes, but that doesn't help me. I don't even have a class to propose a project. Even if I found a grant that would fund a class, it would likely be for supplies. A lot of organizations aren't really fond of funding salaries. Understandable. Kind of.
[The cost of a first year Art teacher (salary and benefits) is around $50,000. In this school district, people laugh at you if you say you need $500. There is absolutely no extra money.]
So, here is what I have done. I have paid $54 to run 3 miles on October 13th and have powdery paint thrown at me (see above pictures). What better way to show my support for the Arts, right? I know what you're thinking - "That is $54 well spent!" - but it really will be. I paid the money to run, so now I am asking all of you to make donations and act as my sponsors. After months of searching, I have decided that if we want Arts in these schools, we are just going to have to raise the funds ourselves. Every last cent will go back to my high school and will go to start a fund to eventually buy paints and pencils and a teacher, oh my!
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