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MDCPS RE-EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF THE ARTS IN THE CURRICULUM Miami –- Miami-Dade County Public Schools has one of the largest most comprehensive arts programs in the country. With a nationwide trend toward more standardized testing and school accountability grades, districts across the country have moved the arts over from center stage into the wings. However, new research showing the benefits of integrating the arts with math, reading and science has the District singing a new tune. Studies reviewed by the District show that the brain’s two hemispheres are responsible for different ways of thinking. While the left brain is responsible for logical, rational, practical, detailed-oriented facts; the right brain focuses on a creative, artistic, fantasy-based, and impetuous world where the imagination rules. It's no surprise that most school districts favor the left-brain scholastic subjects while downplaying the right-brained subjects. However, current research has shown that in order for students to be more "whole-brained" in their orientation, schools need to give equal weight to the arts, creativity, and the skills of imagination. "There is a body of research behind this,” explained Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew. “"There's an enormous opportunity for us, in spite of the budget conversation, to still have a pedagogical conversation about the value of the arts in influencing and challenging and raising the level of cognitive skills that children come to school with as well as they pursue when in school.” Based on this research and on Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind, which explains how the world is moving from the Information Age to the inventive, emphatic Conceptual Age, MDCPS is now working on a plan to make the arts a core subject matter. In today's world of abundance, creativity and imagination will fuel the quest for significance in the competitive marketplace. “"The arts help us to keep children in school, because they are motivational and of high interest,” said Antoinette Dunbar, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “"They help us to meld the left brain and right brain thinking and make the academic program stronger and the creative program stronger as well." Dr. Crew added, “"We cannot lose what this community has been able to build over the course of many years in terms of the arts community. We certainly don't want to lose it in our schools." ### 07-JJS/217/HD |
