High school students who take four years of Arts score 100 points higher on the SAT

The Arts teach the skills essential for success in the global marketplace: risk-taking, out-of-the-box creative thinking, team problem solving, excellence as the standard and academic discipline

Students who are involved in the Arts have improved self-esteem and are less likely to skip school or engage in disruptive classroom behavior

Students who take Art have improved attention spans, increased interest in school and foundations of success on which to build

Participation in the Arts promotes tolerance for other cultures, Art is about working together, about communication, about bridges and connections.

 

July, 2004

The Oregon Art Education Association - Youth Art Month

The Oregon Art Education Association currently has a website, contact and other information is available at: www.oregonarted.org


For the past three years Oregon has been recognized nationally by the Council for Art Education, Inc for its advocacy efforts through the Youth Art Month (YAM) program.  Established in 1961, YAM is endorsed by the National Art Education Association and conducted locally by the Oregon Art Education Association.

As a “showcase” for the unlimited number of successful experiences in art throughout the year, YAM has proven to be a valuable tool. Documentation from art educators throughout Oregon is compiled and used to support, implement and keep quality art programs in place for all students. Each year more Oregon art educations are participating and recognizing the program’s importance and impact.

Teachers across the state are invited to participate and they continue to report inventive ways that they have celebrated art during YAM.  Creating Art Jeopardy games, making YAM calendars with daily activities for classroom teachers, posters for storefronts, programs of student art on cable access channels, clay and animation video about YAM and art display at movie theaters are a few of the exciting ways teachers contribute to this worthwhile endeavor.

By participating in the program teachers, schools and students benefit in a number of ways.  Foremost is the opportunity to use student art as advocacy in an organized way.  Every opportunity to educate the public to the benefits of art education is vital in striving to keep programs in place.  Teachers can affectively do that at the local level and Youth Art Month provides a systematic and reasonable way to do that at the state level.

Every year a theme is selected and the entire state program revolves around that theme.  The 2004 theme is “Make Art Par for the Course” and we recruited Oregon’s own professional golfer Peter Jacobsen as the natural choice for our Honorary Chairperson.  K-12 teachers were given a “tournament flyer” that outlined a variety of opportunities in which to participate.  They also received a “scorecard” to both keep track of the activities and make them eligible for incentive prizes.

These incentives provided this year are another reason that teachers participate.  Businesses were contacted and asked to support our arts education efforts.  In response they generously donated items such as paint, books, paint palettes, art supply boxes, watercolor pencils, oil pastels and brushes.  These supplies were “won” by schools for things such as submitting the highest number of YAM flag design entries. Camlin donated an entire classpack of Camellia watercolor pencils. Skutt Kilns donated a new ceramic or glass kiln for an involved school. With budgets as tight as they are, teachers certainly appreciate the generosity of the businesses.  In turn, businesses are recognized on our web site and patronage is strongly encouraged.

Teachers also want to know that the message of the work they are doing with students is being heard by decision makers.  Consistently as part of Oregon’s YAM program, state legislators are sent student created art works.  Each state representative and senator is asked to sign an endorsement of Youth Art Month denoting it as a commemoration of year round work in Oregon art class rooms.  This year legislators were also given a CD with a PowerPoint of 232 student art images, a 30 minute QuickTime movie of the same program and a Macromedia Flash public service announcement (that is also playing in a local cinema). There have also been receptions, flag winners visiting on the Senate floor, and art displays at the Capitol. 

     

Students with Senator Gordly

Student flag designer being recognized on Senate floor
 One of many YAM displays at the state Capitol

Along with those incredibly important features of visual impact, teachers also know that we make legislators aware of the benefits of art education.  Included with the student art are student statements about the importance of art in their life as well as studies from various sources including www.AmericansForTheArts.org, www.aaae.org and http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/connect/ .

Each and every one of these contributions makes an impact for art education.  These and all of our efforts to reach communities, administrators, superintendents and legislators are possible because teachers are working together for students.  Youth Art Month in Oregon has proven to be an essential opportunity to advocate the learning and the benefits that take place in quality art programs throughout the state. 

Lakeridge High student sculptures and The Dalles High student ceramic golf bag tags given to legislators in keeping with this year’s theme “Make Art Par for the Course” - Linda W. Kieling - OEAE kielingl@wlwv.k12.or.us

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