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Big Foot board to consider arts requirement

WALWORTH — Big Foot High School art teacher Claudia Ericson believes children should receive a well-rounded education—one that includes math and science classes, history and literature classes and art and music classes.

“We’re interested in educating the whole child,” she said. “And we believe that in order to do that, we need to educate the whole brain.”

Big Foot High School is considering whether to add one credit of fine arts to the list of graduation requirements for students at the high school.

A group of art and music teachers in November presented compelling research to the school board about the impact fine arts classes can have on academic and career success. The teachers have encouraged the board to consider making fine arts a requirement for graduation.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. today to discuss the proposal but not to take action on it.

Ericson said between 30 percent and 40 percent of high school students graduate without taking a fine arts class. She feels students who are not exposed to art and music classes are not given the opportunity to develop vital skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity.

“We’re neglecting these kids,” she said. “They’re not getting a well-rounded education. They’re missing a big piece of their education if they graduate without taking anything in the fine arts.”

Ericson said research shows that students who took just one year of art or music in high school did better on their SATs than students who took no art or music classes.

“That just blew me away,” she said.

Ericson said she and the fine arts teachers at the high school are not discounting the virtues of the core subjects such as math, science and reading. She said the teachers believe art and music are just as important as those subjects.

“I hope this doesn’t turn into an ‘either/or’ discussion, the core classes versus art and music,” she said. “We know that the people who thrive in life are the people who can use both sides of their brain simultaneously. … The basics are no longer enough. We’re trying to develop the whole person.”

Big Foot Principal Mike Hinske said he is supportive of providing students with more opportunities for learning but is uncertain how another graduation requirement would fit in with the changes that could come as the state pursues its share of millions of dollars in federal education funding.

“We need to wait and see what happens,” he said. “When we go in, how we go in and are we even able to do it all depends on what happens with the state and federal government.”

Hinske also is concerned about students being able to fit another class into their schedules. Big Foot freshmen starting this year are required to take 26 credits, including a half-credit personal finance class, which the school board approved adding last year.

“How far can you stretch the schedule?” he said.