Scientific research shows arts training helps develop key cognitive skills.
• Music and performing arts activities strengthen memory, attention, and executive functioning because students must track rhythm, timing, and patterns. 
• Arts education encourages creative problem solving and flexible thinking, skills strongly linked to innovation and learning. 
This is sometimes called “transfer effects”, where skills learned in the arts transfer to other subjects like reading and math.
These programs should receive more funding, not less.
M
Mike Butler
4 months ago
The multifaceted and dynamic arts program at AOE has been nothing short of crucial in our children’s engagement and success in school, establishing a fertile base of creativity, belonging, and community upon which all other higher order academic skills have been built. We absolutely love and value each and every element of theatre, art, music, violin, and dance instruction that AOE has to offer.
I
Isaac Scharp
4 months ago
Changing the fundamental nature of our school is obscene. Further making a mockery of the school of choice system.
A
Aurea Noemi Benbenek
4 months ago
Please save the arts! My girls love it here!
C
Cameron Griffith
4 months ago
My son attends bps 61 and is in one of the autistic classrooms. As a student with his specific special needs finding a school that offered these options to even children in the autistic classrooms is very rare. If this was taken away it would be a major blow to one of my son's passions for being at that school which is violin and theater. He constantly raved about how much he loves Mr Muhammad and the theaters teachers. I feel like taking these programs would be a disservice not only to him but the entire student population at BPS 61. I was not even allowed to do music in my school until I was in fourth grade and now I am a composer and I teach music. I feel like if this opportunity is taken away you are taking away the opportunity for Young Learners to develop a love for the arts and possibly turn away students that would turn to the arts as a possible profession and love.
K
Kellianne Griffith
4 months ago
So sad to hear these cuts have even been proposed. What a huge disservice this would be to the children in this city!
Kids need arts to be creative
Scientific research shows arts training helps develop key cognitive skills. • Music and performing arts activities strengthen memory, attention, and executive functioning because students must track rhythm, timing, and patterns.  • Arts education encourages creative problem solving and flexible thinking, skills strongly linked to innovation and learning.  This is sometimes called “transfer effects”, where skills learned in the arts transfer to other subjects like reading and math. These programs should receive more funding, not less.
The multifaceted and dynamic arts program at AOE has been nothing short of crucial in our children’s engagement and success in school, establishing a fertile base of creativity, belonging, and community upon which all other higher order academic skills have been built. We absolutely love and value each and every element of theatre, art, music, violin, and dance instruction that AOE has to offer.
Changing the fundamental nature of our school is obscene. Further making a mockery of the school of choice system.
Please save the arts! My girls love it here!
My son attends bps 61 and is in one of the autistic classrooms. As a student with his specific special needs finding a school that offered these options to even children in the autistic classrooms is very rare. If this was taken away it would be a major blow to one of my son's passions for being at that school which is violin and theater. He constantly raved about how much he loves Mr Muhammad and the theaters teachers. I feel like taking these programs would be a disservice not only to him but the entire student population at BPS 61. I was not even allowed to do music in my school until I was in fourth grade and now I am a composer and I teach music. I feel like if this opportunity is taken away you are taking away the opportunity for Young Learners to develop a love for the arts and possibly turn away students that would turn to the arts as a possible profession and love.
So sad to hear these cuts have even been proposed. What a huge disservice this would be to the children in this city!