Subject: Creativity

Posted by Kathy Arizmendi on 10/11/2010
In Reply To:Creativity Posted by Jay Forrester on 10/11/2010

Message:

Yes, we found that the brightest became dropouts because they were bored However, I was fortunate in having a para who was an artist. I could do the academics with them, then she followed up with art activities, and I incorporated music and dance that built on what we had done. We couldn't get the kids to go home, and from other classes, they used to ask for bathroom passes and crowd around the little window in our door. I was soon put in charge of the music for the whole school, and Marina in charge of art, in order to extend the concept to the whole school. That was in the 70s in the South Bronx. The school no longer exists. We had standardized tests, but not the way it is now.

Then I moved to Manhattan...worked with the Met Guild program, but was given no time. Had to create the libretto with a small group of kids behind a curtain onstage while I did lunch duty with several hundred kids in the auditorium. Much longer story, but I'll cut here.

One question...are not the private schools subject to this push for standardized testing? I simply assumed they are, but if not, that's one place public schools aka those who are pushing for this testing, should learn from them, and it should certainly be pointed out to Bloomberg, et al. I really think the general assumption that public school teachers are to blame for the problem is quite narrow as well as unfair. It's much more complex.