The Arts at Curtis School

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everybody else.”–Margaret Mead

At some point in my childhood I heard the quote above and after I stopped laughing it struck me like a noble truth. It wasn’t until recently that I found out to whom it was attributed. I have a sixth grader to thank for that. We teach each other. It is believed that Margaret Mead also said the following:

“We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet.”

As an educator and an artist, I find nothing more ironic and disparaging than sitting in a lecture hall listening to someone wax eloquently about “21^st Century Skills in Education,” “Content Standards,” or “the 4 Cs of Common Core (critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration)” in a format where none of the four Cs are taking place. Thankfully, I am blessed to teach at a school that is far beyond the curve of convention, and to work in an area where the 4 Cs are not a new trend, but have always been present and inherently essential to the quality of a child’s education. My heart goes out to the schools still scrambling to enter the 21^st Century; they are most likely the schools whose Arts and Physical Education budgets have been reduced or even eliminated in the hopes of maintaining a “Standard of Education.”

Anyone who has ever encountered a classroom full of children knows that words like “standard,” “common,” and “average” have no place in a discussion about education. Each child is a unique individual with a special set of skills; through patience, love, and with a little bit of luck one aspires to help them discover those skills and use them to their full potential. I have yet to meet “the average student,” but I suppose if you are trying to create one, depriving them of the Arts is a good place to start. On the other hand, if you are seeking evidence of the 4 Cs, you need look no further than the first building you see as you enter the Curtis School campus.

On any given day, you can walk into any classroom in the Ahmanson building and see those 21^st century skills in action. Right before your very eyes, from an ostensible chaos of paint, cardboard, and joyful chatter, may arise some of the world’s greatest architectural achievements as you’ve never seen them before. You may hear children learning a second language and math skills, their brains communicating silently in contrast to the beautiful music they are performing. Within a matter of minutes, you could watch the failure and success of an improvisation or a dramatic scene, feeling the audience empathize with the actors, and the actors empathizing with their characters. You might be fortunate enough to be present at the very moment that a group of students discover a new technology to solve a problem in a developing country. You may actually witness children physically growing, along with their self-esteem, feeling of safety, and sense of community as they hold hands and practice a middle-eastern dance with their friends.

Everyday that I drive onto this beautiful campus, I’m proud to be part of a community that is teaching “the whole child,” and I can’t even fathom what my own child’s education would be like without the Arts. If anyone ever tries to tell you that the Arts are not absolutely crucial to the learning of other subjects, ask them if they’ve ever seen an elementary textbook without photos or illustrations. Selah.

–David E. Frank