Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent Dallas ISD

By Michael Hinojosa

In my professional opinion, in this day and age of high stakes accountability many school districts are taking short term actions that will cause long term pain. There is significant research that the arts will improve the academic performance of students. The results will not come immediately but will appear in the long run. I am not an artist nor a musician, I am a former athletic coach, but I have seen enough research both quantatative and qualitative that indicate that the arts have a big impact on students socially and academically.

The Dallas ISD has committed to funding art and music teacher at all 130 elementary schools. We recently had an unexpected significant budget shortfall. But there was no discussion of reducing our commitment to the arts. We have had significant external support from the City of Dallas, the local arts community and the Wallace Foundation. What was refreshing is that no one waned in the commitment we have made to the arts despite the very public budget difficulties we recently experienced.

December 2, 2008 7:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) |

1 Comments

By Phil Alexander on December 2, 2008 8:13 AM

Thanks for your comments and commitment, Mr. Hinojosa. I am very heartened to hear of your support for arts education, and for the display of support you're receiving from your colleagues. I have a suspicion, entirely unfounded, that the arts will fare better in this recession than they have in former economic crises (despite NCLB). I am part of a state wide arts program in NY State, based in NYC, so I have a rather rarified position; even so, I think there is a vigorous dialogue about arts education, and arts-in-education that didn't exist 15 - 20 years ago.

Here's a question for you: What would you tell other District Superintendent's who are facing budget short falls about why they should retain arts funding and cut other areas (such as literacy, or professional development, or sport)?

This Conversation For decades, as teaching of the arts has been cut back in our public schools, alarms have been raised about the dire consequences for American culture. Artists and arts organizations stepped in to try to... more

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