The Arts Matter

A letter to those who have the power to re-fund the arts

By: Nina Afremov, Sophia Goetz, and Jemma Keleher

Due to recent budget cuts on arts programs at Golden Meadow Elementary School, students have noticed that less time and resources are being dedicated to the arts. In response, they have written letters to their principal, explaining how the arts support them in their education. 

Dear Principal Abott,

My name is Penelope, and I’m a third grader at Golden Meadow Elementary School. Since I was three and a half, I have been a painter. I like to paint with everything, no matter what! When I was younger, I got in trouble because I would paint on the wall when my mom or dad weren’t looking. They would take my crayons and paints away for a few days. It was so sad because all I wanted to do was draw what was in my head on the walls. 

Painting is fun at home, but it was so much funner when I started first grade because that is when I met Ms. Huxley. You might know her because she is a very nice lady. She was my art teacher in first and second grade. My other teachers lined us up in a straight line and we would walk all the way to her classroom, where it is really colorful. I never saw more colored pencils or paint brushes in one place in my life! She even had this thing called a kiln. In her class, we put on big aprons and played with clay. And she started the kiln and put our bowls and cups inside it. I still use the bowl I made in her class for my Cheerios! 

Ms. Huxley also taught me how to draw. On her whiteboard, she sometimes drew cats or flowers or something and showed us how to draw them. I loved it so much. When I’m in my other classes, I’ll draw things in my notebook! All because Ms. Huxley showed me how to get started. 

When I came back for third grade this year, I was excited to see Ms. Huxley. She is my favorite, and her class is my favorite. It is what I like most about school besides recess. But Mr. Molitor told us that we wouldn’t have art class anymore. I asked my mom about it and she said there is no more money for it. I get really sad when I walk past Ms. Huxley’s old classroom because she is not even there anymore. Now I feel like there is no reason to go to school if I can’t paint or draw with my friends every week. Bring Ms. Huxley and art class back, please! 

Dear Principal Abott,

My name is Emery, I’m nine years old, and I love music! I listen to music all the time: on the way to school, during quiet hours, and before bedtime. My mommy tells me that even when I was in her tummy, I would dance to the music she played on the radio. I love music because it can sound happy, sad, or in between. No matter how I feel, music always makes me happy. When I was six, my parents said I was finally big enough to play the cello! 

At Golden Meadow Elementary School, Mr. Sharpe taught me all about how the cello and the bow have different names for different parts, just like we do. My favorite one is called the frog. I think it is funny because it doesn’t even look like a frog. It’s just where you hold onto the bow. Mr. Sharpe taught us so many cool words to use to talk about music. When the song goes fast we say it is allegro, but when it’s slow we call it adagio. We also get to learn about people from a long time ago, like Mr. Beethoven and Mr. Handel, who wrote music that we still listen to today. Mr. Sharpe says that I can write my own music too. I hope that people will listen to my music even when I am one hundred years old.

Mr. Sharpe is also our orchestra conductor. An orchestra is when a bunch of people bring their different instruments together and make even cooler sounds than just by themselves. Mr. Sharpe says the orchestra is kind of like the world: the best kind of music is made from many different kinds of instruments, not just one. Even though I love the cello the most, sometimes I wish I could play all the instruments. That would be so fun.

My mom and dad say my best subject is math. But I think my favorite is music. I am sad that we no longer have Mr. Sharpe or the music program. Without it, we cannot make happy or sad music. And Mr. Sharpe says that the only thing worse than sad music is no music.This fall, we were going to have a big concert and play our music for everyone to hear. Please bring the music class and Mr. Sharpe back so we can play again! 

Dear Principal Abott, 

I’m Alyssa, I’m a fifth grader, and my favorite form of art is writing. I never used to think of writing as art, because I always thought art was just drawing and painting. But last year, I had an amazing teacher named Mrs. Engels who helped me understand that art isn’t just made up of pretty colors and pictures but can include words too.

With that, it turns out I am pretty good at art. I really like writing stories about things that have happened in my life. It helps me to understand how I feel about whatever happens throughout the day. If I’m mad about something, I write about it. If I’m happy, I write about that too. 

I’m writing this letter because I think you should rethink how the school has been spending less money and time on art. This year, my teacher hasn’t been able to focus on any creative writing in class because we are so busy with other things that some people think are more important. I don’t think that’s true, though. Writing has helped me more in school than anything else in all my years here. 

I got to have a really great experience with a teacher who saw my talent and helped me to express it. I am so happy that I got to have Mrs. Engels, and I wish that everyone in the school could have an experience like that. Every student here deserves to explore different forms of art, because it can really shape your school experience. Thank you for your time, and I hope you consider supporting the arts!

Love, 

Penelope, Emery, and Alyssa