An
article in today's Contra Costa Times talks about how kids in low-performing schools take multiple language arts and math classes each day. As a result, students are often taking no electives at all--no science, no art, even no social studies.
This trend is largely a result of the increased focus on testing. Schools are desperately striving to meet improvement goals on standardized tests, or be penalized. In the process, students often lose their shot at a well-rounded and
fun education.
We see this phenomenon all the time in schools. Students tell us that our program is the only arts experience they've had all year. And they often seem bored, disconnected from learning. Who can blame them? Wouldn't most of us feel the same?
Streetside focuses not on increasing test scores, but on building community and helping young people find their unique voices as writers and people. When we come into a classroom, young people, asked what they think and how they feel, come alive. And as an added bonus, research has found that our
Storytelling Exchange program raises language arts test scores.
standardized testsarts educationremedial classesStreetside StoriesLabels: Arts education, remedial classes, standardized tests, Streetside Stories
