Broken art-ed
‘Fame’ school kids rip cutbacks in programs
The aspiring student performers of LaGuardia High School bolted their classrooms for a hallway sit-in Friday to protest the administration’s perceived indifference to the arts.
Hundreds of students lined the hallways at lunchtime to express their displeasure with the globally renowned Manhattan school that inspired the movie and TV show “Fame.”
“We feel our voice isn’t being heard,” said Tali Natter, 17, a drama-department senior. “There are specific issues from each department. We used to see music and dancing in the hallways, and now rehearsal hours are being cut.
“It’s been enough. It’s been enough time we haven’t been listened to.”
A student video posted on Twitter showed dozens of youths sitting in silent protest of what Natter described as the school’s evolution from an arts enclave to a more typical high school. Police were spotted outside the Upper West Side school, although there were no reports of arrests.
A two-page letter from the students delineated their gripes, declaring the teens assembled peacefully “to voice our frustration at our school’s administration.” For example, the all-school musical of 2017 received 133 “tech” hours for design of lighting, costumes and sets, along with rehearsals for the cast, the letter said.
A year later, the number was down to 128 hours. And this year, the letter alleged, it was a mere 69 hours. The letter also cited supposed censorship of shows and visual arts classes.
Music student Riley Barker, 16, a junior in the instrumental department, is part of the “LaGuardia HS Change Coalition” seeking to focus on solutions to the growing problems.
“Frankly, I think it speaks to a bigger issue — a citywide trend of a move away from the arts and toward more standardized testing,” said the Upper West Side resident.
“LaGuardia has a long and proud history of both artistic and academic achievement and we’ll ensure that students are receiving the support they need to thrive,” said Department of Education spokesman Doug Cohen.
He promised high-ranking officials “will work closely with the school community and address any concerns.”
Famous alumni of the arts school include actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, rapper Slick Rick and singersongwriter Laura Nyro, and one-time Miss America turned television game show panelist/consumer affairs advocate Bess Myerson.
Senior Seth JoachumFuchs, 18, of Brooklyn, recounted his issues with the school since his four years ago.
“I was taking painting in sophomore year,” he said. “And at the end of the year, we ran out of one of the primary colors — yellow. When I came to the school, they had just cut photojournalism.”