Students involved in arts deserve spotlight
We’re in the second half of this most unusual school year. There are significant differences in how things are handled from one district to the next, but students everywhere are feeling the strain from the pandemic.
High school sports continue despite virtual learning, and we’d like to see greater attention paid to music and theater.
Even districts that provide the most opportunities for children to learn in school have significant restrictions in place for safety. And some haven’t opened their doors to students at all, at least for classes.
In the midst of all this, high school sports have gone on, even in some districts that are only offering virtual learning.
We must stress that this year has hardly been easy for student athletes. They’ve had to endure plenty of uncertainty about whether they’d even get to play, along with significant changes to routine. And they’re playing before small crowds or no spectators at all. Not exactly what they signed up for.
But the fact remains that in many school districts, athletic programs have gone on even as many other extracurricular activities haven’t really gotten off the ground.
We don’t want to take anything away from high school sports. But we’d like to see greater attention given to other school activities that offer similar benefits. One that immediately comes to mind is performing arts.
Just as sports builds confidence and physical fitness and teaches valuable life lessons such as teamwork, music and theater build confidence, nurture creativity and bolster team-building and emotional wellness.
The pandemic has been devastating to music, theater and dance programs at every level, from those working with the youngest performers to the heights of the professional ranks. Schools certainly are no exception.
Remember that when things shut down last March, area high schools were just about to present their spring musicals. Many of them never got to put on shows they’d been working on for months.
Most school concerts were held virtually, if they were held at all. This fall marching bands got some opportunities to perform, but it was a far cry from what they would normally do.
The situation has been especially tough on choirs. Singing is considered a particularly dangerous activity during the pandemic. As a result, there are school vocal ensembles that haven’t had a chance to perform at all, even in rehearsal, for the better part of a year.
It’s difficult to describe the toll this is taking on young people who live for the opportunity to hone their craft and perform in front of audiences. And for many seniors involved in music and theater, this may be their last opportunity to do so.
We’d like to see some action to address this on the part of school administrators and the general public.
School leaders should do all they can to showcase their performing artists in the coming months. In particular, these students deserve a spotlight that brings them attention from people beyond their families and immediate school communities.
If pandemic conditions continue to improve, how about holding outdoor events in which students can perform in front of a socially distanced audience as large as state regulations allow? It could be shared online as well. The key is doing everything possible to promote it so these talented young people get the attention they deserve.
As for the general public, we urge people to keep an eye on what’s going on in their community’s schools in terms of performing arts. We’re approaching the season for school musicals again. Many schools will be putting on productions. There may not be an opportunity to sit in the audience, but it’s likely you can still watch it online. If it requires buying a ticket, please do so. These programs need the support desperately.
It would be wrong to expect a full return to normal within the next few months. But incremental progress certainly is possible. Giving a spotlight to student artists can be accomplished, and it would be a great way to brighten this rather dismal school year.