Arts Orange County: Arts Education Candidate Survey

By John Palacio

While growing up I was exposed to the arts while in grade school. Like most students, I had an opportunity to participate in choir, and take art classes. I also learned how to play in elementary school a flutophone. This is a plastic wind instrument that was used for beginning music students. Although I did not later play a musical instrument, I did appreciate the experience.

As a consultant, I provided community outreach services to the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. The outreach program targeted the Latino community by exposing them to classical music.

As a consultant to the Santiago Club, a Latino community service organization, I was engaged in providing fund raising events, including community concerts.

As a consultant to the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, I help raise funds for deserving low income students, many of them having been exposed to the arts. I participated in fundraising activities that included various artists who wanted to share their work to raise scholarship funds.

A couple of my childhood friends are world renowned Latino musicians. They are part of Mariachi Cobre which is based in Orlando, Florida but originally from Tucson, Arizona.

My niece plays for an all female mariachi in Arizona.

The aforementioned exposure left me with some understanding of the arts. I found my colleagues in school who majored in visual arts, dance, drama and/or music, did very well academically and professionally.

QUESTION NO. 2: What role do you think the arts can play in supporting key education priorities such as closing the achievement gap, reducing the dropout rate and preparing more students for college eligibility and the 21st century workforce?

My personal experience as a student and as a school board member, is that the more that a student is exposed to in terms of various subject matters, the better rounded they become and the better they do academically. This has a direct impact on student test results, academic achievement and high school drop out rates.

Arne Duncan, United States Education Secretary is quoted: "The arts can help students become tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able to think creatively. These qualities can be especially important in improving learning among students from economically disadvantaged circumstances."

The arts allow a student to learn and appreciate various cultures, music and art history. They also learn how to play a musical instrument, sing, draw, act, dance, etc. They learn life long skills that can never be taken away. The arts create individuality, improved self esteem and creativity.

QUESTION NO. 3: A standards-based arts curriculum is one of the five core subjects in NCLB and critical for developing job skills vital in the creative economy and the 21st century workforce. Yet, most often only "what is tested is taught" in our schools. How do you envision bringing balance back for a comprehensive education and ensuring that all students have access to a quality, standards-based arts education curriculum?

Unfortunately, neither school board members nor school districts control what is included in the student tests. The tests are developed by private sources. Although the arts is not part of the testing, the District's core curriculum, including the arts, is standards based.

Included as part of the District's Strategic Arts Plan, the district's mission statement speaks to our commitment of "ensuring that all students are prepared to accomplish their goals in life." "An important objective is providing students with a well-rounded education in which the arts play an important role." "A student's deeper school engagement is also evidenced through improved student behavior and attendance rates, and more over; the arts help students be agents of their own learning and to make a positive change in their lives and surroundings. Arts education supports the development of our youth's imaginative capacity to find solutions to today's and future problems, and makes them stronger candidates for success in higher education and the work force of the world."

The arts plays a major part in our core curriculum at Santa Ana Unified School District. I value it as a board member and I want to do more in exposing our students to the arts. Being exposed to the arts, beginning in elementary school through high school is very important.

QUESTION NO. 4: If elected, how will you engage classroom teachers, arts teachers, parents and community arts organizations to shape your agenda for arts education or implement your district's strategic arts plan?

As a 12 year board member, I am always engaging community arts organizations, our parents, our teachers and their support staff. Given that financial resources for California school districts, including Santa Ana Unified School District are less, we are always working to maintain our core arts programs.

We are being creative in seeking outside public and private funding sources to supplement our arts programs. Professional development is also very important for our teachers and support staff. Developing collaborative relationships with community arts groups provides our students with continued exposure to various arts programs.

We are working continuously in updating the District's Strategic Arts Plan. I supported the approval of 3 charter schools that have a major focus in the arts.

The arts plays a major part in our core curriculum at Santa Ana Unified School District. I value it as a board member and I want to do more in exposing our students to the arts. Being exposed to the arts, beginning in elementary school through high school is very important.