I know that many of you read about or saw the segment on NBC news about the success of Orchard Gardens K-8 School. I received about 10 emails from Maine arts educators with the link to the segment. I had this blog post in draft form for about 2 weeks since I had read about the school and its success earlier. Thanks to those who sent me the information after it was on the nightly news.
Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on security at the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury, MA the principal let go of the security guards and hired arts teachers to take their places. Five principals in 7 years and each year half of the teaching staff would leave. In 2006 principal #6 Andrew Bott came on board and he chose to “use the arts as a tool for academic success.” They went from one of the lowest performing schools in the state to rapidly improvement. The halls reflect the spirit of the school with art work on display everywhere.
Retired music educator Iris Fields said: “In my mind, it shows the drastic interventions that need our commitment to help schools in Maine!” You can learn more at this link http://orchardgardensk8.org/about-us/. You can see the segment from NBC news last week at http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51739754#51739754.
me arts ed 