Questions

If you are comtemplating a move toward arts-infused curriculum, the first step is to form a team of like minded and committed individuals. Here are some discussion questions to get the conversation started, or to use as a "pre-test."

• Are the arts important? Why?
• Where and how do the arts fit in your picture of the school?
• Which members of your school community do and do not value the arts?
• Are the arts for every student? Required? Available? Exclusive?
• Are the arts curriculular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular?
• Are the arts separate, integrated, both?
• How important are the arts to the students? How much are student voices heard in the school?
• What percentage of time should be devoted to the arts out of the total curriculum?
• What is the focus of the available arts offerings currently in the school?
• Are creating, performing, and responding equally represented in the arts curricula?
• Are the current arts courses effective? How do you know?
• Is there a match between what is desired (or thought to be good for the students) and what exists?
• How will you move from what exists to what is desired?
• What gets in the way?
• Is anything possible? Is anything impossible?
• What beliefs may need to change? What sacred cows might go?
• Change is hard. Are you sure you want to start?