Facing the Music

How many students, teachers and administrators attend fine art events, such as concerts? How many have you attended that you have not participated in? This quest for support for the fine arts at Brookfield Central has arisen from what appears to be lack of interest, but in actuality in just a lack of visibility and strong recognition.

How many teachers are willing to encourage and support students' participation in music, arts or graphics over an AP course? Well, Mr. Dave Lorier, who teaches in the science department here at Brookfield Central, does support these students.

“I like celebrating diversity and achievement in all our students," he said. “High school is about the whole package; so many teachers overlook all the different activities and choices students here have available to them. By experiencing the fine arts, students grow as people, and interests are what shape people’s lives. Some may even discover hidden talents or pleasure that they were not aware of prior to their exposure to it.”

Pursuing this further, Mr. Phil Olson stated, “I strongly believe that the fine arts at Brookfield Central have become a victim of the AP courses at this school.” Who’s to say that one subject has greater or has more “long term value” than another? The freedom of expression is limited and contained with that frame of mind and literally in our building here at Central.

Speaking of contained, many “corners” at Brookfield Central are “home” to the fine arts. The Black Box Theater is functional, but it costs more than the worth of what it’s currently used for. Yet, every classroom in this building has a Smart Board, the cafeteria has flat screen TVs for announcements, and the LMC has two labs. Not to mention that the support for athletics is omnipresent in the building. Sorry, but it’s true.

Sometimes big creations come from small packages, and the arts are the only language that everyone can fully understand. The arts are limitless, timeless and are a part of the past, present, and future of humanity.

Teachers, administration, students, I ask for your support today so that the fine arts can continue to love long into the future. I believe that teachers underestimate the power of words, and the impact of their actions in their students' lives. If more were to attend the musical events word would spread and many would experience them for themselves.

So take the first step of a commitment. Check out the cafeteria for the calendar of fine arts. Commit to that time for one night and it would begin to create change in the building and community and mean so much to all the students who diligently put in the time.