Encouraging children to explore art, music and poetry

Does anyone else remember those little “karate belts” we tied to the ends of our recorders in music class? Perhaps a tiny white ribbon for a successful rendition of “Hot Cross Buns,” or a bead hung on a black string for the advanced version of “Ode to Joy?”

When I attended elementary school in Miami, I had the privilege of having at least one hour of music or art class each week. During that time, teachers would show us how to read sheet music and let us play bongos and tambourines. We would try our hands at recreating Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” and mush clay in our palms to make fantastical creatures and beasts. And in my 9-year-old head, I thought, “Sure, PE is fun, but this is the best part of the day.”

Too often we see dramatic drops in funding for arts and music education, and the discrepancy in our priorities only becomes starker as we get older. We let elementary-schoolers play make-believe but only for a little while. Once those kids hit middle school, it’s time for them to “get ready for high school,” take challenging math classes and leave some of that artfulness behind. And by high school, it’s all about Advanced Placement, Advanced International Certificate of Education and dual enrollment classes — after all, it’s almost time for college, right?

Of course, general education is important. Standard English, science, math and social studies classes are not only a necessary component of well-rounded academics but also can prove equally, if not more, stimulating than some humanities electives. That being said, a well-educated population requires investment in subjects like art, music and poetry that we so often discard the second someone whispers the phrase “budget cuts.”

So, what can we do when politicians and school districts divert money away from the humanities? On some level, we must take matters into our own hands. If you volunteer with students in your community, whether in elementary, middle or high school, ask them about their favorite subjects and hobbies. If they’re excited about art and drawing, ask them to see their sketches — or better yet, make time to draw with them. If you have the time, volunteer in mentorship or after-school programs.

Contact your elected officials and write to your local papers. Advocate for the kid next door who really wants to learn a musical instrument. Recommend ways of beautifying your neighborhood schools or improving the educational programs in your area. If you don’t see it, suggest it!

Unsure of who to talk to? Here are some tips, tricks and fun facts. The website resist.bot allows you, through Facebook Messenger or text message, to find out who your representatives in Congress are and message them quickly and safely.

Don’t know what to say? Add your own personal anecdote — a positive or negative experience you’ve had with public education that you want officials to know — and tell them why you think they should emphasize public education and the humanities during their tenures. Some quick facts you may find useful: According to PBS, increased music education has led to higher IQs in elementary-school children, as well as heightened test scores and improved spatial intelligence. Sometimes the results truly are tangible.

My final suggestion is as follows: Fellow college students, quit shaming people for having majors outside our favorite or chosen fields. Whether you enjoy engineering or physics, architecture or culinary arts, what have you — let’s all just celebrate that we’re in college and we’ve made it this far, huh?

Mia Gettenberg is a UF criminology and philosophy senior. Her column appears on Mondays.