Drafter
Clerk 04/08/2009
Title
A MOTION recognizing May 2009 as Arts Education Month.
Body
WHEREAS, King County comprises eighteen school districts, more than seven hundred twenty-two schools and more than three hundred thousand students, and
WHEREAS, King County invests in arts and heritage education through 4Culture, a public development corporation chartered by King County government to promote arts and heritage programs for all King County residents and visitors, and
WHEREAS, the arts, including dance, music, theatre and visual arts, are defined as a core content area in Washington state's definition of basic education and are considered an essential component of the complete education that should be provided for all students, and
WHEREAS, learning in and through the arts enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate and express feelings and ideas and cross-cultural understanding, supporting academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom, and
WHEREAS, imagination and creativity are increasingly understood as critical capacities needed for success in life in the 21st century, and students learn these skills through meaningful learning in the arts, and
WHEREAS, we applaud the efforts and dedication of educators and advocates around the state, and we call for school and community leaders to continue to broaden and strengthen their arts education focus in order to ensure equity of access to arts learning for all students;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The King County council reaffirms the importance of the arts as an essential part of a complete education for all students.
B. May 2009 is recognized as Arts Education Month in King County.
C. All communities are encouraged to celebrate the arts with meaningful activities and programs for students, teachers and the p...
Click here for full text