Infusing the arts means teaching all curriculum - math, science, history, social studies, all classes using art, drama, music to enhance the learning process.  These techniques are easy to learn and they work, making learning accessible to ALL students in the classroom.  By using these teaching processes, students, parents and teachers are happier because all students, no matter what there background, place in life, become excited about learning.  

The chart above shows a real example of how well this way of motivating students works.  As you can see in 2005, the year before infusing the arts into their curriculum, the fourth grade literacy and math test scores were in the 20’s and 30’s.  In just three years those scores moved into the 60’s and 70’s.  Discipline problems at the school are nearly non-existent in contrast to the 2005 school year.  The teachers at Hugh Goodwin now enjoy their jobs because their students are engaged and learning.

The question must be, why don’t all schools teach this way?

Hugh Goodwin is an Arts Focus elementary school.  The Arts designation simply means there are extra arts experiences offered there, but should not cloud the issue that ALL schools should teach using the arts to enhance their instruction.  As you can see on the bottom of the chart Hugh Goodwin had higher math test scores then the math focus school in the same school district.  Using the arts to make curriculum more understandable to ALL students is a better way to teach math and all other courses.

This video made by Huge Goodwin staff communicates how the arts are used everyday to encourage the students to learn.  ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE STRUCTURED LIKE Hugh Goodwin, not just arts magnet schools.  The sooner we convert all schools to this teaching structure the sooner we will fix our schools.