A Value System/Virtuous Reality

Conflicts that begin in school are often resolved after school in the Shalom environment. After School student prayer groups centered on scripture and guided by the students themselves have often been the opportunity to deal with conflict and hurt feelings.

The constant work with and for the young people at Shalom School has presented creative opportunities for conflict resolution and alternatives to violence. The very nature of an arts community is collective sharing and participation. Much like sports venues, the team must work together. Dance lines and instrumental ensembles are among ways to create team and community.

By making the arts accessible to ALL, regardless of their ability to pay fees or demonstrate preconceived "talent," the opportunity has been available to bridge cultural and socio-economic gaps in our community.

Since the inception of Shalom School, the goals have become more defined as we have developed relationships with families and community leaders. Struggles with unemployment, access to transportation, cultural and language barriers, hunger and even homelessness have often become critical issues that we have addressed as we are in ministry and relationship with our students and families.

We believe that all have talents, all have gifts, and we encourage expression and acceptance of these gifts among our students and faculty.

Statistics

Our observations and data show that students participating on a consistent, committed basis in the arts study at the Shalom School demonstrate marked improvement in formal academics. The Shalom School has celebrated with Honor Roll and Academic Improvement parties.

DID YOU KNOW??

Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:

• 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
• 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools
• 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair
• 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
• 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

Young Artists as compared with their peers are likely to:

• Attend music, art, and dance classes nearly three times as frequently
• Participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently
• Read for pleasure nearly twice as often
• Perform community service more than four times as often (Living the Arts through Language + Learning: A Report on Community-based Youth Organizations, Shirley Brice Heath, Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation For the Advancement of Teaching, Americans for the Arts Monograph, November 1998)

The facts are that arts education...

• Makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the "learning field" across socio-economic boundaries. (Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School, James S. Catterall, The UCLA Imagination Project, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA, Americans for the Arts Monograph, January 1998)
• Has a measurable impact on youth at risk in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention. (Youth ARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts)

For more information please contact:
Susan Halperin
shalperin@fumchy.org
301-927-6133 x 20