While most public school students in Orange County will be in class tomorrow, come by the “Arts on the Lawn” at Santa Ana High School, on Wednesday, May 13 – unless of course you have a regular job and have to work.
All day long students in band, orchestra, dance, choir, visual arts of all types will be showing their art and talents on the lawns of SAHS to VIP’s and to students released from their classes to enjoy a festival day of art.
The overpaid superintendent will be there, along with school board members, city council members, and probably the mayor of the city! (Parents and community members will probably not be able to take off on a work day — sorry.)
No mathematics, English, government, history, or science instruction today! Every classroom will be half empty, so let’s all go out to enjoy the art. And, please, please, please call your congressman and tell him to oppose the funding cuts to our schools, because without a good education, how will our students be prepared to enter an advanced technologically based economy?
What will a lack of fundamentals and a smattering of the arts really do for these students?
Good.
This is the type of stuff that keeps students interested and engaged in school. I guarantee you that the students that participate in the arts score better across the board on the SAT. They are probably also less likely to have disaplinary problems if they are engaged in activities like these. This knee jerk reaction of yours to dismiss the arts, and this day that focuses on the arts, is much to narrow.
baxter,
Let’s see what all of this focus on the arts will do for them five, ten and fifteen years from now…
I always find these things to be a little sad. The kids have fun, the adults praise them, but the when the test scores are released Santa Ana High is in the toilet.
It may make them become passionate and well rounded individuals that are fully engaged in their school and their future.
Do you really think the kids causing problems in Santa Ana, or that dropped out of schools to join a gangs, did so because they were were too well rounded in music and fine arts? Get fucking real. They dropped out of schools because they hated school and the temptations on the streets, unlike their boring teachers or absent patents, sparked their interest.
I agree with baxter. All work and no play makes Juan a dull boy.
Seriously? That’s all you can say about our school? I attend SAHS and I can tell you for a fact that most of the kids in the arts programs are extremely gifted and beyond intelligent. They are PASSIONATE about what they do, and they like to EXPRESS themselves; since when is that a crime? They enjoy doing what they do, they’re expanding their minds, they keep up their grades. So, stop harping on them. You don’t know us or our students. Test scores aren’t everything! Please, get your head out of your ass and leave our student body alone. We are a strong student body, there are amazing kids at our school who are dedicated to what they do. You won’t find another school like ours. We don’t have all the stereotypes that other schools do! Oh, and excuse us for having a passion for something. Because it’s clear you don’t. I’m sorry that YOU failed miserably at life! But don’t take it out on us with your negative words because we will all show you how capable we are, and that we will go far in life.
And also, “No mathematics, English, government, history, or science instruction today! Every classroom will be half empty, so let’s all go out to enjoy the art.”, where did you get that? Only English classrooms were invited to Arts On The Lawn, and most of my classrooms were only empty because there are so many people involved in the arts. Please get your facts straight.
Your pathetic attitude honestly amuses me. Have fun in your small little office, getting your minimum wage pay! We’ll all surpass you in life one day, just you wait!
“Your pathetic attitude honestly amuses me. Have fun in your small little office, getting your minimum wage pay! We’ll all surpass you in life one day, just you wait!”
MQ says:
Lets not be negative about an ENTIRE failing school system!
Really, your lack of actually confronting the truth is astounding! I assume you are a SAUS Teacher, because only such a person would have a complete disregard for the educational system. Arts and crafts will not a DOCTOR make!
Santa Ana is producing the future welfare recipients not masters of the Arts!
Wise up and get real!
The vast majority of your students in Santa Ana are failing, put down the paint brushes and bring out the pitch forks!
How RACIST, STEREOTYPICAL, and IGNORANT you are “MQ”. First of all: “Lets not be negative about an ENTIRE failing school system!” How can you say that the entire system is failing when I bet you that you have never even been inside a class room at SAHS to be making such claims. I hope you are aware that all the claims that we are an under achieving HS are political to get more money for the district. We have always performed at the top, just ask the WASC committee that gave us a SIX YEAR ACCREDITATION!
Also, “Santa Ana is producing the future welfare recipients not masters of the Arts” How dare you make such racist comment! you are being a stereotypical ignorant fool who clearly has no idea of all the talent and intelligence Santa Ana High School students have to offer. We have students going to Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Cornell, Berkeley, UCLA,Wabash and you still dare to say that we are future “welfare recipients”? We will be paying in the future for welfare you dick, and when you turn 65, which I am sure you will, pretty soon, that “vast majority of failing students” will probably be paying for your social security, so you better PRAY that we don’t fail or else you are also screwed!!
Actually, MQ, I’m a student at SAHS. And take your smart-assery somewhere else. Most of the kids aren’t failing. Maybe if there were more supportive people in the world, a lot more students would perform better. We don’t need more people like you.
“Arts and crafts will not a DOCTOR make!” At least my English makes sense! Ha. And don’t set ridiculous standards for people, not everyone is going to be a doctor. Are YOU a doctor? I highly doubt it.
anon student,
Good points. Do you think though that SAHS should hold this event on a Saturday or an evening so parents can enjoy it too? That is what other school districts do.
I have read this ongoing argument several times and it is clear that the anonymous SAHS student makes a much better point. SAHS teaching is being questioned along with its performance. Yet I find it ironic and that the student from SAHS is much better writer than the SAHS naysayers!! “Arts and crafts will not a DOCTOR make!” It is apparent that this student is receiving a much better education at SAHS than you possess.
Anon,
My daughter graduated from SAHS two years ago and just finished a two year degree at FIDM. She is very bright as are her friends. She played water polo there with several of her friends for four years.
These kids all have a lot of potential, regardless of what the naysayers have to say about them.
How RACIST, STEREOTYPICAL, and IGNORANT you are “MQ”.
MQ says:
Before I start with a well needed REALITY CHECK, I want you to take a look at you’re districts API scores of ALL of its school’s. I want you then to go and look at the schools who are FAILING with API of less than 4 and have a look at the STAR and CELT test scores. MOST of the schools are FAILING!
“I hope you are aware that all the claims that we are an under achieving HS are political to get more money for the district.”
MQ says:
It’s not political! SAUSD is in the business of making money off a population of a minority poor! The fact that SAUSD has millions more in federal and state funds proves that out of around 54,000 students a large majority of them are failing. YOU see my young brain washed friend, Your district is counting on parents who think school is a day care center and students who view school as a rave to rake in the dollars. You may be in ONE ok school in Santa Ana with a few High preforming students, but the fact is too few with so many. YOU need to check your attitude at the front door of your LA RAZA meeting and come in to a meeting where race is a color and stereotypes can actually be TRUE!
I don’t think you are ignorant, I think you might be oblivious to the obvious!
“We will be paying in the future for welfare you dick, and when you turn 65, which I am sure you will, pretty soon, that “vast majority of failing students” will probably be paying for your social security, so you better PRAY that we don’t fail or else you are also screwed!!”
MQ says:
I don’t think so, since I actually take into account that I need to look after myself when in MANY, MANY years I reach 65 I will have my own WELFARE lined up called a ROTH IRA, 401k s, Yeah know RETIREMENT PLANS. I am counting on the fact that their will be no SOCIAL SECURITY for the elderly because this country is bankrupting itself on WELFARE for the poor, underserved and vulnerable abled bodied. So I do PRAY that I make the right choices when I pick the right commodities, mutual funds ect.
“Santa Ana is producing the future welfare recipients not masters of the Arts” How dare you make such racist”
Race does not make a welfare recipient, attitude does!
“We will be paying in the future for welfare you dick,”
MQ says:
First of all I have given you my name it’s” MICHELLE”, I am not called,” RICHARD”and I am a woman not a man, so I do not have a “DICK”. WE as in YOU and the REST of LA RAZA , need not worry so much about the rest of the RAZA’s…as in my RAZA. My RAZA is doing quite ok!
“And don’t set ridiculous standards for people,”
MQ says:
There are no ridiculous standards to set yourself. The fact that you try is more important than failing!
You may be smart, but your snotty attitude is not. You are right I am a, “smart-ass”, but snotty I am not…nor have I ever been!
And you are right, I am not a Doctor. I did not WORK HARD enough to become a doctor!
PEACE, KEEP IT REAL!
http://school.hiwhy.com/orange-county/
You will have to go to the bottom of the page to view SAUSD schools.
FAILING SCHOOLS!
Art it is nice to see that there are people who believe in Santa Ana students. Having a child that attended SAHS I am sure that you are aware of the quality education that one can receive there. These students do have potential and those who are going off to marvelous universities “We have students going to Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Cornell, Berkeley, UCLA,Wabash” will soon come back and enact change. All the negativity has to be put aside and the potential has to be embraced if we truly want a successful schools.
SAUSD’s schools critics:
Do you truly care about the SAUSD students? Or are you only interested in speaking ill of the district? What are you intentions MQ!! Most importantly do you have children in SAUSD schools and/or are you a resident of Santa Ana?
I am a SAUSD student.
anonymous student,
I am the son of a Mexican janitor. Si se puede indeed!
Any one of us can make it in this country. The road isn’t easy but nothing worth having comes easy….
I’ve been reading this blog for a while and this is the first time I have been truly compelled to disagree and leave a reply. As a former teacher (I got the cut back in June) and former SAHS student who participated 4 years in the orchestra and the first ever SAHS mariachi group, I am saddened that people who have the power to give schools in Santa Ana a positive light can make SAHS and its students sound like they are wasting their time.
Why does it bother you that ONE DAY of the school year is dedicated to the arts? Have you been in the classroom as a teacher or a student with 40 or more students who are constantly pressured to get high test scores because the media makes your school sound like they are inept?
You should be praising SAHS due to its stellar performing arts academy that has allowed students to become voice, performance, and dance majors and much more at universities such as UCLA and Chapman who have stellar visual and performing arts programs. Do you ever post a blog about the amazing choir program at SAHS? How about the award winning marching band that boasts almost 100 members? Or how about the mariachi group which is the ONLY high school based mariachi group in Orange County? Oh and did I mention that the mariachi group was started by a Dutch/Filipino man and the mariachi group included 3 white kids who loved mariachi as much as the Latino students in the group.
Its reporters like you and reporters from the Orange County Register that fail the students of Santa Ana high schools with your negative and cynical reports on an event that allows students to show the community what keeps them motivated in school, distracted from pathetic standardized testing, and keeps them off the streets. Oh and Saturdays? Nobody would go… Give the arts a break!
I am suprised reading this post,
specially from a parent of a former
student.
I hope Becky is doing great at FIDM.
What an ignorant article all around! Since when is Fine Arts, Music and Drama/Theater not considered education?!! One of the saddest fact of all the budget cuts to education is that funding for Fine Arts and Performing Arts has been slashed to practically nothing. Research shows that music education helps students with Math and Science, as well as Analytical thinking, and the Performing Arts, as well as the Fine Arts support much of the learning in classes like English/Literature and History. Santa Ana High School should be COMMENDED, not condemned, for having such a high quality Arts program despite budget cuts. I went to see Arts On The Lawn at SAHS, and I can tell you that the Fine Arts students also studied and analyzed the lives and painting styles of several significant artists — Freida Kahlo, Kandinski, Jason Pollock and others — if you don’t know who they are, then you are clearly NOT well educated… The musicians performed at a high level that many professionals don’t reach. An inportant point to add here: A good number of these artists, dancers and musicians at Santa Ana High School at in Advanced Placement classes in English, History, Economics, Calculus, Chemistry and Biology.
Furthermore, research is showing that the standardized testing the students are forced to take do NOT reflect true academic ability or knowledge. These tests are not even designed by educators, but by politicians who who never spent a day teaching in a classroom. These tests are merely political tools, as is the NCLB program, to give politicians something to blow hot air about during their campaigns. Otherwise, they are completely useless. The CERTAINLY are USELESS as true measures of a school’s excellence.
As a parent of a son and a daughter who went to Irvine schools, a Literature PHD and academic and a former art school student, I only wish my children’s higher-scoring-on-standardized-tests Irvine schools had taught such classes in the Arts (both Fine and Performing) and had such a wonderful program as SAHS’s Arts On The Lawn!
BRAVO to SAHS and its administration, faculty and students!!!!
RGK,
If anyone is being ignorant it is those amongst you who have miconstrued this post. We should not take our kids out of the classroom for these events. Not when SAHS, like most of our high school’s, is on the state’s consistently poor-performing list.
Other, more successful districts hold these events on evenings or weekends.
And parents cannot attend these daytime events. It sure looks like a district dog and pony show.
Bottom line – these events should be held on weekends or evenings and parents should wonder why they’re not.
Art Pedroza, you obviously did not read my post, or actually thought about it analytically or with any critical thinking. The arts ARE part of education. You have a very limited and uniformed view of true education. Arts On The Lawn is for the students, and is part of the school’s Fine Arts and Performing Arts program. It is designed to inspire the students and to showcase the work of the artistic students. It is NOT a Dog-and-Pony show for the community, which is why it is held during the school hours and not on the weekend and evenings.
Furthermore, the state’s consistently poorly-performing list is based on tests that show NO EVIDENCE of actual knowledge. Furthermore, some of those tests are inequitably administered. So I would beware of labels, if I were you, and not be so quick to judge based on those labels without actual knowledge of how they are created.
RGK,
What is your problem? Why don’t you want the parents to see this arts showcase?
Did I say I didn’t want the parents to see them? Are you actually reading what I write? My point was that the event is for the students first, the community second. I was responding to your argument that students should not be taken out of the classroom for Art On The Lawn by arguing that the arts ARE part of education, and an important part.
btw, attacking me, instead of responding to what I actually wrote is a common logical fallacy called Ad Hominem, i.e., attacking the person rather than the argument. Many SAHS students, who actually receive a quality education, actually know that.
this is intense…
RGK,
Oh really? Has anyone asked the students if they want their parents to miss out on this?
99% of the parents cannot go to this event because they are at work.
Families matter to Latinos. Why not do this on the evening or a weekend?
And yes, I don’t think we should be taking them out of the classroom when there are other options.
Other, more succesful, districts hold these events on evenings or weekends. Why not the SAUSD?
By the way, things are not nearly as hunky dory as you make them out to be. We have a horrific dropout rate, terrible test scores, etc. And it is not for a lack of money. The District spends almost $9,000 per capita, per year. Clearly we have much to improve.
The arts have some value, but ultimately we need to make sure these kids have the basics covered.
I played three instruments when I was growing up. And I took sketching and water color lessons. I also worked as a graphic artist and ad designer for several years. But I graduated high school, a year early, with a 3.8 GPA. And I had to change careers to make more money.
The arts don’t often translate into a good income. Just go to the Artists Village and you will see one broke artist after another.
Art, the students are fully involved with setting up Arts On the Lawn. It’s an old tradition at SAHS. Many of the parents work on weekend and evenings and weekends as well, as the low attendance numbers during Back-To-School nights have shown. Also the distict would have to pay overtime and extra to the campus security staff if the event was held on the weekend. I am very familiar with the Latino community, so no need to tell me that family is important. Besides, it is not only the Latino community to whom family is important. Family is important to all cultures.
Since you brought up the Latino culture — art is extremely important in the Latino culture. Art On The Lawn teaches the students of SAHS to study and participate in this tradition. However, Arts On The Lawn isn’t about training students to become professional artists. It’s about inspiring them to stay in school, it builds school spirit, it showcases the other abilities of the students, and it instills a love for the arts. Every great civilization appreciated and valorized the Arts. Only a peasant society does not. Many artists are also scientists, academics, lawyers and doctors. De Vinci was both an artist and a scientist and an architect, not to mention an inventor far ahead of his time. Michelangelo was a mathematician as well as an artist – many of his sculptures required very high math skills. Not all teaching is done in a traditional classroom.
You, yourself, from your posts, participated in performing arts and are a parent of a SAHS graduate. It surprises me that you are so negative about this wonderful Saints tradition.
“SAUSD’s schools critics:
Do you truly care about the SAUSD students? Or are you only interested in speaking ill of the district? What are you intentions MQ!! Most importantly do you have children in SAUSD schools and/or are you a resident of Santa Ana?
I am a SAUSD student.”
Yes I really, really care, I do not want you to end up working as hard as I have. Though I will not complain because I am a worker by nature. I want you to be so MAD at me that you will prove me wrong. I want you to succeed! For far too long SAUSD students have come out of this district with more gang knowledge, than actual knowledge. Allowing this to continue is not OK. Parents need to step up to the plate, this is not MEXICO, IRELAND, it is the USA and in this country education is your ticket to the Moon. If you get anything out of my bagging on you, its that you thought twice about dropping out of school, to PROVE me wrong!
I know there are very smart kids in every school in Santa Ana, but they do not have a chance when so many around them are SLACKERS. I would like you to read a book that I tell every one about: STEVE PERRY “MAN UP”.
The answer is NO i would not send my children to such a disgraceful district ( and yes I am very much a critic of most districts in Orange County) and No I would not live in a city that has extreme crime. I did not come here to live in a area like the one I left!
If just half of the parents in Santa Ana were as disgusted as I am about the public education in Santa Ana and the behavior that is main place in Santa Ana schools. I bet SAUSD would be excellent instead of disgraceful!
I get, that most of the Parents most likely did not even go to school themselves, but this is a problem that must be addressed. instead of a problem that is over looked because of political correctness and ideology!
The fact that gangs are allowed to harass the schools instead of being removed like the common thugs they are has to be addressed. These kids are a distraction and a total waste of time.
For too long, SAUSD has been a joke made up of illegal immigrants and their children. SAUSD can become an example of excellence, when excellence is the only option.
As I keep saying Color, origin, economics does not cause poverty, attitude does. Anyone can make it in this land, ANYONE!
But right now, SAUSD students are still a joke!
Sorry to be rough, but time goes fast and before long you and your peers will need to feed your family!
“Families matter to Latinos. Why not do this on the evening or a weekend?
And yes, I don’t think we should be taking them out of the classroom when there are other options.
Other, more succesful, districts hold these events on evenings or weekends. Why not the SAUSD?”
MQ says:
I could not agree with you more!
“BRAVO to SAHS and its administration, faculty and students!!!!”
MQ says:
I never will understand people patting themselves on the back for doing a shit job!
Bravo, is another term for, congratulations!
SAHS has nothing to brag about, unless it’s a tally for the most pregnant underage girls, the most drop outs in Orange County and the most amount of kids with a less than stellar education!
Then you can brag all day!
Wise up and for God Sake get real!
(Full Disclosure–I am a teacher at Santa Ana H.S. and one of the event’s organizers)
First, almost all students at Santa Ana H.S. attended all of their classes on the day of the event. Only English classes were invited, so any English teacher who didn’t wish to attend, didn’t have to and any student who did attend the event, still had math, science, etc.. Furthermore, the English students who did attend were given an assignment that connected to the event. I would like to share that assignment.
The arts students were given five influencial painters (Pollack, Kandinsky, Kahlo, Gauguin, and Haring) and were asked to interpret the works of those artists using their own discipline (dance, vocal music, instrumental music and theater). The students studied and researched the works and lives of the painters and worked to collaborate and interpret their works. Attending English classes were given a brief powerpoint presentation about the five painters and were given a follow-up assignment designed to give the students an opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the painters and of the event.
The truth is, the creative sector is the largest and fastest growing job sector in Orange County and Los Angeles. (Look it up). This event is precisely the type of thing all schools in this area should be doing for their students. Those who attended the event were impressed enough to call into question whether our students truly did all the artwork because it was that good. I am proud of our students both those who created the event with their talent and hard work and I am proud of our students who attended the event because their thoughtful responses to the works and mature behavior during the event contradict the vulgar stereotypes that are launched their way by many (including this blog) all the time. Lastly, I am proud to work at a school that works so hard to give our students the best preparation we can in often the worst of circumstances, with limited resources and with many students who face challenges that are far greater than most of us can even imagine. Still, we manage to send kids to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UCLA, USC and many other top ranked universities year after year.
anon,
Thanks for the info. It sounds like you are doing a fine job and care a lot about your students.
Really my only issue was why they couldn’t hold this event on the weekend or on an evening, as other districts do.
I thought the English assignment you referenced was very creative.
Manufacturing is pretty much dead, so you might be right about creative work. My daughter graduated from Santa Ana High (Becky Pedroza) and just graduated from FIDM with a fashion degree.
My own opinion (based on my years teaching at Santa Ana HS and running a performing arts program there) is that a weekend event such as Arts on the Lawn would bring out a small number of families and most likely the families that already bring their children to museums, theatrical productions and other cultural events. The students who we want to reach are the very ones who would never have that type of experience were it not provided during the school day. I think one day of engaging in the arts, especially for a student who has never had such an experience, is worth one period of one day of class at least. I know my experiences with the arts have transformed and impacted my life in far more ways than any single day of classroom instruction that I can remember.