Dear Upper Darby School Board:
You have recently announced plans to cut funding for the arts in your schools, effectively eliminating them. While this may provide you with short term financial benefits, I believe that the consequences of this action are greater than you could anticipate I am writing to encourage you to reconsider. I work as a professional puppeteer who tours throughout elementary schools all over the country. I therefore get to witness the impact the arts have on the lives of children. Unfortunately for your purposes, these effects are not easily quantifiable. How do you measure laughter or inspiration? Unlike most other subjects, the nebulous benefits of arts education are notoriously difficult to gauge. Fortunately, as both a professional artist and alumnus of you school system I am into the unique position to provide you with some statistical information.
According to The Pennsylvania Youth
Suicide Prevention Initiative's website (PAYSPI), an average of 1300
young Pennsylvanians take their own lives. I can state with absolute
authority that in the period between 1986-1993 that, because of
active participation In Upper Darby's arts programs, at least one
less young person cut their own life short.
Some well meaning adult told me
during my senior year that someday I would look back on my high
school career as the best time of my life. They were not at all
amused when I responded by jokingly requesting to be shot. This was
typical of my attitude towards school, which I also recall comparing
to a minimum security prison. I was an introverted and socially
awkward student, combating clinical depression and the added social
stigma of having been classified as “Learning Disabled”. I was
relentlessly bullied by my peers for being “weird” and
“different”. The overall result was that I was one of those
students that are the bane of a teacher's existence: a reasonably
bright student who refused to apply himself. I was miserably unhappy
and contemplated suicide often. I even made a few attempts at it.
When I tell you that participation
in several excellent arts programs, including Summerstage, Marching
band, and various visual art classes, saved my life, I am by no
means exaggerating or employing hyperbole. Learning that I had some
aptitude for drawing and theater gave me a focus and sense of purpose
that I couldn't find in any of my other courses. Through these
programs, I found that I was no longer alone. I met new friends who
showed me that would never fit in with the mainstream, I was funny,
talented, and likable. I learned to cherish my “weirdness” as a
manifestation of my creativity. I clung to the arts like a life raft.
I auditioned for every production I could and began to spend lunch
and study hall periods in the art department whenever the
understanding faculty would let me. I found something to live for.
Through persistence and hard work I developed my abilities to the
point where I was accepted to a good art school. Today I am a living
example of a very different statistic: I am one of the 5% of art
school graduates who work in their chosen field.
I hope that when it comes time for you to make your final decision, You will consider my story. Arts programs can actually save lives. I realize that my experience is not typical, but consider this: while they may be in the minority, there are others out there like myself who need the arts programs on a fundamental level. Their lives are worth saving. Mine certainly was.
I hope that when it comes time for you to make your final decision, You will consider my story. Arts programs can actually save lives. I realize that my experience is not typical, but consider this: while they may be in the minority, there are others out there like myself who need the arts programs on a fundamental level. Their lives are worth saving. Mine certainly was.
John A. Ryan
Puppeteer and Sculptor
Upper Darby High School Class of 1993
Upper Darby High School Class of 1993
