Public Opinion

Keeping the Arts in Schools
Where does the public stand on integrating the arts into the school curriculum? A project by the Douglas Gould & Co., funded by the Ford Foundation, suggests that understanding the public's perspective on arts integration is key to developing strategies that will result in lasting arts education opportunities for students. Interviews with business leaders, community brainstorming sessions, a national poll, and focus groups of parents and teachers are summarized on the Keep Arts in Schools website . A wealth of advocacy, policy, and messaging resources are also available on the site.

Media Analysis
"Media Paints Arts Education in a Fading Light" is a report on how the national media portrays the status of arts education in America's schools.

Voters Value the Imagination
Results of a national poll announced on January 24, 2008 demonstrate significant public support for innovation and creativity in America.  According to a new national survey of 1,000 likely voters, “30% of American voters are not only dissatisfied with public education’s narrow focus on the ‘so-called’ basics but that they also believe developing the imagination is a critical, but missing, ingredient to student success in 21st century schools and moving students beyond average.”

• 69% of American voters believe that, when compared to other nations, America devotes less attention to developing the imagination and innovation
• 86% of voters believe that encouraging children to be creative and develop their imagination is necessary to maintain our competitive edge and ensure we do not fall behind other countries
• 83% of voters believe that a greater focus on the arts – alongside science, technology, and math – would better prepare students to address the demands of the 21st century

The pollsters say that this voting cohort – which is being called the “Imagine Nation” is of a scale rivaling “soccer moms.”   View the full report  for more details.