MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Kim Demery loves spending time with her students at Parkside Elementary School, teaching them the joy that music brings.
“I strive to plant the seeds of joy and creativity in students,” Demery said. “Create an environment where they can engage and have a safe environment for them to create, sing, dance, play.”
Demery started piano lessons when she was 7 and has continued with music ever since.
“My music class was the place that I flourished,” Demery said. “I loved it. I played violin, and in middle school and high school, I picked up the flute.”
Third graders at Parkside Elementary School practice rhythm. (Spectrum News 1/Jenna Rae Gaertner)
Now she’s passing that passion on to her students.
Art and music are part of the curriculum in Wake County Public Schools. But the classes help students with more than talent. Demery said she really teaches social emotional learning by focusing on communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
“While I’d love it to just be about music, music, music,” Demery said. “I love that it also applies to literacy…. They’re actually learning another whole language. So I teach the language of music.”
National Arts in Education Week in North Carolina public schools takes place Sept. 8-14.
Gov. Roy Cooper signed a proclamation to advocate for and celebrate arts education. The proclamation recognizes that studying the arts gives students a well-rounded education, increases creativity and contributes to increased attendance and higher graduation rates.
Buying and maintaining instruments isn’t cheap. Wake County has funds allocated to the arts, and they haven’t decreased in recent years.
A sign on the wall of Kim Demery’s classroom. (Jenna Rae Gaertner/Spectrum News 1)
“I’m not asking for a luxury cruise somewhere. I am asking for things that students will benefit from,” Demery said. “So I have never gotten a no. We have a workaround if we do get a no or if the funding is not there. Again, the community is very helpful.”
With budgets often on the minds of education leaders, it’s something they constantly have to consider. Demery encourages people in the community, parents and educators to support the arts whenever they get the chance.
Next Wednesday, the Wake County Public School System is hosting a community meeting with art education supporters. A panel will look at the district’s art program and ways to get funding for arts in Wake County schools.
Other districts are also keeping the arts in mind. In Durham, every elementary school is offering arts classes to even the youngest students.