Save RHS
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#SaveRHS Let's make one thing very clear, Renaissance is so much more than just academics. Students there thrive and excel in all subjects, but especially in the fine arts department. I feel like, not only does it make high school (for the most part) a more enjoyable experience, but it also contributes to them becoming more well-rounded when they are able to express themselves through art, choir, band, dance, etc. Not to mention the SCHOLARSHIPS that come from being part of extra curricular activities. We need to listen to former AND current students who know what its like. The students there now actually want to have these electives, they ENJOY being a part of something with such an important impact on their lives. So WHY take it away? Why are the arts always the first things to go when schools have to make budget cuts? I cannot even imagine what my years at Renaissance would have been like without Dance.
Training the right and left brain is extremely important to high performing professionals. It is not enough to have only book knowledge. Future executives and professionals need to develop emotional intelligence in order to gain the cooperation of those in the world they will face in the future.
Programs like band and dance are proven to have cognitive benefits that transfer over into academic aptitude.
Renaissance is a gem within the DPS and it is presumptuous to assume the school will maintain its quality and be resilient to these cuts. I would recommend looking into the qualifications of whomever made this decision to cut these programs and get a second or third opinion.
If there aren't enough funds to go around, it makes more logical sense to maintain the quality of the best performing schools, than to dilute their programs and funding which will result in an even lower average for quality of education. This is a race to the bottom. We need to incentivize performance and keep nurturing our students who demonstrate higher than average academic aptitude so that they can compete in a global job market.
Renaissance has consistently produced great leaders and professionals who go on to achieve great and noteworthy things. When the cameras are on them they can say they came from DPS.
I hate to think about where those exceptional students will be sent by their parents who demand high quality education for their students. They will likely not stay in DPS or reside in Detroit to comply with the law.
We need to reverse the brain drain that has been happening for decades in our city and at the very least retain the gems we do have.
Isn't that worth thinking about?
I hope that DPS doesn't think we'll take this while sitting down.
That it's okay to just change our school.
That we can truly be called "Renaissance students" with the arts being taken away.
I learned from my awesome history teacher that being a Renaissance ANYTHING means you are well rounded in all things.
English
Science
Math
AND THE ARTS
What kind of a school would we be without any one of these programs?
Not a Renaissance one, I can tell you that.
Save RHS
I'm a sophomore this year and freshman year I took orchestra. Never ever tried to play an instrument. I'm suppose to be First chair this year. Music and dance is very important. If they cancel the fine arts many students will suffer and I don't know man music is all I got going for me and I don't want it to end
I simply don't understand.
Out of all the teachers at Renaissance, they decide to get rid of one of the best? We already lost Small last year, isn't that enough? Who's next? Johnson? Tolliver? Not to mention all of the other teachers that will lose their jobs with the disbandment of the fine arts department. Gooch, Wang, DeBose, Evans; all great teachers who are great at what they do and who are loved by the students they teach and mentor. How is this at all fair to them? Renaissance and DPS are getting rid of some really good teachers that students are upset to see leave. You want to lay someone off? Us students could give you a few referrals.
Secondly, how can people have such a lack of appreciation for the arts? Every time you turn on your television you watch art in some form, whether it be acting, costume or set design, or written scenes. Every time you turn on your radio you hear art. You live inside the manifestation of someone's artistic vision. You wear art on your body. They say that life imitates art and vice versa, but actually, life IS art. To take away art is to take away the joy and beauty of living. If Renaissance goes through with this, then I don't see myself staying there.
The rotating schedule at Renaissance is the tradition!
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