Whether or not you agree that the annual cap on H-1B visas should be increased (see story, p. 1), clearly bringing foreign talent into the U.S. is only a short-term solution to meeting what many contend is a shortage of qualified American artisans in the high-tech sector. The long-term answer is to develop more homegrown professionals through a greater commitment to arts education and technical training.
Unfortunately, with staggering budget deficits in nearly every state and most municipalities, arts are again among the first curriculum cutbacks. This is happening despite the fact that arts education and related technical training from elementary through high school are crucial in helping to build a capable workforce for the new millennium. Furthermore, as reported in past installments of this column, numerous studies have found that kids receiving an arts education perform far better in other school subjects, including history, English, math and science. The oft-cited reason for the improved performance is that when kids are engaged in the arts, they see and feel the value of education in enhancing their lives. This, in turn, motivates them to further their educational pursuits in other areas.
So I thought it might be helpful to transition from the subject of a visa cap to those who have put on their thinking caps to try to address the problem. Consider the Arts in Education Aid Council, a nonprofit organization that benefits public school students in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley by providing them with arts education and related events.
For example, over the last four years, the Arts in Education Aid Council has teamed with the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center, Canoga Park, Calif., to host an annual valley-wide student art show to commemorate National Youth Art Month. Local businesses, and community and government organizations offer support to the event, which puts artwork from public school students on display. The fourth annual valley-wide Student Art Show receptions will take place on March 7 and 21 from 2-4 p.m. at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center. Thirty-eight public schools in the San Fernando Valley are slated to participate in this year’s show. The public is welcome, and the event is free. (For info on the show, check out the www.aieac.org Web site; for more details on National Youth Art Month, call The Council for Art Education in Hanson, Mass., at 781-293-4100.)
Meanwhile, on a higher profile level, the American Film Institute (AFI)’s Screen Education Program has received a significant corporate donation from The Best Buy Children’s Foundation (set up by Best Buy, a major advertiser and one of North America’s leading specialty retailers of consumer electronics, personal computers, appliances and entertainment software).
The AFI’s Screen Education Program was launched in the 2001-’02 academic year with funds from the U.S. Department of Education. In the program, young people learn to use digital cameras and computer editing systems to tell stories and demonstrate mastery of their studies. In the process, they receive preparation for the jobs of the future by becoming literate in the digital language of the 21st century.
AFI chair Jean Picker Firstenberg stated, "The philosophy of the AFI Conservatory where professional filmmakers learn is now being introduced to public high schools and middle schools so that young people can harness new technology and the power of storytelling to improve their ability to learn—in school and in life."
In its debut year of ’01-’02, the AFI program was instituted in six Los Angeles high schools. In ’02-’03, it reached 21 high schools in Northern and Southern California, Montgomery County, Md., and Washington, D.C.—representing a total of 4,000 students. Expansion of the program will continue as private and public support is obtained.
