I have taught art education in the Lewiston school system for 23 years. Anyone who values the arts and public education should vote no on Question 1 this Nov. 2. A yes vote will devastate funding for our schools.

Extra-curricular activities will be cut. Parents depend on these activities to keep their children engaged in their own education. Cutting programs and teachers will make class sizes larger and learning will become more difficult. And cutting the arts will deprive many students from discovering what gifts they may possess.

Shame on Stavros Mendros for even suggesting that cutting the arts is acceptable.

The Maine Learning Results states that the arts help students develop problem-solving skills, empower thinking skills such as analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating. A well-designed art education program engages students in a process that helps develop the self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation and self-motivation necessary for success in life.

According to Howard Gardner’s theory on multiple intelligence, students have different learning styles. The arts are important for the hands-on, visual and spatial thinkers.

As educators, we need to be able to address these different learning styles, the arts provide an avenue for students to express themselves creatively and problem solve in different ways.

Kay Allison, Auburn

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