By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
This column marks six years since Dave and I submitted our first column to Dave Gough at The Courier Press. I had planned to introduce readers to the new Executive Director of CKACN (CK Arts Council). However, with the provincial election now underway, it seems like a good time to write about being politically informed.
You might think that an arts column and a provincial election have little in common. But if you care about the arts in any way, this is the perfect opportunity to connect the two.
I’ve heard from friends who teach elementary school that even arts coverage has been reduced. Don’t get me started on the excessive report card requirements and the formulaic comments educators are forced to use. Worse still, the space for arts comments in elementary report cards has been cut to about one-third, leaving little room to assess a student’s strengths, areas for improvement, attitude, and any other necessary feedback. A good friend, who is an excellent teacher and cares deeply about her profession and her students, was in tears because the reporting process doesn’t allow her to properly inform parents. It also clearly shows how little value is placed on her work. This is why good teachers leave the profession.
In Wallaceburg, as well as in other communities around Ontario, when the last music teacher retired, the program was removed from the local high school’s course selections. Yes, school boards make these decisions, but they are provincially funded and their curriculum is governed by the province. Yes, music classes can be expensive to set up, and cutting them might please taxpayers who want lower contributions. But sports programs, tech classes, fully equipped science labs, and even the tablets that now replace textbooks are also costly.
Some people argue that we should go back to the basics. They believe that reading, writing, and arithmetic were good enough in the past, so they should be fine now.
The question is, do we want to raise students with only a basic understanding of others and society, or do we want to cultivate an elevated society where compassion, curiosity, and active minds are balanced with a healthy body and spirit?
I believe we need to support education in three areas: arts, athletics, and academics. This creates a foundation for a healthy, balanced society that is neither narrow nor restrictive.
Did you know that 57% of eligible voters didn’t participate in the 2022 election? Fifty-seven percent. In a democracy. In a country where your voice should matter.
I know it’s hard to be optimistic right now. It often feels like every politician beyond the municipal level either isn’t listening or can’t stand by their promises, and many people just vote the way they always have.
Maybe watching what’s happening south of the border makes you want to give up on politics altogether. But now is the time to find your voice. Vote for good people who are willing to engage with you and answer questions—regardless of their political party.
In our recent local by-election, the CK Arts Council sent a questionnaire about the arts and provincial support to each candidate. Only one candidate responded. We will do this again for the upcoming election, and the results will be posted on our CKACN Facebook page. Politicians should answer constituents’ questions and be transparent with their responses.
Our questions weren’t accusatory or provocative. They simply asked about party stances on issues relevant to the arts and artists.
Here are some examples:
What funding policies and programs do you propose to support the ongoing work of individual artists and arts organizations in Ontario?
How can the province work with organizations like arts councils to grow arts and culture as a resource for everyone in rural Ontario?
What policies would you support to improve access for marginalized and racialized artists?
What challenges do you see facing artists of all disciplines in Ontario right now?
Here are a few more questions that could be asked:
The current Arts Curriculum has been in place since 2009/2010. When will your party commit to releasing an updated version?
How will your party support integrating arts into STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts, and Math) education?
The benefits of music and creativity for social and emotional learning are well documented. What will you and your party do to support the mental health of our youth and students through music and other arts?
How will you and your party ensure that funding for balanced and fair access to arts programs is available to everyone?
What will you and your party do to make sure arts are part of the classroom experience for students in marginalized and rural communities?
By asking these questions, we can try to make informed choices when voting.
I know the tariff threat is a concern, but it’s not the only issue facing our society, and there is no hero in shining armor waiting at Queen’s Park.
I encourage you to ask questions of the candidates. And if they don’t respond, consider what that says about them.
