October 17, 2005
October 16 –22, 2005 is National High School Activities week, and today we recognize National Fine Arts Activities Day -- a time to focus on the students, coaches and sponsors involved in fine arts programs.
Did you know?
The IHSA offers state championships in five classes of Music Competition (Solo/Ensemble Contest and Organization); one class of Speech (with contests in Debate, Drama/Group Interpretation, and Individual events), team Chess, and two classes of Scholastic Bowl. During the 2004-2005 school year more than 25,000 students participated in IHSA sponsored Fine Arts state series activities.
A report on The Condition of Education, by the United State Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics found that participation in extracurricular activities had positive affects on academic performance, attachment to school and social development. The report further stated that almost every high school in the United States offers some type of extracurricular activity, such as music, academic clubs and sports. These activities provide opportunities for students to learn the values of teamwork, a channel for reinforcing skills and the opportunity to apply academic skills in other arenas as a part of a well-rounded education. Activities support the academic mission of schools. They are not a diversion but rather an extension of a good educational program. Students who participate in activity programs tend to have higher grade-point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems than students generally.
Where do high school students learn about competition, free enterprise, morals, values and how to succeed in our society? In uniquely staged high school activity programs. You can be a part of this valuable learning experience by supporting your local high school by your attendance at music, speech, scholastic bowl, and other activity contests.