Closing Campbell STEM risks cutting off the very skills — creativity, design and problem-solving — that our students need most.
my hometown’s only STEM elementary school has this art teacher concerned in many ways. It happens to parallel a recently announced. I’m concerned because our city needs art and Campbell STEM because it equips kids to bring the compassionate design-thinking needed to make our northern outpost thrive.
I urge the board to reverse its decision at its meeting March 17 and to anchor Campbell STEM and elementary art in its long-range plan. As an ASD art teacher, I’ve been through my share of sudden program change announcements. However, the recommendation to close Campbell came quicker than any I’ve seen. Notice was given at about 4 p.m. on a Friday before a three-day holiday weekend. The only chance to give public testimony was the day after the holiday. Families and staff had barely any time to prepare, making it hardly fair and equitable. I teach my students to collect observations slowly and carefully. How could families do this on such a sudden deadline? Campbell STEM is a neighborhood elementary school accessible to all nearby. They just celebrated receiving national accreditation — the only one in the state. Cities all around the nation and world know they need STEM. In my artistic travels, thoughtful engineering and design have given me access to rich cultures and diverse ideas. I’ve seen the difference that respect for natural sciences brings to timeless, beautiful landscapes in Europe. STEM helps art and design show up in the world in lasting ways. Our own ASD leaders have praised the virtues of these subjects in past meetings. In a Feb. 6, 2024, work session, Elementary Director Erik Viste proposed including a STEM/art combination in every elementary school. One of his slides praised the content because it “fosters critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills, essential for addressing complex problems … encourages students to apply scientific principles to artistic endeavors and vice versa … cultivates exploration, discovery and collaboration while nurturing a generation of learners capable of navigating an interconnected and dynamic global society.” Whew! I couldn’t have said it better myself. When my students use both STEM and art, amazing things happen. I don’t have space here to describe all the clever, quirky, impressive things my students have built, sculpted, painted, doodled and arranged. What I didn’t agree with in that proposal was taking away art time to provide STEM. Full servings of both STEM and art must be present to work for these lofty goals. I was relieved when Superintendent Bryantt withdrew the proposal, as it allowed art and gifted instruction to go on. STEM was not expanded. Only in Campbell was it nurtured at the elementary level. From what I can tell, it has required high involvement of skilled parents, staff and excited children. This proven experiment has many variables, to speak in scientific terms, which are hard for ASD to replicate. For kids in ASD to have access to effective STEM and art instruction, they need access to Campbell’s example and to visual art courses. The board’s vote destroys this success. I think we all agree — our city needs a design refresh. I’m third-generation Anchorage. I remember the more wild west feeling of the early 1980s: trucks from the year I was born throwing gravel; spartan cement buildings popping up with odd offerings ; canned fruit regularly on my family’s menu; catalog-ordered clothing.Then things seemed to be getting better. Civic buildings arrived like the spacious light-filled library I could study in for hours. Classy shopping in malls appeared. My high school building was clean and orderly despite being packed with 2,100 students. King Career Center offered multiple design and engineering/architecture courses. You could tell that highly trained engineers and designers were allowed to drive projects of all kinds. I have many students who cannot do basic art and math tasks that students five years ago could do. I recently had to comfort a boy who cried tears when he couldn’t thread a needle. Another student angrily reacted when asked to draw a square with 90-degree angles. These are signs that the “iReady” click and phone-scrolling generation needs the hands-on skills that STEM and art instruction bring. ASD can show leadership and reverse these trends by protecting programs like Campbell STEM and elementary art. Just like a wise scientist revises their hypothesis, or an artist pivots back to a proven technique, board members have a chance at this next meeting to correct their error. Yes, schools need to close. But Campbell is not the one. The board can choose one of the schools on the original 2024 list of 10 schools, as these were thoroughly vetted.Anchorage municipal election ballots start arriving in mailboxes this week
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Motörhead Guitarist Phil Campbell Dies at 64Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist for Motörhead, has passed away at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of iconic riffs and a profound impact on the music world.
Read more »
Anchorage police say man suspected in fatal shooting was found dead in Eagle RiverAnchorage police initially said they located Mathew Thomas Becker, 61, on Sunday morning. On Monday, the department further said he was found dead.
Read more »
Anchorage parents make last-ditch effort to stop Campbell STEM’s sudden closureThe Anchorage School District told Campbell STEM Elementary parents that officials recommended the school be closed to help balance the district’s budget. The school board voted to close the school 11 days later.
Read more »
Opinion: Nine years of showing up makes a difference in Anchorage livesAfter nearly a decade representing Midtown and Downtown, two Assembly leaders step away from public office leaving a legacy of leadership and service.
Read more »
Man Anchorage police described as ‘armed and dangerous’ found dead in Eagle River woodsMathew Thomas Becker, 61, a man the Anchorage Police Department said it was looking for, was found dead Sunday
Read more »
Updated public transit plan could boost bus service in AnchorageA public survey is asking residents to consider “express” routes, service to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and “microtransit zones.”
Read more »