tive arts-centered high school. Our mitment to learning opportunities
shared vision established a rigorous both on and off campus and beyond
arts program. This goal was appeal- the traditional school day.
ing because the school had already The visual arts teachers have
chosen to adopt a model for unit made their thinking very evident
design based on central questions in the school’s debate concerning
or themes. Hope High School’s school-wide expectations. They
other teachers are also eager to have identified five dimensions
collaborate with of student perfor-the arts teachers A story of a high school mance: invention,
in the design reform initiative in execution, commu-of instruction which the arts are cast nication, reflection,
methods. and interpretation.
as a central element in a These dimensions
journey of renewal. will be used to guide
the assessment of
student work in art, dance, music,
and theater. There are challenges
ahead, but I am extraordinarily
encouraged by what has begun. I
look forward to the opportunity to
report further on their progress.
School
Enhanced
Learning
Hope High School art teach-
ers have revamped the visual
arts courses for art majors and
the elective Visual Arts Experi-
ence course designed for Leader-
ship and Information Technology
students. In addition, they have
also created new specialty courses.
These courses in digital media,
printmaking, and sculpture will give
students a richer menu of learning
experiences. A
course called
the Art Museum
as Classroom
builds upon
an existing
relationship
with the RISD
Museum and
supports the
school’s com-
Dr. Paul Sproll is Head of the Rhode Island
School of Design’s Department of Art +
Design Education. psproll@risd.edu
WEB LINK
www.providenceschools.org/hs/
hope/arts/ index.html
the Center
achieved? I was
privileged to
have spent time
at Hope Arts, one
of the three small
learning communities within the Hope
complex. I worked
with the school’s administration and with the three visual art
teachers, Amy Van Horn, Valerie
Kline, and Laura Travis.
In my role as a community partner, I assisted the school in defining
the kinds of teaching and learning
practices that would create an effec-
SchoolArts October 2006
