Strengths and Weaknesses of Arts Department Exposed
By Erin Ellis ’10
News Staff Reporter
Since the start of the year, Choate Rosemary Hall’s Arts Department has been reviewed by three discrete teams, each specializing in the different disciplines of the arts. In October, the visual arts department was reviewed; in January, the theater program was evaluated; and only a week ago, the music department was assessed.
For each discipline of the Arts Department, the evaluations were completed in the same fashion. Arts Department director Paul Tines said, “I wanted the same template across the board so that it would be consistent.” Each team spent a total of three days reviewing its respective department.
On a Sunday, the evaluators met with Mr. Tines to discuss the mission of the arts center and to review the structure of the department. Subsequently, the teams were given tours of the arts facilities and dined with the faculty of each department. Every group spent the following day sharing their views on the programs with Headmaster Edward Shanahan and Dean of Academic Affairs Kathleen Wallace. The evaluators also met with Director of College Counseling Dean Jacoby and Arts Liaison Linda Shultz, and spoke to teachers from the arts department and to Dean of Faculty Stephen Farrell. After the teams visited classes and rehearsals, a luncheon designed to give the teams a final chance to ask questions concluded the review period.
Each team consisted of three members—one from a higher educational institution, one from a peer high school, and one from a public or independent high school. Wallace explained the rationale in forming the evaluation teams: “You don’t want too large a team because then it becomes cumbersome. You want to get a good breadth of experience and you want to get the higher education experience because all of our kids are going on to college.”
The music evaluation team consisted of Marguerite L. Brooks, the Director of the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University; Aaron Flagg, the Executive Director of the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains; and Rohan Smith, the Department Head of Music at Phillips Exeter Academy. Fred Nelson, the Chair of Visual Arts at the Mary Institute and St. Louis Day School; Sherry Tamalonis, the Chair of Visual Arts at Greenwich Academy; and Michael Rubin, Chair of Visual Arts at the Collegiate School made up the visual arts evaluation team. Sarah Ream, the Chair of the Theater and Dance Department at Phillips Exeter Academy; Victoria Nolan, the Managing Director of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Deputy Dean of the Yale School of Drama; and John Reese, the head of Deerfield Academy’s Theater Department, evaluated the theater program at Choate.
These teams each answered a list of questions about the departments and offered their suggestions for improvements. Ms. Wallace said, “We provide the team with specific questions that we want them to answer in result of their visit, and we also ask them to offer their own perspectives which could include issues that go beyond the scope of the questions we offered them.”
Overall, the feedback received from the evaluations was both positive and helpful to the Arts Department. Tines said, “Overall, the committee walked away saying that we have an amazing arts program here at Choate.” The teams especially commended the strength of the unique Arts Concentration program. They also suggested extending the opportunities for students in the Arts Concentration program to display their talents, such as art exhibits. While the majority of their comments were positive, the teams also suggested a few ways in which the different disciplines could improve. After their evaluation, the visual arts department recognized that Choate offers a solid visual art curriculum but that more space is needed to teach the visual arts.
The theater team suggested an alteration in curriculum. After Choate downsized in the 1990’s, some theater courses were elminated from the program. Now, as the number of students who have expressed the desire to participate in theater beyond the introductory level has increased, some of these courses—such as Stage Movement and Stage Voice and Diction—might be worth reintroducing.
Though the music external evaluation team has yet to submit their evaluation, Mr. Tines said, “My sense is that [the team] was just astounded that Mr. Valentine and Mr. Ventri are our only teachers for music and we have several hundred students doing music. I wouldn’t be surprised if their recommendation is to look at how we do business here and possibly add more teachers.” Also, the music department is considering the addition of introductory music courses that will appeal to third and forth formers.
Other academic departments, the college counseling office, the library, and the health center can look forward to being reviewed in the years to come. According to Mr. Tines, “The evaluation process has been wonderful.” It has proved to be a beneficial way to expand the curriculum and change the structure of a given department.
