Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Noni Lenore Jones, Retired English Teacher and Advocate of Arts in Schools
5:34:12
ยท
3 min
Noni Lenore Jones, a retired English teacher, testified in support of arts education in New York City schools. She shared her personal experience of teaching both English and dance, emphasizing the importance of integrating arts into the school day to engage students and enhance their learning experience.
- Jones highlighted how incorporating arts helped her connect with students who struggled academically
- She stressed the importance of keeping arts in schools alongside subjects like science and math
- The testimony underscored the role of arts in reaching students' hearts and improving overall education
Noni Lenore Jones
5:34:12
Good afternoon, esteemed committee, council members, and all in attendance.
5:34:19
My name is Noni Lenore Jones, and I'm a retired English teacher of the New York City Schools.
5:34:27
I appreciate the opportunity to give my testimony in support of arts and education.
5:34:35
I began teaching English at my beloved boys and girls high school in the '70.
5:34:42
And, yes, I'm dating myself because I want you to know I am still an educator in my own school, Mkosi Academy.
5:34:51
As an English teacher at boys and girls high, I came in and did my five classes and I was very happy to do so.
5:34:58
I love teaching.
5:35:00
I also taught dance after school, traditional African dance and a diaspora.
5:35:07
My wonderful supervisor, mister Spooler, noticed that I would be there pretty much many days till 05:00 teaching dance after school, after my five classes.
5:35:17
So he said to me one day, wow.
5:35:20
Why don't you teach in the theater production class?
5:35:24
And I said, I can teach arts in school as well as teach English?
5:35:30
I was so so thankful that I did so.
5:35:33
And as a result, in my mind, I realized I can put the two together in my one day working day from nine to three, teach English and teach dance.
5:35:45
So as a result of putting the two together, I realized the importance of art in the education in my day, in my students' day.
5:35:54
Let's respect the importance of art in education.
5:35:57
Put it in our schools.
5:35:59
Keep it in our schools.
5:36:00
Along with science and math is so important.
5:36:03
But let's let the students see in their minds the importance of art because it's incorporated in their day from nine to three.
5:36:13
So as a teacher, I'm happy to say that my school my student did well in academic, you know, reading and writing.
5:36:21
But those of you who those who didn't do well, I asked them, well, what would you like to do?
5:36:26
I had to get to my student.
5:36:28
I had to make sure that they could learn.
5:36:31
So they would say, oh, I might like singing or playing an instrument.
5:36:36
So I said, oh, yeah.
5:36:37
Okay.
5:36:37
Then let's talk about that.
5:36:39
What instrument would you like to play?
5:36:41
So that in a way, I was able to get to my student.
5:36:45
Is the word art in the word heart?
5:36:49
I think it is.
5:36:50
So the arts help us get to the heart of the matter.
5:36:55
Our academics, of course, is our brain.
5:36:57
We got two sides as they say, left, right, all that.
5:36:59
Yay for that.
5:37:00
So when my students would engage in teaching, I'm talking about what they love from their heart.
5:37:05
Yes.
5:37:06
Indeed.
5:37:06
Okay.
5:37:07
We went to a an exhibit in the museum.
5:37:09
I took them to listen to music.
5:37:12
And then, of course,
Rita Joseph
5:37:13
I would
Mercedes Narcisse
5:37:13
say, that's the king's speaker.
Eric Dinowitz
5:37:15
Thank you for your testimony.
5:37:16
Tom has expired.
Noni Lenore Jones
5:37:19
Thank you so much and I do hope that we recognize the importance of art in our education in our schools.
5:37:27
Thank you so much.
Rita Joseph
5:37:28
Thank you.