Over the next several months, P.S. ARTS’ Chief Executive Officer John Lawler will share a series of long-form pieces that take stock of the current state of the field of arts education and bring attention to critical ongoing conversations. In this month’s piece, John shares his expertise as an educator and administrator to argue for the importance of joy and belonging this back-to-school season. Follow along with us on our blog or on the P.S. ARTS LinkedIn account.
Sir Ken Robinson, whose TED Talk on creativity in schools is the most watched ever at over 75 million views, famously warned that our education systems kill the creative spark in children. But the reality is that schools don’t have to choose between rigor and creativity, or between academic achievement and joy. We can design learning environments where rigor and imagination reinforce one another. Joy is not the opposite of learning. Joy is often the pathway to it.
That is the promise of a new school year: joy, curiosity, and the expectation of something new.New backpacks. Fresh notebooks. Reunions with friends. The possibility that this year might be different—the joy of discovering a new talent, making a new friend, having a new teacher who sees something in them they didn’t see in themselves.
But there’s also a challenge presented on that first day: How do we ensure that feeling of joy lasts?
As a former principal of two arts schools and now CEO of P.S. ARTS, I’ve seen firsthand how the arts play a powerful role in making school a place where students want to be. I’ve watched students who might not immediately see themselves succeeding in a traditional classroom find confidence, community, and most importantly, belonging, through the arts.
Belonging is not a luxury in education. It is foundational. Students are more likely to engage in learning when they feel seen, valued and connected to their classmates and teachers. The arts create those connections in ways that few other subjects can. A theater ensemble has to listen to one another. A dance class requires students to move together. A visual arts project gives students a chance to share their unique perspectives. Music creates a community through the simple act of making something together. When we give students different ways to express themselves, we create more opportunities for them to recognize themselves and how they connect to the world around them.
But the benefits go beyond connection. The arts invite students to be active participants rather than passive recipients of information. They make choices. They experiment. They make something that didn’t exist before and see their ideas take shape. That sense of agency matters. When students recognize that their ideas have value, they begin to see themselves not simply as learners, but as creators, problem-solvers, and contributors.They cultivate the creativity and adaptability we increasingly say we want young people to develop.
As schools welcome students back this fall, we need to think beyond getting them settled into classrooms and prepared for the academic year. We need to ask a more fundamental question: What will make them excited to come back tomorrow, and every day after that? The answer will be different for every student. But for many, it will be the chance to sing, draw, dance, make a film, perform onstage, play an instrument or simply discover that their ideas matter. This matters especially at a time when schools are under enormous pressure to prioritize what can be measured most easily. When time and resources are limited, the arts are often seen as something extra. But if we want students to feel connected to school, engaged in their learning, and confident in their ability to contribute, the arts are essential.
So as we celebrate the start of another school year, let’s remember what we’re really going for: not just a great first day, but a year of joyful, connected learning experiences that continue long after the backpacks are unpacked and the new notebooks are filled. Because when students have opportunities to create and see their ideas matter, we aren’t just helping them enjoy school. We’re helping them see school as a place where they belong, and where they want to return day after day.
John Lawler is the CEO of P.S. ARTS, where he leads the organization’s work to advance equity and opportunity through arts education. In his monthly LinkedIn series, John shares insights on arts education, creativity, leadership, and the role of the arts in creating more joyful, equitable learning environments for every student. Follow him on LinkedIn here.
