OLYMPIA – The Kingston High School Fine Arts Boosters have chosen state Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) to receive the 2011 Award for the Advancement of Arts Education in Washington State. James C. Andrews, head of the arts department at the school, cited Appleton’s sponsorship of House Resolution 4609 as a basis for the selection.
That resolution, adopted by the Legislature in January, stressed creativity as a key to Washington’s economic and cultural success, and noted that students with “high arts involvement” are much more likely to graduate from high school.
“I was surprised – and honored – to learn that the Kingston Art Boosters had selected me for this award,” Appleton said. “Our public schools have a vital role to play in producing both well-educated and well-rounded young people, and to me that means the arts, from visual arts and literature to music and theatre, belong in schools alongside math, science and history. When the economy is ailing, as it is now, many people talk about ‘going back to the basics.’ They want to eliminate arts education, considering it to be somehow frivolous. I couldn’t disagree more, and I applaud my friends at Kingston High School for their work.”
Among prior recipients of the Arts Education Award are AnnRené Joseph, arts-education director for the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Gov. Chris Gregoire, and Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island). The award will be presented to Appleton on May 18 during the Ninth Annual Festival of the Arts at Kingston High School.