The data from a recent survey created by a CSArtisan journalist delivers the CSArts-SGV administration rare insight on student perspectives for future classes and conservatory interests.
In early April, a joint effort between school admin and the CSArtisan led to a google form being sent out on StudentSquare, asking students to provide their thoughts on possible classes or conservatories that they would like to take in the future. While some of the results were expected, a few of the students provided more surprising responses.
Out of the 63 responses, over half would be interested in a film conservatory. “Film is absolutely popular. I can see why that happened,” says Ms. Read, the Principal of Academics. Read says that film has been in consideration for a while, but as it would require millions just to build the infrastructure, it has been deemed as not possible at the current moment. “We don’t know if we offered it if people would fund it the way it needed to be funded. That’s the true question.”
For other conservatories, students show increased interest in both culinary arts and fashion. For culinary, CSArts is not able to create a conservatory, as it shares a campus with DHS, which already has a widely appraised culinary program. “The challenge is that we don’t want to be bad neighbors,” says Read. If students are truly interested, she suggests considering the culinary program at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), our sister school, instead. As for fashion, Read believes that it may not be broad enough for a whole conservatory, but it could become a subprogram in Production & Design or Visual Arts instead– though VA does already have an existing fashion class.
Overall, students report wanting more variety in conservatory, language, and fine art elective classes. Once again, Culinary Arts is in high demand– even as an elective class. Though we do have a kitchen that could be used for culinary classes, during the day it is full of preparation for nutrition and lunch. Instead, Read considers widening internship opportunities for students helping with meal prep into a potential block. “I wonder if maybe expanding the internship possibilities there is like– basically you just work in the cafeteria and you help them during that time,” she says. This is an idea that popped into her head during the interview.
Other than Culinary Arts, students show high interest in the creation of a potential French class, but French programs in many high schools seem to be slowly dying. ”What I would encourage kids to do though, and I think ASL has done this in the past, is maybe to form a French club if they’re passionate about learning French, and maybe having some experts who speak the language come in,” says Read.
Students also voiced their concerns in the survey regarding: the future of the P&D program after the directors’ upcoming departure, general class content, and the elimination of the Citrus College program. “ I will share that executive summary of the responses with the directors,” says Read, intending to present the results of the student survey to other members of the administration.
Senior Reflection