MANSFIELD — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine took a tour of the Richland School of Academic Arts Wednesday, noting the institution’s academic success and use of arts programs.
“I like to see what is happening with education, what’s happening with kids,” DeWine said. “I heard about this school, and frankly wanted to stop by and see what was going on.”
The tour of the school, formerly known as Richland Academy School of Excellence, was led by superintendent Sandra Sunderland and Shellie Gorman, dean of students.
The duo took DeWine and his staff around the school showing them artwork students had done and talking about the school’s curriculum. DeWine visited two classrooms where he introduced himself to students and briefly sat in on a rehearsal of the school’s upcoming musical, “Broadway Review.”
“The kids had a lot of energy,” DeWine said. “It was fun to watch. I think we are always trying to find a way to reach children — with their self-esteem, how to motivate them. This school is doing all of the above. What you see here is the kids are very much engaged. Yes, they’re having fun, but you know, they are also learning.
“When you look at kids who are engaged in the arts, it really enhances everything else they’re doing in school. It’s the self-confidence, self-esteem the ability to do things and put projects together. That’s all about the arts and it goes into social studies, it goes into math.”
DeWine said seeing the school’s students and teacher’s energy helped make the school better than what he had previously read. He said the experience left him with a memory, and a reference point.
“I think the biggest challenge facing Ohio is ‘How do we reach kids who don’t have all the advantages of others in the state?’” he said. “But what you see here is kids who are being reached, being inspired. It’s going to make a difference throughout their whole life.”
DeWine, a grandfather of two children who have had positive experiences in the arts, is a strong supporter of arts in education.
“I have one in high school, one in grade school. A kid who we didn’t think was going to be able to go up on stage and say a whole lot in front of people. They got up there and memorized lines I wouldn’t even try to memorize,” DeWine said. “So I think it gives kids that experience; not that these kids are all going to go on Broadway, but it gives them self-confidence, self-esteem, and their having fun.”
