In his new book Lit Up, David Denby quotes NYC Beacon High School principal Ruth Lacey saying:
“High schools should have the same warmth as elementary schools.”
Is it any wonder that the choir room is the most welcoming room in the school?
For many students, choir class is the one place where they are accepted in all their humanity, and asked to express that humanity. Joy, anguish, love, art: we welcome – encourage! – their emotions.
If we are serious about making high schools into safe havens for students, then more teachers and administrators need to emulate the many genius choral educators who have already created safe havens inside their buildings.