(Originally published on Americans for the Arts ArtsBlog, May 28, 2010 http://blog.artsusa.org/2010/05/28/a-middle-school-for-the-arts-can-the-...)

My friend Larry used to be the coordinator of fine arts for an urban school district. There was no other staff in the office. He was the fine arts division for 85,000 students. As happens, he missed the connection with students that isn’t afforded regularly to central administration.