Ways that Title IX impacted sports in Kansas high school are easily recognized and well-documented. But how did that 1972 civil rights law affect arts programs in Kansas schools?
"Title IX affected sports so dramatically. But you can't have something that big that doesn't impact all areas within a school," said Martha Gabel, Fine Arts Coordinator of the Olathe Public School District and former president of the Kansas Music Educators Association. "I think the idea behind Title IX is opportunities. It impacted sports a lot. But in an even bigger way, it emphasized that all students need important, fulfilling activities that give them an outlet and a way to grow beyond what they might experience in a math classroom or something of that sort."
Gabel has dedicated her 34-year career to ensuring that students have enriching experiences in the fine arts. After 19 years as an elementary music teacher, she has held administrative positions in the Olathe district and in state and national organizations that promote arts education.
Gabel points to her own experiences for her motivation.
"I went to a really small school in Missouri, but we were really fortunate that we had both a band director and a choir director at the school," Gabel recalled. "That doesn't happen very often where you get to have two really good music directors in such a small school. (Both were inducted into halls of fame in their respective fields). They were my inspiration. Like so many kids in the arts, you find where your niche is."
On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Gabel said that the effects of the legislation on arts education might have been less visible, but were important nonetheless.
"In the arts, there probably weren't overt examples of discrimination, but there are things like boys having Barbershop-style singing groups," Gabel said. "That's traditionally a male ensemble. So what's the female equivalent of that? We had to make sure girls were offered something similar. Or, over time, we changed by making opportunities for a cappella groups that included both boys and girls.
"There are musical instruments that are seen as stereotypically for girls. But we're seeing more opportunity for girls to try all the instruments and select the one that's best for them.
"Also, we see girls in leadership roles like drum major. I would imagine there was a time when those positions were all males. If we went back 50 years, we wouldn't find any female drum majors."
Gabel said that a subtle effect of Title IX is that girls are now more well-rounded. She said she always encourages girls to seek diverse learning experiences.
"While kids in the arts find their place there, they might find they fit in a lot of things," Gabel said. "We tell younger kids that you can be in the fine arts and also be in sports, or in debate and forensics, or be a cheerleader, or in dance."
In many respects, the fine arts experience produces many of the same benefits derived from team sports, Gabel said.
"Similar to sports, in the arts you learn things like perseverance and discipline, and ability to work as a team," Gabel said. "You experience being part of something bigger than you are as an individual. Playing an instrument or singing by yourself is completely different than doing it as part of a group."
Gabel said there is ample research to indicate students involved in the arts are less likely to drop out of school and tend to perform well on standardized tests.
"The arts are somewhat unique in that they allow students to think and learn in a different way," Gabel said. "In the arts, mistakes are looked at a little bit differently than in some other content areas. Sometimes mistakes can bring about new creations and things you hadn't imagined before. It's a different type of learning opportunity, to be creative and think outside the box."
In her position, Gabel coordinates the efforts of 200 educators in the Olathe district, which offers band, choir, orchestra, general music, visual art, theatre, forensics, and debate to more than 30,000 students. She said fine arts instruction has a life-long and far-reaching impact on students.
"We want students to have had a fulfilling experience that they remember, where they were trusted, where they were valued and accepted. Where they remember 'I had success at this and my teacher cared about me.' Those lifelong memories will impact you as a parent, as an employee, and make you a better human."
We are grateful to partner with WIN for KC, an organization with the mission to empower the lives of girls and women by advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports through opportunities for participation and leadership development. WIN for KC and the KSHSAA believe involvement in activities and sports lay the ground work for supporting well-rounded citizens in our communities and beyond. For more on WIN for KC visit: https://www.sportkc.org/win-for-kc