Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts

 

While driving on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in New York City, I was listening to a local radio station playing Alice Cooper’s hit song, School’s Out written in 1972. Although most students today are removed from the song, I imagined while maintaining my speed limit that for some listeners (really just students) droves of adolescents were screaming the lyrics in unison and jumping up and down the streets with clenched fists in the air.

 

My pseudo video of students celebrating and chanting Cooper’s chorus, School’s out for summer…. (I am not fond of the line School’s been blown to pieces) was playing in my mind, and it helped me deal with the traffic that I was approaching.  As I applied my brakes, the music was slowly ending, and the disc jockey once again came on the air to remind listeners that the song was dedicated to all students about to go on their summer break.       

 

Thousands of students attending school, especially public school in New York City are certainly elated to start their summer vacation.  For some students, they are beginning new chapters in their lives as some are going from elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to college.  In some cases this also means, teary eyed seniors will say goodbye to many of their classmates and friends while moving on to different schools or paths in their lives; and perhaps wonder a decade later what ever happened to this guy or gal. In short, we spend the first few decades of our lives in school and hopefully collect some of the fondest memories that we will ever experience in our lives.

 

As I sat behind the wheel, I attempted to drift in and out of my own sentimental school days, when I suddenly realized there was an accident ahead. This meant I would not be moving much if I stayed on the highway any longer. Being close to my destination, I decided to escape the horrendous traffic and inch my way to another lane to take the first exit off. Ironically, while I was forced to drive through the streets and deal with impatient cab drivers and reckless pedestrians on their cell phones while crossing at green traffic lights, I passed the Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts.

 

I was witnessing art imitating life, as students from the school embraced and high fived one another after their graduation.  In a nation that continues to report the steady decline of education that is seriously jeopardizing the country’s future; and in an urban setting such as New York City, the problems of public education are complex and continue to concern many. Nevertheless, I thought it would be interesting to swing the pendulum in the other direction and describe a school that appears to be a beacon of hope.  

 

The Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts located in Astoria, Queens opened in September, 2001, without much fanfare since it was overshadowed by the 9/11 attacks. According to the Department of Education of New York City, “the idea for the school was first conceived by world-renowned entertainer, Tony Bennett, to honor his late friend and colleague, Frank Sinatra. The school’s program consists of a rigorous academic curriculum and pre-conservatory studio education in one of the following art forms: instrumental music, vocal music, fine arts, drama and dance.”

 

Thanks to, Anthony Dominick Benedetto also known as Tony Bennett who was born in Astoria, Queens not far from the school’s present location, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is proudly educating many New York City public school students interested in the arts.  Whereas it is true that more innovative programs for science and math must be implemented in many more schools especially since our nation is lagging behind in these fields, we must never forget about the arts programs and what it can offer young students.

 

As the eighty-six year old entertainer declared, “The arts teach you how to become a human being…Being an artist makes you a perpetual student for the rest of your life.” The arts have certainly made Tony Bennett a legendary figure in the music industry and of course he has made a great deal of money.  With the support of his son, Danny Bennett, who is also his manager, his career was reignited more than a decade ago, and his voice became popular once again with a new generation.

 

Despite his celebrity status that equates to an ego of some kind, Tony Bennett has spent his time and raised money to open a school that has a vision to educate young people while teaching them to become better vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers and hopefully respectful human beings.  The school offers a wide variety of opportunities for students pursuing careers in the arts. A parent who did not want to be identified said, “The Frank Sinatra School, has given my son direction. He was not really motivated in elementary and middle school, but the teachers at this school see a passion and talent that he has for the saxophone, and for that reason, he not only learns how to become a better saxophonist but more importantly he loves school now, he is doing much better academically than ever before.”

 

Another parent lauded the balance that the school has provided for students going to auditions while still maintaining their grades.  At the same time, an independent organization from New York City Public Schools called InsideSchools (InsideSchools.org) reports, “The strength of Sinatra is also its weakness: the academic teachers sometimes grumble that students miss valuable class time for rehearsals and shows. The principal said the administration has responded to the teachers’ concerns by setting aside Mondays, Tuesdays, all of January and most of May to focus on academics and test-taking. Still, the principal says, “kids have to work really hard at managing time. It’s like coming to two schools.”

 

The school in 2009 moved to its present location, a state of the art building with an electronic ticker that runs across the façade of the building to announce upcoming school events.  The school is in a prime location of Astoria, Queens and across the street from the Museum of the Moving Images/Kaufman-Astoria Studios.   It is aesthetically beautiful on the outside and inside with very talented students attending a select program. A Department of Education of New York City spokesperson, reveals, “The school has a 98% percent graduation rate, and students are accepted to a wide variety of colleges and universities such as Columbia, Berklee College of Music and Julliard.”

 

The goal of the Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts appears to be succeeding. Younger generations attending this unique high school are perfecting their craft, and a few are aspiring to be the next Sinatra or Bennett.  Tony Bennett idolized Frank Sinatra yet Sinatra once said, “Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business.” For Tony Bennett, he was humbled by Sinatra’s comment and decided why not attach his legacy with Sinatra’s by creating a school in his honor. He may have left his heart in San Francisco but Tony Bennett is making sure he touches many young hearts in his hometown of Astoria, Queens.