Tomorrow will be a big day at the State Capitol. Arts Advocacy Day will have company when I believe many, many folks will join us inside and around the Capitol to voice their own concerns about new legislative proposals.
Because I have to teach tomorrow, I will be at the capitol at approximately 4:00 PM. Unlike past AA Day events, there will be no tables or display areas this time. Please go to the 2nd floor tomorrow if you can and lobby your legislators to reconsider bills that decrease funding for public schools. It is bad policy to rob Peter to pay Paul, which is what they want to do. In the process, public school staff and programs are left in the lurch and that is when we face program cuts and higher class sizes. Some of their proposals, if enacted, will definitely limit children's opportunity for a quality education. Please see this link: http://www.indianabusinessnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=135&articleID=58465 .
I hope to see you at the State Capitol tomorrow....If you need more info on the event check this link out:
http://inartsadvocates.org/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=136
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Squeezing Public Schools by Expanding Charter School Legislation
Whatever is affecting music education in Indiana Public Schools is affecting visual arts educational learning opportunities. This is a great call to action message from the AIME:
The Alliance for Indiana Music Education representing the following organizations: Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana State School Music Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana High School Color Guard Association, Indiana Choral Director's Association, Indiana Percussion Association, Indiana Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and the Indiana Orff-Schulwerk Association encourages parents of the more than one million public school students served by these organizations to ask their legislators to vote NO to legislation that will result in school corporations being forced to reduce or eliminate music and arts education programs. The two house bills and the corresponding senate bills currently under consideration of particular concern are:
HB 1002/SB 446 (HB 1002 has already passed the House)
HB 1337/SB 575
While neither of these bills makes direct reference to the arts, they along with other initiatives under consideration by the Indiana legislature, will divert money from traditional K-12 public schools, which are already suffering greatly from cuts in state funding. It is critical that you take action now!
HB 1002/SB 446 is an effort to expand charter schools at the expense of traditional K-12 public schools. This bill would require public school districts to lease currently unused buildings to charter schools for $1 a year for 20 years, while requiring the district to incur the cost of maintaining the building. In addition, all transportation costs for charter schools would be paid by public school funds. Another provision in the bill states that only 50% of the teachers in a charter school must hold a teachers' license. Research has not shown that charter schools are more effective in improving student learning, nor is there data to support the use of non-licensed teachers as a path to improving student learning. However, there is a great deal of research supporting the benefits of quality music and arts education programs, as well as the importance of early childhood education. Diverting funds to support the expansion of charter schools from already depleted school budgets will result in reductions and/or the elimination of school music and arts programs. This "education reform" bill does not provide the opportunity for students to enter school "ready to learn", it does not provide an education that meets the needs of the "whole" child, and it does not guarantee ALL students will be taught by a highly-qualified teacher as required by No Child Left Behind. Indiana Code 20-24-2-1 defined the following explicit purpose of charter schools: "to provide innovative and autonomous programs". The expectation is that, as innovative entities, charter schools will construct a school culture conducive to student academic success. The Alliance for Indiana Music Education believes school reform should provide the opportunity for all schools to be more innovative and autonomous and should support public schools' efforts to provide a school culture conducive to student academic success with adequate funding to expand early childhood education and offer quality music and arts education for all students.
Effects of HB 1002/SB 446 on music education in Indiana:
· Funding for traditional K-12 public schools diverted to an increased number of charter schools
· Time and money for the arts reduced or eliminated in traditional K-12 schools and charter schools
· Indiana students taught by non-licensed teachers
HB 1337/SB 575 not only reduces the contractual rights of every teacher, it creates a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system that allows the state to determine the criteria used to label and reward teachers. Included in the criteria, will be student growth data collected from statewide standardized tests in the subject areas the state determines to be important. Although local school districts may create their own evaluation tools, those tools must be approved by the Indiana Department of Education. No provisions have been made to determine how to evaluate and reward highly effective teachers in non-tested subject areas.
Effects of HB 1337/SB 575 on music education in Indiana:
· Teachers in non-tested areas such as music, will likely either be held accountable for student achievement in tested areas, or will not have the opportunity to be rewarded as highly effective teachers, since no evaluation provisions have been established for them.
The Alliance for Indiana Music Education further encourages all citizens of Indiana to vote no to any proposal that would divert funding from K-12 public schools to provide scholarships for students to leave high school early. The completion of required coursework does not guarantee that students are ready to be successful in college. Socialization skills, discipline, organization, and maturity are all factors in determining success in college and in a career. Research does not support the notion that students are more successful in college and/or life when given the financial incentive to leave high school early. This "experiment" would not only have a negative impact on school funding, but could be devastating to those students who advance to college without the maturity or skills to be successful.
Effects of Scholarships for Early Graduation on music education:
· Students rushing to complete required courses in high school would forfeit the opportunity to take classes in music or other options like AP classes that enrich their preparation for college.
Although these proposals do not directly attack school music programs, the negative impact cannot be denied. As in the case with the bill that passed the General Assembly last year requiring all third-graders to pass a new statewide reading test, a negative impact will be placed on elementary music and arts programs, because no additional funding or time was provided. Therefore, the cost of an extra 90 minutes a day of reading will be funded at the expense of recess, music, or art classes.
Past history has taught us that any time public school funding is reduced music and arts programs are jeopardized. DO YOU WANT THE QUALITY MUSIC PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL REDUCED OR ELIMINATED? Many music programs survived the funding cuts last year only because of additional funds provided by the federal government. Indiana should be extremely proud of the quality school music programs we enjoy and the many benefits music programs have provided to hundreds of thousands of Indiana students. How often do we hear it said, "My high school band, choir, orchestra, etc. changed my life." We are at a very critical place in music and arts education and Indiana public education in general. Governor Daniels has presented an education agenda for this General Assembly that could result in destroying music education in Indiana. WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW! This is not a battle between the ISTA and Governor Daniels. This is a battle for public education in Indiana. We must contact our state legislators TODAY and ask them to vote NO to HB 1337/SB 575, NO to SB 446 and NO to any similar bills presented during this year's General Assembly. We must also encourage other members of our music booster organizations and supportive parents in our communities to support public school education and the quality of life in Indiana by contacting their legislators TODAY.... before it is too late!
INDIANA STATE SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION
Charles R. Briel, Executive Director
Michael K. Bridgewater, Assistant Executive Director
Rick Granlund, President
INDIANA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Barbara Resch, President
Michelle Oyler, President-Elect
Lissa May, Past President
INDIANA CHAPTER - AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Brenda Brenner, President
INDIANA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Steve Cotten, President
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL COLOR GUARD ASSOCIATION
Bob Medworth, President
INDIANA CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
Scott Buchanan, President
INDIANA PERCUSSION ASSOCIATION
Josh Torres, President
INDIANA ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION
Josh Southard, President
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
Indiana General Assembly
http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm
Indiana State Republicans
http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/
Indiana Senate Democrats
http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/
Indiana House Republicans
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans
Indiana House Democrats
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats
Look Up Indiana Code
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/
When contacting your legislators, we suggest the following:
1. Be courteous and appreciative of their desire to provide the best for all students in Indiana schools.
2. Be concise, but express your concerns in your own words.
3. Provide personal contact information.
The Alliance for Indiana Music Education representing the following organizations: Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana State School Music Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana High School Color Guard Association, Indiana Choral Director's Association, Indiana Percussion Association, Indiana Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and the Indiana Orff-Schulwerk Association encourages parents of the more than one million public school students served by these organizations to ask their legislators to vote NO to legislation that will result in school corporations being forced to reduce or eliminate music and arts education programs. The two house bills and the corresponding senate bills currently under consideration of particular concern are:
HB 1002/SB 446 (HB 1002 has already passed the House)
HB 1337/SB 575
While neither of these bills makes direct reference to the arts, they along with other initiatives under consideration by the Indiana legislature, will divert money from traditional K-12 public schools, which are already suffering greatly from cuts in state funding. It is critical that you take action now!
HB 1002/SB 446 is an effort to expand charter schools at the expense of traditional K-12 public schools. This bill would require public school districts to lease currently unused buildings to charter schools for $1 a year for 20 years, while requiring the district to incur the cost of maintaining the building. In addition, all transportation costs for charter schools would be paid by public school funds. Another provision in the bill states that only 50% of the teachers in a charter school must hold a teachers' license. Research has not shown that charter schools are more effective in improving student learning, nor is there data to support the use of non-licensed teachers as a path to improving student learning. However, there is a great deal of research supporting the benefits of quality music and arts education programs, as well as the importance of early childhood education. Diverting funds to support the expansion of charter schools from already depleted school budgets will result in reductions and/or the elimination of school music and arts programs. This "education reform" bill does not provide the opportunity for students to enter school "ready to learn", it does not provide an education that meets the needs of the "whole" child, and it does not guarantee ALL students will be taught by a highly-qualified teacher as required by No Child Left Behind. Indiana Code 20-24-2-1 defined the following explicit purpose of charter schools: "to provide innovative and autonomous programs". The expectation is that, as innovative entities, charter schools will construct a school culture conducive to student academic success. The Alliance for Indiana Music Education believes school reform should provide the opportunity for all schools to be more innovative and autonomous and should support public schools' efforts to provide a school culture conducive to student academic success with adequate funding to expand early childhood education and offer quality music and arts education for all students.
Effects of HB 1002/SB 446 on music education in Indiana:
· Funding for traditional K-12 public schools diverted to an increased number of charter schools
· Time and money for the arts reduced or eliminated in traditional K-12 schools and charter schools
· Indiana students taught by non-licensed teachers
HB 1337/SB 575 not only reduces the contractual rights of every teacher, it creates a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system that allows the state to determine the criteria used to label and reward teachers. Included in the criteria, will be student growth data collected from statewide standardized tests in the subject areas the state determines to be important. Although local school districts may create their own evaluation tools, those tools must be approved by the Indiana Department of Education. No provisions have been made to determine how to evaluate and reward highly effective teachers in non-tested subject areas.
Effects of HB 1337/SB 575 on music education in Indiana:
· Teachers in non-tested areas such as music, will likely either be held accountable for student achievement in tested areas, or will not have the opportunity to be rewarded as highly effective teachers, since no evaluation provisions have been established for them.
The Alliance for Indiana Music Education further encourages all citizens of Indiana to vote no to any proposal that would divert funding from K-12 public schools to provide scholarships for students to leave high school early. The completion of required coursework does not guarantee that students are ready to be successful in college. Socialization skills, discipline, organization, and maturity are all factors in determining success in college and in a career. Research does not support the notion that students are more successful in college and/or life when given the financial incentive to leave high school early. This "experiment" would not only have a negative impact on school funding, but could be devastating to those students who advance to college without the maturity or skills to be successful.
Effects of Scholarships for Early Graduation on music education:
· Students rushing to complete required courses in high school would forfeit the opportunity to take classes in music or other options like AP classes that enrich their preparation for college.
Although these proposals do not directly attack school music programs, the negative impact cannot be denied. As in the case with the bill that passed the General Assembly last year requiring all third-graders to pass a new statewide reading test, a negative impact will be placed on elementary music and arts programs, because no additional funding or time was provided. Therefore, the cost of an extra 90 minutes a day of reading will be funded at the expense of recess, music, or art classes.
Past history has taught us that any time public school funding is reduced music and arts programs are jeopardized. DO YOU WANT THE QUALITY MUSIC PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL REDUCED OR ELIMINATED? Many music programs survived the funding cuts last year only because of additional funds provided by the federal government. Indiana should be extremely proud of the quality school music programs we enjoy and the many benefits music programs have provided to hundreds of thousands of Indiana students. How often do we hear it said, "My high school band, choir, orchestra, etc. changed my life." We are at a very critical place in music and arts education and Indiana public education in general. Governor Daniels has presented an education agenda for this General Assembly that could result in destroying music education in Indiana. WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW! This is not a battle between the ISTA and Governor Daniels. This is a battle for public education in Indiana. We must contact our state legislators TODAY and ask them to vote NO to HB 1337/SB 575, NO to SB 446 and NO to any similar bills presented during this year's General Assembly. We must also encourage other members of our music booster organizations and supportive parents in our communities to support public school education and the quality of life in Indiana by contacting their legislators TODAY.... before it is too late!
INDIANA STATE SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION
Charles R. Briel, Executive Director
Michael K. Bridgewater, Assistant Executive Director
Rick Granlund, President
INDIANA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Barbara Resch, President
Michelle Oyler, President-Elect
Lissa May, Past President
INDIANA CHAPTER - AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Brenda Brenner, President
INDIANA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Steve Cotten, President
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL COLOR GUARD ASSOCIATION
Bob Medworth, President
INDIANA CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
Scott Buchanan, President
INDIANA PERCUSSION ASSOCIATION
Josh Torres, President
INDIANA ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION
Josh Southard, President
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
Indiana General Assembly
http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm
Indiana State Republicans
http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/
Indiana Senate Democrats
http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/
Indiana House Republicans
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans
Indiana House Democrats
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats
Look Up Indiana Code
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/
When contacting your legislators, we suggest the following:
1. Be courteous and appreciative of their desire to provide the best for all students in Indiana schools.
2. Be concise, but express your concerns in your own words.
3. Provide personal contact information.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Rally for Public Education
Over two thousand teachers converged upon the State Capitol Tuesday Feb. 8th for a Rally to Support Public Education. I do believe lawmakers knew of our prescence. The bad thing is they did not hear our message as Indiana House of Representatives voted to essentially increase taxes, deplete public education spending and expand charter schools in the State of Indiana. HB 1002 passed 58-37. We need more supporters at the next rally!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Support Public Education Rally Tomorrow at the State House!
If you are able to attend I highly recommend your attendance at the State House tomorrow. Here are the details:
Tuesday, February 8
South Atrium, Indiana Statehouse
Downtown Indianapolis
5 p.m. (EDT)
This is our chance to let Indiana's elected leaders know that a strong public education system is vital to the future of our children and our state!
Please join us for lobbying, but if you cannot, PACK YOUR CAR with family, colleagues and other supporters of public education and come to the 5 p.m. RALLY! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN!
Wear bright colors!
Bring handmade signs & banners!
Come prepared to let legislators know that Indiana's educators care about children and public education!
WE MUST PACK THE STATEHOUSE so that Indiana's elected leaders know that public educators are "in the house" and are not willing to turn their backs on one of the best public school systems in the country!
"The debate is not about how we will run our public schools. It is whether we will have public education. We must fight NOW. If it is not now, it may never be again!" -- Rep. Scott Pelath (HD 9)
3 Things you can do to SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION in Indiana:
Please e-mail your representative and senator and urge them to meet with you on lobbying day and attend the Rally in person!
Please invite your colleagues and friends to come to the Rally with you. No one can afford to stay home!
Ask your colleagues and public education parents and supporters to contact their legislators also.
See you at the State House tomorrow!!
Tuesday, February 8
South Atrium, Indiana Statehouse
Downtown Indianapolis
5 p.m. (EDT)
This is our chance to let Indiana's elected leaders know that a strong public education system is vital to the future of our children and our state!
Please join us for lobbying, but if you cannot, PACK YOUR CAR with family, colleagues and other supporters of public education and come to the 5 p.m. RALLY! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN!
Wear bright colors!
Bring handmade signs & banners!
Come prepared to let legislators know that Indiana's educators care about children and public education!
WE MUST PACK THE STATEHOUSE so that Indiana's elected leaders know that public educators are "in the house" and are not willing to turn their backs on one of the best public school systems in the country!
"The debate is not about how we will run our public schools. It is whether we will have public education. We must fight NOW. If it is not now, it may never be again!" -- Rep. Scott Pelath (HD 9)
3 Things you can do to SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION in Indiana:
Please e-mail your representative and senator and urge them to meet with you on lobbying day and attend the Rally in person!
Please invite your colleagues and friends to come to the Rally with you. No one can afford to stay home!
Ask your colleagues and public education parents and supporters to contact their legislators also.
See you at the State House tomorrow!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Expanding Charters and Vouchers in the Indiana Legislature
Governor Mitch Daniels told Indiana voters on Nov. 2nd, he was "finally going to give children an education centered on them." The irony of this statement is that the legislation his party is proposing in the statehouse, has nothing to do with improving learning conditions or providing new learning opportunities for children. It has everything to do with degrading and marginalizing public schools. The barrage of legislation he has aimed at public school educators and children of public schools will have a huge affect on the capacity of our schools to continue to provide quality fine arts learning opportunities. Take for example HB1002: Charter school expansion will only transfer more public money away from the same pot of money that funds public schools. This bill and the voucher bill being proposed in the Indiana State House will certainly degrade public schools capacity to maintain existing fine arts programs.
Never before has there been so many education bills from Indiana State lawmakers aimed at crippling public education and public school educators. I listened to Governor Daniels at the Capitol last Tuesday chide a group of anxious teachers who questioned him on his education policy initiatives. His response? “Teachers make 22% more than the average taxpayer.”
What we have here is a declaration of War on Indiana Public School Educators and this is not right.
If you have not sent your messages of support for public education to your legislators, please do so as soon as possible.
Check in with your colleagues and professional associations on the latest coming out of the State Capitol.
If you have not contacted your legislators yet, you can find them here:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm
Never before has there been so many education bills from Indiana State lawmakers aimed at crippling public education and public school educators. I listened to Governor Daniels at the Capitol last Tuesday chide a group of anxious teachers who questioned him on his education policy initiatives. His response? “Teachers make 22% more than the average taxpayer.”
What we have here is a declaration of War on Indiana Public School Educators and this is not right.
If you have not sent your messages of support for public education to your legislators, please do so as soon as possible.
Check in with your colleagues and professional associations on the latest coming out of the State Capitol.
If you have not contacted your legislators yet, you can find them here:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm
Monday, December 13, 2010
Advocacy Action Required Now!
Advocacy Basics for 2011
There are two things fine arts advocates need to be able to do this year that will be critical to the success of our advocacy mission. One is contact your elected officials either by phone, email, hand written note or in person, and two is be prepared to make verbal statements in a public forum such as a school board meeting or newspaper interview. If you are already doing these things, I applaud your efforts and preparation. We need art advocates to be outspoken during this critical period of education reform and reorganization. Legislators and policy makers at the state and local levels need to hear our voice.
As you read this, Indiana State Legislators are formulating the state budget for the next two years. They need to hear your voice as they formulate the state budget on the importance of adequately funding public schools.
Please do one of the following or both: Call or write your legislator as soon as you can and send them your message. Use these talking points for any of your messaging activities.
• Education funding must include consideration for the preservation of existing fine arts programs.
• The creativity of our children is a national resource we cannot afford to waste.
• Children need fine arts educational experiences that empower the imagination and enhance the capacity for creativity and invention.
• Neural networks within the brain’s operating systems are stimulated, strengthened and expanded when children are engaged in high quality art and music education experience. Visual arts learning experiences strengthen children’s attentional memory and music educational experience trains the brain’s capacity for working memory.
• If we could electronically scan the human brain while its subject was engaged in a regular classroom selected response learning activity, we could see a narrow band of neural networks within the pre frontal cortex on the left side of the brain stimulated during this typical educational event. Consequently when subjects are engaged in stimulating sensory based music or art experience, neural networks within both hemispheres of the entire brain light up like Christmas tree lights.
• There are three basic skills children need if they want to thrive in the knowledge economy: the ability to communicate effectively; the ability to collaborate, and the ability to do critical thinking and creative problem-solving. One cannot make the claim that quality, world class educational experiences are being provided for Hoosier school children if subjects and programs specifically designed to foster creative problem solving are removed from the curricula.
• Fine Arts education experiences are critical for a well rounded education. Human
beings are hard wired to think and dream in visual images. Ideas and
intellectual property dependent upon visual thinkers will become assets in the
new economy of the 21st Century. The refinement of the imagination as developed through the visual arts will provide future designers, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals and others with the creative edge they will need to compete in an increasingly competitive and uncertain future.
• Students thrive in schools where art and music are present in the
curriculum. When educational experience is monotonous and based on tedious
pencil and paper seat work, learning often times goes’ into one ear, and out the
other. This fact is extremely important for policymakers to consider. Results
from the latest High School Survey of Student Engagement, conducted by
researchers from Indiana University with over 350,000 high school students
participating from across the U.S. reveals 67% of students did not feel engaged
during their school years. Upon further examination of the survey, students reveal subject areas like art, music and drama provide them with significant opportunities for personal engagement with their learning. Disengaged individuals frequently drop out of school resulting in higher crime rates, lack of unemployment opportunities and a myriad of other wicked socio economic problems. Public schools are the backbone of our communities. The health of our public school system affects us all.
• We know that children thrive in schools that provide regular quality fine arts experiences. The Governor simply cannot make the statement that we will finally reform education “centered upon children,” while shortchanging their opportunities for regular fine arts learning experiences in our schools.
Please feel free to compose your own fine arts advocacy messages and talking points, however it is vital that your state legislators here from you and that you are able to make a strong advocacy message in a public forum if you are called upon to do so.
You can find more advocacy resources here: http://www.arteducators.org/advocacy
You can find and contact your state legislators here:
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup
I thank you for your current and future advocacy efforts!
Warmest wishes!
Sincerely,
Clyde Gaw
AEAI Advocacy Advisor
campak14@yahoo.com
There are two things fine arts advocates need to be able to do this year that will be critical to the success of our advocacy mission. One is contact your elected officials either by phone, email, hand written note or in person, and two is be prepared to make verbal statements in a public forum such as a school board meeting or newspaper interview. If you are already doing these things, I applaud your efforts and preparation. We need art advocates to be outspoken during this critical period of education reform and reorganization. Legislators and policy makers at the state and local levels need to hear our voice.
As you read this, Indiana State Legislators are formulating the state budget for the next two years. They need to hear your voice as they formulate the state budget on the importance of adequately funding public schools.
Please do one of the following or both: Call or write your legislator as soon as you can and send them your message. Use these talking points for any of your messaging activities.
• Education funding must include consideration for the preservation of existing fine arts programs.
• The creativity of our children is a national resource we cannot afford to waste.
• Children need fine arts educational experiences that empower the imagination and enhance the capacity for creativity and invention.
• Neural networks within the brain’s operating systems are stimulated, strengthened and expanded when children are engaged in high quality art and music education experience. Visual arts learning experiences strengthen children’s attentional memory and music educational experience trains the brain’s capacity for working memory.
• If we could electronically scan the human brain while its subject was engaged in a regular classroom selected response learning activity, we could see a narrow band of neural networks within the pre frontal cortex on the left side of the brain stimulated during this typical educational event. Consequently when subjects are engaged in stimulating sensory based music or art experience, neural networks within both hemispheres of the entire brain light up like Christmas tree lights.
• There are three basic skills children need if they want to thrive in the knowledge economy: the ability to communicate effectively; the ability to collaborate, and the ability to do critical thinking and creative problem-solving. One cannot make the claim that quality, world class educational experiences are being provided for Hoosier school children if subjects and programs specifically designed to foster creative problem solving are removed from the curricula.
• Fine Arts education experiences are critical for a well rounded education. Human
beings are hard wired to think and dream in visual images. Ideas and
intellectual property dependent upon visual thinkers will become assets in the
new economy of the 21st Century. The refinement of the imagination as developed through the visual arts will provide future designers, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals and others with the creative edge they will need to compete in an increasingly competitive and uncertain future.
• Students thrive in schools where art and music are present in the
curriculum. When educational experience is monotonous and based on tedious
pencil and paper seat work, learning often times goes’ into one ear, and out the
other. This fact is extremely important for policymakers to consider. Results
from the latest High School Survey of Student Engagement, conducted by
researchers from Indiana University with over 350,000 high school students
participating from across the U.S. reveals 67% of students did not feel engaged
during their school years. Upon further examination of the survey, students reveal subject areas like art, music and drama provide them with significant opportunities for personal engagement with their learning. Disengaged individuals frequently drop out of school resulting in higher crime rates, lack of unemployment opportunities and a myriad of other wicked socio economic problems. Public schools are the backbone of our communities. The health of our public school system affects us all.
• We know that children thrive in schools that provide regular quality fine arts experiences. The Governor simply cannot make the statement that we will finally reform education “centered upon children,” while shortchanging their opportunities for regular fine arts learning experiences in our schools.
Please feel free to compose your own fine arts advocacy messages and talking points, however it is vital that your state legislators here from you and that you are able to make a strong advocacy message in a public forum if you are called upon to do so.
You can find more advocacy resources here: http://www.arteducators.org/advocacy
You can find and contact your state legislators here:
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup
I thank you for your current and future advocacy efforts!
Warmest wishes!
Sincerely,
Clyde Gaw
AEAI Advocacy Advisor
campak14@yahoo.com
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Begin Messaging Now!
Newly elected legislators are preparing for the next legislative session. It is time to begin sending them messages that Indiana children's school arts programs are in danger of being marginalized or cut throughout the state unless adequate funding is provided to public schools.
Emails are good. Hand written letters are better. Phone calls are best!
You can call, mail or email your legislators here: http://www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm
House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786
(317) 232-9600
(800) 382-9842
Senate
Indiana State Senate
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785
(317) 232-9400
(800) 382-9467
Emails are good. Hand written letters are better. Phone calls are best!
You can call, mail or email your legislators here: http://www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm
House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786
(317) 232-9600
(800) 382-9842
Senate
Indiana State Senate
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785
(317) 232-9400
(800) 382-9467
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