Something that sounds good in theory does not always work out in actuality. Take the No Child Left Behind Act which was intended to bring all students up to a basic standard in reading and math. Although the arts are considered a "core subject" by this act, strained resources are being redirected to bringing up scores in reading and math because the school district will lose money if this is not done.
I came across this article and in it was this nugget of information:
In California, the act's emphasis on reading and mathematics contributed to a 50 percent drop in the number of students in music education courses, according to a study by that state's Department of Education, which looked at data from 1999 through 2004.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050523/NEWS/505230321/1001/COMMUNITY
Yes there should be accountability in the education system but this act has problems as far as evaluation. The bottom line is that not all students learn by the same method or at the same age. Special education students are included in the evaluation numbers and obviously that skews the results. Some kids are just never going to reach the levels required-they just aren't capable.
So who is evaluating the No Child Left Behind Act?
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Sunday, May 22, 2005
The Arts Are Good Business!
A similar story to the last post-the arts are responsible for bringing in some money to a city or community. Maybe this is the line we should take when telling school districts not to cut the arts because they represent future income for the community. Take a look at this story from Tampa Bay Online:
TAMPA - All those concert tickets and Salvador Dali museum souvenirs really add up.
An arts advocacy group said Friday that local arts and cultural institutions pumped more than half a billion dollars into the Tampa Bay area's economy last year, up 30 percent from 1999.
The group, the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, said the increase reflects the growing role arts institutions play in hiring and spending. Members also stressed that a growing, healthy arts environment is crucial for attracting and retaining businesses and workers.
The study found:
* Museums, arts centers and cultural institutions employed 7,800 people last year, compared with 7,000 in 1999, when the last study was done. The total payroll was $202.7 million in 2004, up from $146.7 million five years ago.
* Direct spending for the arts, which includes ticket sales and souvenirs purchased by patrons as well as day-to- day spending and capital expenditures by arts institutions, came to $270.3 million in 2004, up from $208.3 million in 1999.
* Total spending on the arts - that is, direct spending by arts institutions and patrons, plus the spending by those organization's clients and employees - was $521.3 million, up from $402.2 million in 1999.
TAMPA - All those concert tickets and Salvador Dali museum souvenirs really add up.
An arts advocacy group said Friday that local arts and cultural institutions pumped more than half a billion dollars into the Tampa Bay area's economy last year, up 30 percent from 1999.
The group, the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, said the increase reflects the growing role arts institutions play in hiring and spending. Members also stressed that a growing, healthy arts environment is crucial for attracting and retaining businesses and workers.
The study found:
* Museums, arts centers and cultural institutions employed 7,800 people last year, compared with 7,000 in 1999, when the last study was done. The total payroll was $202.7 million in 2004, up from $146.7 million five years ago.
* Direct spending for the arts, which includes ticket sales and souvenirs purchased by patrons as well as day-to- day spending and capital expenditures by arts institutions, came to $270.3 million in 2004, up from $208.3 million in 1999.
* Total spending on the arts - that is, direct spending by arts institutions and patrons, plus the spending by those organization's clients and employees - was $521.3 million, up from $402.2 million in 1999.
Friday, May 20, 2005
House of Representatives Pass Funding for the Arts
Yes, I know this is a long post...
Remarks from Illinois representative Davis in support of increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities:
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of Slaughter/Shays/Dicks/Leach amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH.
The arts are crucial for the flourishing and development of societies. As our economy continues to grow it is important that the arts remain a priority in our communities. As former President Kennedy stated, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battles or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” Though some would consider our economy hard pressed for such funding as this, I implore my colleagues to consider the profound influence of arts-centric businesses.
While some of the country's concerns only affect a minority of people, the involvement in the arts spans all walks of life. Indeed, it weaves together all communities and crosses racial, gender, and religious boundaries. In my district, the arts create a sense of nationalism for the State and the rest of the country. For, what would Chicago be without the architecture of the Sears Tower, the flourishing talent in Second City, or the abundant museums? Indeed, the beating pulse of America lives and thrives through the arts.
Not only do the arts enrich societies, but the arts is also an industry. In my district there are 2,989 art related businesses and 44,709 people that make their daily living working in the arts. It is obvious that support of arts, also is support of the economy. Arts-Centric businesses supply 578,000 businesses in the United States and employ 2.97 million people. Even more, it is a growing institution, exceeding the total United States business growth rate by 1.7 percent. Not only do the arts help sustain the economy by supplying jobs and generating revenue, it helps to fuel future creative industries and workers.
These future creative workers come in the form of our children. The arts help in a child's brain development and their creative skills. A country without a full expression of the arts would truly create a void in a child's development. They too deserve the right to blossom and flourish their imagination from the various artistic resources.
We cannot disregard the contributions and growing trends of the arts. The arts and humanities support our culture, it supports our economy, and most importantly it supports our future. In my district there is a wealth of diversity. This diversity is preserved through the arts. The arts promote respect for diversity, and appreciation of other cultures. It seems to me, that these elements are necessary for building stable healthy communities. Madam Chairman, if we minimize these possibilities in the arts, we will be limiting the liberty of our imagination. I request my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.
Two weakening floor amendments to cut NEA funding were defeated by overwhelming margins.
Remarks from Illinois representative Davis in support of increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities:
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of Slaughter/Shays/Dicks/Leach amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH.
The arts are crucial for the flourishing and development of societies. As our economy continues to grow it is important that the arts remain a priority in our communities. As former President Kennedy stated, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battles or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” Though some would consider our economy hard pressed for such funding as this, I implore my colleagues to consider the profound influence of arts-centric businesses.
While some of the country's concerns only affect a minority of people, the involvement in the arts spans all walks of life. Indeed, it weaves together all communities and crosses racial, gender, and religious boundaries. In my district, the arts create a sense of nationalism for the State and the rest of the country. For, what would Chicago be without the architecture of the Sears Tower, the flourishing talent in Second City, or the abundant museums? Indeed, the beating pulse of America lives and thrives through the arts.
Not only do the arts enrich societies, but the arts is also an industry. In my district there are 2,989 art related businesses and 44,709 people that make their daily living working in the arts. It is obvious that support of arts, also is support of the economy. Arts-Centric businesses supply 578,000 businesses in the United States and employ 2.97 million people. Even more, it is a growing institution, exceeding the total United States business growth rate by 1.7 percent. Not only do the arts help sustain the economy by supplying jobs and generating revenue, it helps to fuel future creative industries and workers.
These future creative workers come in the form of our children. The arts help in a child's brain development and their creative skills. A country without a full expression of the arts would truly create a void in a child's development. They too deserve the right to blossom and flourish their imagination from the various artistic resources.
We cannot disregard the contributions and growing trends of the arts. The arts and humanities support our culture, it supports our economy, and most importantly it supports our future. In my district there is a wealth of diversity. This diversity is preserved through the arts. The arts promote respect for diversity, and appreciation of other cultures. It seems to me, that these elements are necessary for building stable healthy communities. Madam Chairman, if we minimize these possibilities in the arts, we will be limiting the liberty of our imagination. I request my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.
Two weakening floor amendments to cut NEA funding were defeated by overwhelming margins.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Illinois Arts Education Initiative
Take a minute to look through this site:
http://www.artsalliance.org/al_arts.shtml
This is the Illinois Arts Education site which is detailed below. If you live in another state, please try to find a similar initiative. Arts education needs help!
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative is a statewide coalition of education, business and arts advocates led by the Illinois Arts Alliance and the Chicago Community Trust dedicated to implementing a comprehensive, standards-based arts education program for Illinois public school students.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative was created in response to diminishing arts education offerings in Illinois public schools and broad disparities in the number of arts education offerings found among school districts and among schools within the same school districts.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative will increase public awareness of the impact of arts education on overall student achievement and broaden our knowledge of the status of arts education in public schools throughout Illinois. The coalition will make recommendations based on the findings of statewide research that is underway, lessons learned from Chicago Community Trust demonstration projects, examples of successful arts education programs in Illinois schools districts and from innovative solutions that have been implemented in other states.
http://www.artsalliance.org/al_arts.shtml
This is the Illinois Arts Education site which is detailed below. If you live in another state, please try to find a similar initiative. Arts education needs help!
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative is a statewide coalition of education, business and arts advocates led by the Illinois Arts Alliance and the Chicago Community Trust dedicated to implementing a comprehensive, standards-based arts education program for Illinois public school students.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative was created in response to diminishing arts education offerings in Illinois public schools and broad disparities in the number of arts education offerings found among school districts and among schools within the same school districts.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative will increase public awareness of the impact of arts education on overall student achievement and broaden our knowledge of the status of arts education in public schools throughout Illinois. The coalition will make recommendations based on the findings of statewide research that is underway, lessons learned from Chicago Community Trust demonstration projects, examples of successful arts education programs in Illinois schools districts and from innovative solutions that have been implemented in other states.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Covering Up Michelangelo's Nudity
Here's another subject for debate: should art work be changed so that it is not "offensive" when it is used in a classroom?
When coming up with lesson plans for my 1st and 3rd grade kids, I took care to use artworks that didn't include nudity. But the following story takes place in a high school. Certainly there will be some snickering, but does that give the authorities the reason to change Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting???
This story is from the Arizona Star:
It's one of the most recognized works of art in the world - the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
But, after several recent controversies about art at local schools, students in a mural class at Palo Verde High Magnet School knew from the beginning that their duplication of Michelangelo's masterpiece could be problematic.
If they were to paint the famous scene of God and a naked Adam touching fingertips, it might not go over well with students and administrators without some compromise.
Still, it took a while to get things right.
First, they painted a fig leaf over Adam's private parts.
"We knew we needed to cover it," said senior Lorel Voss, who thought the religious reference would be a bigger issue than the nudity. "We put a fig leaf. No one said anything for weeks."
But the fig leaf turned out to be more distracting than the area in question, school officials say. So, teacher Chelsea Farrar suggested a bush. But students thought it would be ugly, and went straight to administrators.
The compromise: A flowing sash to hide the area.
The situation illustrates the difficult balance educators face in integrating fine art into the high school classroom. It's a balance being debated frequently this year and one that Tucson's biggest school district will address with a committee that meets for the first time today.
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/printDS/74617.php
When coming up with lesson plans for my 1st and 3rd grade kids, I took care to use artworks that didn't include nudity. But the following story takes place in a high school. Certainly there will be some snickering, but does that give the authorities the reason to change Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting???
This story is from the Arizona Star:
It's one of the most recognized works of art in the world - the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
But, after several recent controversies about art at local schools, students in a mural class at Palo Verde High Magnet School knew from the beginning that their duplication of Michelangelo's masterpiece could be problematic.
If they were to paint the famous scene of God and a naked Adam touching fingertips, it might not go over well with students and administrators without some compromise.
Still, it took a while to get things right.
First, they painted a fig leaf over Adam's private parts.
"We knew we needed to cover it," said senior Lorel Voss, who thought the religious reference would be a bigger issue than the nudity. "We put a fig leaf. No one said anything for weeks."
But the fig leaf turned out to be more distracting than the area in question, school officials say. So, teacher Chelsea Farrar suggested a bush. But students thought it would be ugly, and went straight to administrators.
The compromise: A flowing sash to hide the area.
The situation illustrates the difficult balance educators face in integrating fine art into the high school classroom. It's a balance being debated frequently this year and one that Tucson's biggest school district will address with a committee that meets for the first time today.
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/printDS/74617.php
Monday, May 09, 2005
Louise T. Blouin Foundation
Some gems from a recent article about a new arts organization, the Louise T. Blouin Foundation:
- The international nonprofit arts organization has a wide-ranging agenda to support cultural development around the world, through research and new programs.
- Louise Blouin MacBain, a 46-year-old French-Canadian, has pledged $30 million to establish the Louise T. Blouin Center for Creativity in London and to fund the first year's program budget. MacBain said that after she learned she had dyslexia at the age of 8, she became aware of how creative many bright people with learning disabilities are, making links among seemingly disparate subjects. So through an interdisciplinary, international foundation, she said she hoped to show how creativity benefits countries economically and culturally.
- Robert Lynch, the president and chief executive of Americans for the Arts, said that he was particularly intrigued by the foundation's international ambitions and its research agenda on creativity and connections between the arts and the economy.
“Creativity is at the core of the American economy right now,” Lynch said, adding that his group's recent study on creative industries found that 578,486 businesses in the United States alone are connected to the arts in some way.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Grass-roots Advocacy
After the last article, I googled the National Coalition Against Censorship (and came up with probably enough material for several months of posting).
Here's what they would like the general public to do:
1. Keep us informed of controversies over artistic expression in your community.
2. Participate in the public dialogue when the work of another artist or the choices of an arts organization are debated. Talk to representatives of the media, speak on panels and write to the press.
3. Help us form local networks of support by your participation and advocacy of free creative expression.
4. Give us your ideas.
There are a great many organizations out there that advocate for the arts in one way or another-and we could go broke joining them all. I'm advocating a grass-roots approach and the NCAC pretty much says it all.
Here's what they would like the general public to do:
1. Keep us informed of controversies over artistic expression in your community.
2. Participate in the public dialogue when the work of another artist or the choices of an arts organization are debated. Talk to representatives of the media, speak on panels and write to the press.
3. Help us form local networks of support by your participation and advocacy of free creative expression.
4. Give us your ideas.
There are a great many organizations out there that advocate for the arts in one way or another-and we could go broke joining them all. I'm advocating a grass-roots approach and the NCAC pretty much says it all.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Censored Art
I'm going to put this article out there and see what people think. (I did pull out student's names) Question: how old do you have to be to enjoy freedom of expression?
3 censored paintings may be sold
Associated Press
ROY — Three paintings by a Roy High School student that were removed from a school art show are attracting interest and could be sold or possibly displayed in a Los Angeles gallery. High school administrators removed the oil paintings by (student). One painting was of a female breast and a hand overlaid by a black censor line. Another depicted a woman's torso, a hand, and the lower half of cleavage. The third showed two hands on a curved hip. Roy High art teacher Jeffrey Lowe, who defends the art, said he has since received two phone calls from people wondering if (student) wanted to sell the paintings. One person also called from California and wants to get the pictures displayed in a gallery, Lowe said. (student) said she is open to selling the paintings but has no idea how much to charge. "It's all new to me," said (student), who is headed to Weber State University in the fall to major in art.
District administrators said (student's) paintings were causing a disruption. Some students and faculty had complained about the pieces, saying they were offensive. The weeklong art show was in the school's main foyer. Principal Lee Dickemore declined to comment Wednesday. The 17-year-old artist's left hand is underdeveloped and allows for little movement. "No wonder she is drawing hands," said writer Wendy Toliver, 32, of Eden. "Her art is beautiful to me," Toliver said. "I would love it in my office. It's gorgeous. It's not vulgar to me." (student's) paintings are the only ones that have been removed, though some others also have drawn complaint. These include several that show a boy and girl kissing, and a work called "The Bather," which displays a woman's upper buttocks. Some parents say high school isn't the place for some pieces of art. "It's probably not things I would want my high school child to see," said Michelle Marshall, and her daughter, (another student), a junior, agrees. "High school students don't view art in a very mature way," she said. "They would be laughing at it."
Svetlana Mintcheva, director of Arts Advocacy for the National Coalition Against Censorship, said art is protected by the First Amendment. "Removing it shows ignorance of art history and a religious standard gone amok," she said.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600129782,00.html
3 censored paintings may be sold
Associated Press
ROY — Three paintings by a Roy High School student that were removed from a school art show are attracting interest and could be sold or possibly displayed in a Los Angeles gallery. High school administrators removed the oil paintings by (student). One painting was of a female breast and a hand overlaid by a black censor line. Another depicted a woman's torso, a hand, and the lower half of cleavage. The third showed two hands on a curved hip. Roy High art teacher Jeffrey Lowe, who defends the art, said he has since received two phone calls from people wondering if (student) wanted to sell the paintings. One person also called from California and wants to get the pictures displayed in a gallery, Lowe said. (student) said she is open to selling the paintings but has no idea how much to charge. "It's all new to me," said (student), who is headed to Weber State University in the fall to major in art.
District administrators said (student's) paintings were causing a disruption. Some students and faculty had complained about the pieces, saying they were offensive. The weeklong art show was in the school's main foyer. Principal Lee Dickemore declined to comment Wednesday. The 17-year-old artist's left hand is underdeveloped and allows for little movement. "No wonder she is drawing hands," said writer Wendy Toliver, 32, of Eden. "Her art is beautiful to me," Toliver said. "I would love it in my office. It's gorgeous. It's not vulgar to me." (student's) paintings are the only ones that have been removed, though some others also have drawn complaint. These include several that show a boy and girl kissing, and a work called "The Bather," which displays a woman's upper buttocks. Some parents say high school isn't the place for some pieces of art. "It's probably not things I would want my high school child to see," said Michelle Marshall, and her daughter, (another student), a junior, agrees. "High school students don't view art in a very mature way," she said. "They would be laughing at it."
Svetlana Mintcheva, director of Arts Advocacy for the National Coalition Against Censorship, said art is protected by the First Amendment. "Removing it shows ignorance of art history and a religious standard gone amok," she said.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600129782,00.html
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Block Parties
No, I didn't say "blog parties" though that sounds like a good idea...
I read an article about a neighborhood block party that featured community resources, e.g. Big Brothers & Sisters, Junior League, Family Services, etc. The block party also had fun activities for the kids including arts and crafts, Play-Doh tables, two bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, and music by local organizations. Art, music, physical activity-what more can you ask for a community event?
Not only is the whole concept a great idea to copy in your own neighborhood (and yes you would have to do some organizing but so what?) but it seems like a good opportunity for local artists to get out there and show the kids what you do. You never know when you will inspire someone.
I read an article about a neighborhood block party that featured community resources, e.g. Big Brothers & Sisters, Junior League, Family Services, etc. The block party also had fun activities for the kids including arts and crafts, Play-Doh tables, two bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, and music by local organizations. Art, music, physical activity-what more can you ask for a community event?
Not only is the whole concept a great idea to copy in your own neighborhood (and yes you would have to do some organizing but so what?) but it seems like a good opportunity for local artists to get out there and show the kids what you do. You never know when you will inspire someone.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Art Thought For The Day
When I go to Chicago I often see the most interesting art/architecture several floors above street level. This means I get a stiff neck/look like a tourist/get mown down by cabbies whenever I'm downtown.
The town where I live has several buildings on the National Historic Register and even though the architecture is more visible (read: only one or two floors from street level) you still have to make an effort to see it.
So here's the thought for the day. Take your camera, whether it's a Kodak disposable or swanky digital model and go to your local downtown district and look up. Take pictures of architectural details (and here it definitely helps if you have a zoom lens) and make your own visual art scrapbook.
You'll have a new perspective on where you live.
The town where I live has several buildings on the National Historic Register and even though the architecture is more visible (read: only one or two floors from street level) you still have to make an effort to see it.
So here's the thought for the day. Take your camera, whether it's a Kodak disposable or swanky digital model and go to your local downtown district and look up. Take pictures of architectural details (and here it definitely helps if you have a zoom lens) and make your own visual art scrapbook.
You'll have a new perspective on where you live.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
