A Defining Moment
Over the course of my time of more than 25 years as a music and arts education advocate, I have seen how our field has been shaped by a series of defining moments – those actions, whether isolated events or sustained efforts that – when looked back on through the lenses of history – have […]
It’s Déjà vu All Over Again. New Music/Arts Standards Will Drive Education for the Next Decade (or more)!
Twenty years ago this month (March 1994) two of the most historically important efforts to advance music and arts education came to fruition: 1. The codifying of the arts as a core subject with the passage and signing of the Goals 2000 Educate America Act (the Clinton Administrations’ name for the Elementary and Secondary Education […]
First New Report of Stimulus Funds Used for Music Education
As I reported yesterday… Stimulus Funds are going to HELP music education. Here is the first report on how a district receiving Special Education Funding was able to HIRE a music teacher. As I said yesterday… Music and Arts Educators this IS your bailout! School district to receive $500,000 in stimulus funds Wednesday, April 22, […]
Where’s My Bailout? Right Here!
With literally TRILLIONS of dollars being thrown at various industry sectors, stimulus programs and bailout efforts the resounding course from the American public is this: Where’s MY bailout? Well I can’t speak to where the bailout is for all Americans… but I can address my favorite topic by asking the question: How does the economic […]
What’s Wrong With This Statement?
"People say, 'Well, you know, test scores don't take into account creativity and the love of learning,'" she says with a drippy, grating voice, lowering her eyelids halfway. Then she snaps back to herself. "I'm like, 'You know what? I don't give a crap.' Don't get me wrong. Creativity is good and whatever. But if […]
No Program is Safe… STILL!
I know… I have written with this subject as a headline before… but in these turbulent economic times it is worth repeating. I do not care who you are, how good your program is, how much money you have, have wealthy your community is, how much parental support you have or how many honors, achievements, […]
Mike Huckabee’s New Book:
Former Governor and Presidential candidate (and current bass player) has come out with his new book on the past campaign with the title Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America. In a conference call today with bloggers who covered his campaign this past year Governor Huckabee outlined his […]
Should Kids Be Able to Graduate After 10th Grade?
This the intriguing question asked by this Time Magazine article. It looks at a proposal coming out of New Hampshire where there have been significant changes made to the educational structure. Time and Place have been replaced by knowledge and competency. It is no longer about how much time you sit in a class or […]
Add the UK to the “What Do They Know That We Don’t” List
Ah yes… another day… another nation – NOT THE UNITED STATES – announces a major investment in music/arts education. Music changes lives – and saves them Can music really play a part in reducing knife crime, drug addiction and all the rest of society's ills, asks Julian Lloyd Webber? Yes, it can, and politicians are […]
Rhode Island: The Canary in the Coal Mine?
Every time there is an economic down turn or some other event that could threaten music and arts education programs I often search for a sign, an article, a report that would provide some clues as to what may actually happen. Now we are faced with not one… but two shifts of the techtonic plates […]