"I haven't seen any concrete empirical evidence that the arts are getting cut across the board in favor of subjects that are getting tested," said Matt Gandal, executive vice president of Achieve, a Washington D.C.-based group led by governors and corporate executives that promotes rigorous standards and assessment.
"All anyone has is anecdotal evidence," Gandal said. "To me, it's about finding a way to improve student achievement in those core disciplines. That's what will ultimately make the difference between success and failure when they go into the real world."
No evidence? Core Disciplines? Difference between success and failure in the real world?
IS THIS GUY ON CRACK?
This quote, taken from the article "arts education on the endangered list across country" from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, REALLY makes me mad. This comment comes from a senior executive with an influential education association made up of governors and business leaders. And what he has to say is that there is no evidence of program cuts?
So the 50% decline in music enrollment (and growing) in California is no indication? The Council for Basic Education report of 1000 principals that cited 42% planed to reduce or eliminate instruction in the arts. Or how about… THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED IN THIS STORY!
Of course, if they put in place the same kind of accountability for arts programs as we have for reading and math we would have lot's of information about the impact of the testing craze… but I digress.
Hey Matt, Pal, Buddy… did you happen to read the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW. DID YOU SEE THE LIST OF CORE SUBJECTS? HAVE YOU ARBITRARILY DECIDED TO CREATE A NEW LIST OF CORE SUBJECTS?
I am so upset by this kind of irresponsible comment that I plan on calling the president of Achieve and ask him to comment on the record.
Can you tell this story makes me mad?
Read the whole thing:
Arts education on endangered list across country
