Here we go again: our state legislature is hard at work trying to "dumb down" our state high school graduation requirements.
There are 8 learning standards defined in the Maine Learning Results, yet a new piece of legislation, LD 1325, An Act Regarding Curriculum Requirements, calls for students to "fully meet" standards in some of these areas and only to "partially meet" them in other areas--including the Visual and Performing Arts.
This kind of requirement officially devalues the arts in state law--and ignores broad-based research which proves that students perform better across the board when they learn in and through the arts.
It's important for our students'--and, by extension, our state's economic and cultural--futures that we let our legislators know our students need to FULLY MEET standards in all 8 learning areas: including the Visual and Performing Arts. All Maine students must have equal access to rigorous instruction by highly qualified teachers and their learning must be appropriately assessed. Students must be required to fully meet those essential standards in all 8 areas! For the Visual and Performing Arts, this means students would be required to receive instruction in 2 of the 4 visual and performing arts disciplines--not too much to ask for a well-rounded education, is it? The arts education community is willing and ready to work with the Dept of Education and local districts to find effective ways to make this work within the realities of the school day schedule.
So if you can, gather in Augusta at the Cross State Office Building Room 201 by 1PM THIS MONDAY, MAY 11.
If you are unable to attend the hearing: you can contact members of the
Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs
Senator Justin L. Alfond (D-Cumberland), Chair
justin@justinalfond.com
Senator Elizabeth M. Schneider (D-Penobscot)
http://www.mainesenate.org/schneider/index.htm
Senator Carol Weston (R-Waldo)
cweston@fairpoint.net
Representative Patricia B. Sutherland (D-Chapman), Chair
psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Representative Edward D. Finch (D-Fairfield)
RepEd.Finch@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Alan M. Casavant (D-Biddeford)
RepAlan.Casavant@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Richard V. Wagner (D-Lewiston)
RepRichard.Wagner@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Stephen D. Lovejoy (D-Portland)
steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Representative Mary Pennell Nelson (D-Falmouth)
RepMary.Nelson@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Helen Rankin (D-Hiram)
RepHelen.Rankin@legislature.maine.gov
Representative David E. Richardson (R-Carmel)*
RepDavid.Richardson@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Howard E. McFadden (R-Dennysville)
RepHoward.McFadden@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Peter B. Johnson (R-Greenville)
RepPete.Johnson@legislature.maine.gov
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1 comment:
"rigorous instruction by highly qualified teachers"
Marrying the issues of state support for the arts
(which kids naturally gravitate towards and mostly love) with the tired almost universally despised (again by kids) trope of academic "standards" seems like a bad idea to me. After the current educational system gets through making things like science and history unpalatable to its captive audience, do you really want them starting in on the arts? Far better in my opinion to push for a commensurate level of state funding for independent organizations like yours, who not fettered by the constraints of indifferent or hostile school boards, can really offer substantive teaching of theatre, or visual arts, or music, as they should be experienced.
The argument that this will deprive some kids of exposure is a serious one and needs to be addressed via a concerted effort by arts organizations and other concerned parties on the state level to administer programs that can reach everyone. Thats entirely possible in a state like Maine. No school is going to provide "rigorous instruction by highly qualified teachers" not in Stonington and with very few exceptions not even in New York City. That kind of learning in the arts happens outside school. When I say outside I don't mean to imply after school. As an independent education in the arts system, time during the school day could be negotiated, so as not to add to the length of a students day.
Real arts education out from under the thumb of school boards, paid for by the state and sharing hours with school. A higher level of arts education, teaching jobs for artists, a reduced burden on schools. Sounds like a win, win all around.
Phil Allen
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