And I am not talking about how to get the old school radiators in my office to stop all that loud banging when they heat up. (That is technically known as Steam Hammer.)There's a funny look people get on their face when they use the line: let's turn STEM to STEAM! It's a cute little smile, like they just said something really clever. It's a fine line however, between clever and … [Read more...] about STEM To STEAM: Is it Just a Lot of Hot Air?
Arts
Proposal to Scorch the Earth in Toledo Public Schools
There are times when the little policy matters seems irrelevant. Who cares if a subject is declared "core" by your state department of education or USDOE?Take a good look at this story coming out of Toledo. It is a rather stunning example of how a school district is proposing the elimination of all certified arts and physical education teachers and justifying it by declaring … [Read more...] about Proposal to Scorch the Earth in Toledo Public Schools
American Teacher Magazine on Arts Education: Part Two
Last month the American Teacher Magazine, which has a circulation of over one million, had a cover story on arts education. They have followed-up on the cover story, with a series of pieces submitted by educators from across the country, about the value of arts education.Click here to read the March/April edition of the American Teacher and its follow-up story on arts … [Read more...] about American Teacher Magazine on Arts Education: Part Two
The Mayor Of London Gets in Front of a City-Wide Music Education Plan
Well, apparently he's both in front of and behind the plan. In fact, Mayor Boris Johnson is clearly excited by this project.Click here to listen to him speaking about music education and this new project.Click here to view the plan.There are many local music services,orchestras, arts organisations, charities and schools which do excellent work. This strategy sets out how we … [Read more...] about The Mayor Of London Gets in Front of a City-Wide Music Education Plan
A Rapidly Growing Concern about Arts Education at the USDOE: Part Two
As part of the president's FY2011 budget request, the range of content and discipline-specific funding programs, including those for arts education, would be streamlined into three new categories: literacy, STEM, "what makes a well rounded education," where presumably arts education would be situated.This is a follow-up to my entry from last week: A Rapidly Growing Concern … [Read more...] about A Rapidly Growing Concern about Arts Education at the USDOE: Part Two