It makes for a really great chest-beating sound-bite: "we just closed another low performing school!" It's all the rage in New York City, at the USDOE, and at many other urban school districts: School Turnaround. And, although the term denotes a number of possible strategies, it almost always connotes the closing of a school. And, you may ask what happens to the building after … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Possible Closing of My High School: Beach Channel High School
Arts
The Times They Are A-Changin’: National Funding for Arts Education
Those who have been around the block a few times will probably see this as just another instance of the vicissitudes of funding. We've seen any number of large scale funding initiatives come and go; any number of major funders for arts education come and go. Once upon a time there was the JDR 3rd Fund, The GE Fund, The Annenberg Foundation, and others.Nevertheless, the general … [Read more...] about The Times They Are A-Changin’: National Funding for Arts Education
David Byrne Throws a Curveball for Arts Education
Happy New Year!I hope that everyone who visits Dewey21C had a lovely holiday. Me? I went off the work grid for a good ten days. It was a nice rendering of a professional "flat line."So, now, it's back to work in 2010!David Byrne, musician, composer, band leader, music label entrepreneur, etc., posted a blog on his web site in mid-December taking a look at excesses in spending … [Read more...] about David Byrne Throws a Curveball for Arts Education
The Counter-Intuition of Advocacy
Consider these three points: 1. The school district leader says that the overall school budget is increasing each year, and not to worry. And yes, it's true: more money was allocated to education in the city budget.2. The existence of generally supportive school district officials and government leads to increased arts budgets and administrative capacity within the district … [Read more...] about The Counter-Intuition of Advocacy
Art, A Music Video by Andrea Dorfman
I love this video. My daughter Sophie and I were watching this morning and she agrees, giving it a four and a half year old's seal of approval.The director is the artist Andrea Dorfman. The music is by Tanya Davis. Click away, it's a sweet and appealing video, and even if you don't like the style of music, I dare you, double dare you, to say you don't like the message. … [Read more...] about Art, A Music Video by Andrea Dorfman