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
NYCDOE
The Third Annual NYCDOE Arts in the Schools Report: Cognitive Dissonance
This week the NYCDOE released its third Annual Arts in the School Report. Along with about thirty colleagues primarily from the arts field, I attended the report presentation at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.The document itself must be applauded for all the work that went into it. In this difficult economy, the mere existence of this report must be given its … [Read more...] about The Third Annual NYCDOE Arts in the Schools Report: Cognitive Dissonance
Did You Miss David Brooks on Arts Education???
I'm not claiming my second education has been exemplary or advanced. I'm describing it because I have only become aware of it retrospectively, and society pays too much attention to the first education and not enough to the second.I like David Brooks. Okay, I have to admit it, I like him even more since reading this column that many have missed because it appeared during the … [Read more...] about Did You Miss David Brooks on Arts Education???
What Does CSA, the Principals Union in NYC Think about Dedicated funding for Arts Education?
Arts education needs to be incentivized through dedicated funding. Because the NYC public school system is not meeting even the most minimal standard requirements for arts education, the arts should be treated as a "protected class" of studies. When it comes to arts education, we need all of our schools to be winners. It is critical that the DoE create a dedicated funding line … [Read more...] about What Does CSA, the Principals Union in NYC Think about Dedicated funding for Arts Education?
A Thousand Little Cuts: “The civil right is to an excellent education,” she said. “It’s not about having an art room.”
People say to me, what's the problem? Is anyone really against the arts in schools?My typical response is that it's not often one single event, it's more about the waves that wash it off the beach. Those waves have been the back-to-basics movement, NCLB, budget cuts, accountability, principal empowerment, site-based management, and so much more. It's why some of us in NYC have … [Read more...] about A Thousand Little Cuts: “The civil right is to an excellent education,” she said. “It’s not about having an art room.”