Elementary Schools In Hawaii Integrate Art, Core Subjects.

The Honolulu Advertiser (12/23, Moreno) reports that due, in part, to "growing expectations of No Child Left Behind and the increased emphasis of standardized test scores," most "educators readily admit that art education often takes a back seat to other 'testable' subjects such as math, reading, and science." As such, the majority of elementary schools in Hawaii "rely on their regular classroom teachers to deliver art lessons, and usually it's integrated with another subject." The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Artists in the Schools program, meanwhile, "matches professional teaching artists with classroom teachers to deliver art lessons that adhere to the state's curriculum standards. Artists provide 10 sessions of classroom instruction and classroom teachers then continue those lessons by integrating them into other courses." Another option for schools in Hawaii is the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Art to Go program, which circulates "a handful of art teachers who visit about 40 public schools across the state."

Your Chance to Speak to Obama and Congress

Ideas for Change in America is a citizen-driven effort to identify and create momentum around the best ideas for how the Obama Administration and Congress can turn the broad call for "change" across the country into specific policies. You can help by submitting an idea for how you would change America, discussing ideas with others, and/or voting for your favorites.

Go to Support the Arts in Public Schools!

Iowa Arts Council Scholarship

Iowa high school students planning to enter college next year with a major in an arts discipline have until Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, to apply for the 2009 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts.

Offered annually by the Iowa Arts Council, the scholarship is awarded to Iowa students who will graduate from an Iowa high school during the 2008-2009 academic year and plan to pursue a proven artistic ability in dance, literature, music, theater, traditional arts or visual arts at an Iowa college or university. The application is available at www.iowaartscouncil.org.

What kind of Secretary of Ed will Duncan be?

Education Week says

In choosing Arne Duncan as his nominee for U.S. secretary of education, President-elect Barack Obama signaled today that his administration intends to take what both men see as a pragmatic, nonideological approach to improving the nation’s schools.

Read their article.
The Washington Post calls Duncan "down to earth." Read their article.

The International Artist Teacher Exchange

The International Artist Teacher Exchange (IATE) will provide an opportunity for educators to obtain George Mason University graduate credit while gaining professional development training in arts integration during a week-long Italian cultural exchange. Participants will identify and link teaching methods, discover strategies for motivating students, and then develop lesson plans based on their findings that they will then implement in the classroom. Up to 45 participants will join a cohort of teachers, administrators, and educators from Collegio San Carlo in Milan for this cross-cultural and cross-curricular experience. The trip's focus of study will be on how the Renaissance era influenced the development of the region's arts and culture.

Participants will travel from Riccione to Assisi with stops in Urbino and Rimini. Along the way, you will experience traditional art forms while working alongside Italian "maestro" artists. Participants will be immersed in the history of the Renaissance period and practice the arts of Puppetry, Renaissance Dance, Hand Engraving, Kite Making, and Cooking.

REGISTRATIONS AND DEPOSITS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 10, 2009.

Space is limited and filling up fast!

For additional program and registration information, please click on the following links:

IATE 2009: Travel Itinerary

IATE 2009: Registration Form

Travel Dates: April 4 - 11, 2009
The total per person cost is $3,350.00.

Total price includes:

Round Trip Airfare (US Airways)
Lodging (1st Class Hotels)
All Meals (Fantastic Local Restaurants)
Activities (Work With Master Artists)
University Credits (3 GMU Graduate Credits)
Don't miss this fantastic arts-integrated travel experience!

For additional information, please contact John Ceschini at: jceschini@aems-edu.org

Building Communities through the Performing Arts

What: Building Communities through the Performing Arts
A panel discussion - followed by a Q & A.

The panel asks/answers the question, "Why/how do non-arts organizations support the performing arts?"
To answer the question, we think it important to hear it from the source (instead of only from the artist).

Who: Panel members include Jan Boland and John Dowdall from Red Cedar Chamber Music, plus representatives from Red Cedar Chamber Music's community partners: Dr. Jill Olsen of the Marion School District, Michael Zahs from the Ainsworth Opera House (pending: Nick Glew of the Marion City Council and Gail Naughton of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library).

When: Wednesday, January 7, 2009. 4-5:30 p.m.

Where: City Council Chambers of Marion City Hall 1225 6th Ave, Marion IA 52302
Free. No registration required.

Parking lot is located on the South side of Marion City Hall .
Enter the building from the South door, pass through two sets of glass doors, and wind your way to your left to double wooden doors which lead to the Council Chambers.


Here's a succinct description appropriate for marketing purposes.

Red Cedar Chamber Music is offering an opportunity for performing artists. A panel discussion called Building Communities through the Performing Arts addresses the question, "Why / how do non-arts organizations support the performing arts?" Participants will learn from Red Cedar Chamber Music's partners - a city council, a school system, a museum and an opera house - why support of the performing arts appeals to them. The discussion takes place in Marion City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, Marion, on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. The event is free (no registration required).

Panel members include Jan Boland (flutist & Exec Dir of Red Cedar Chamber Music), John Dowdall (Artistic Director and guitarist of Red Cedar Chamber Music), Dr. Jill Olsen (Dir of Teaching & Learning, Marion School District), Michael Zahs (Director, Ainsworth Opera House). Pending: Gail Naughton (President & CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library) and Nick Glew (Marion City Council). There will be an opportunity for questions following the panel presentation. For questions call Red Cedar Chamber Music at 319/377-8028 or visit www.redcedar.org/schedule.html

Directions: Free parking is available on the south side of Marion City Hall. Enter the building through the south door, pass through two sets of glass doors, and wind your way to your left to double wooden doors that lead to the Council Chambers.

TeacherTube

Now-- a video site that is safe for students--TeacherTube. There are Channels for each of the education disciplines. Fine Arts includes videos made by students and teachers, covering "how to," factoids, and fun.

The Only Choice We Have

Playing for Change: Peace through Music is a video that Mark Johnson made, over 10 years and around the world. Bill Moyers recently interviewed Mark Johnson. If you haven't seen the video or heard the story, be prepared to be impressed....

From Diane Franken: More on the 21st. Century Report

A Surprisingly Sensible 21st-Century Report is an article by Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews. Previously, Mathews wrote that the Report was "mostly a pipe dream, promoted by well-meaning people who embrace the idea of modernity but fail to consider how these allegedly new and important lessons can be taught by the usual victims of such schemes, classroom teachers."

The Partnership for 21st. Century Skills writes: "Never, as you would agree, has the Partnership advocated for the integration of 21st century skills at the expense of core subjects, like reading, math, science, social studies, etc.

In fact, the Partnership's work has been focused on how 21st century skills fit seamlessly into core subjects because it is both easy and vital to infuse core subjects with 21st century skills. As noted in research and materials, the teaching of core subjects is enhanced when students are expected to think critically and creatively, innovate, display oral communication skills and work and collaborate in diverse team settings. Quite simply, this is important work because teachers in their specific disciplines need to know how 21st century skills manifest themselves inside their discipline."

This article is an update of his opinion--now that he has calmed down. You may want to send him an email and his address appears at the end of the article!

Crossroads Conference 2008--Dec. 3 & 4--in Des Moines

Professionals in art, music, theatre, film, food and beverage, tourism and media from across the Upper Midwest to network with each other, gain professional development through seminars and celebrate the growth and achievement of the entertainment industry.
The Court Ave. District of Des Moines. Free Professional Develpment Seminars, Film and Theatre Showcase, Networking. $10 Music, Art and Beverage Showcase/$50 VIP Pass to the Thursday Night's Showcase/ $250 VIP Booth Pass goof for 6 people.
MORE INFO.

Need help getting to the show?

The Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa has announced a busing scholarship for schools attending a day-time performance.

If your school hasn't attended a Kaleidoscope performance since December of 2006, you are eligible to apply for a Buck for Buses Scholarship.

* $100 Scholarships
* Spring Semester 2009
* Applications accepted December 5th , 2008
* Awarded on first come, first serve
* Application and eligibility requirements: www.gbpac.com/outreach

From Laurie Olk:"Arts in Iowa"

The Insiders, a program on WHOTV.com, hosts Michael Morain, Des Moines Register arts reporter. They are taking a break from politics and exploring "Arts in Iowa" and the metro....focusing on music, theater and museums. They'll survey what's offered here, but also ask: how do we compare with other metros our size, how about our schools, and how do the economic cutbacks threaten the arts?
See the video