Keeping the Arts in Front of the School Board

Here is a very good article by a PTA Music Education supporter that articulates just how to keep the arts in front on the School Board and make the message meaningful enough to get them to not flinch in the face of economic difficulties.

I am hearing reports from all over SW Iowa about the impending student count (coming up October 1) and all the numbers are showing many significant decreases. Small schools are getting hit the hardest. Red Oak, 1300 students, is loosing 30, but Nishna Valley, 500 students, is loosing 35.

I have no reason to believe that SW Iowa is any different than any area of the state of Iowa. This is most definitely a harbinger of problems for elementary and middle school arts programs come this spring. Each student lost translates to $5,300 lost to the school district. Thus, 35 student lost in the count means a loss of $185,500.

Why are elementary and middle school areas being hit the hardest? The community won't stand for not having a band on the field for half time, or a pep band in the stands for the basketball game. Most vocal music programs have groups who get out into the community and entertain the clubs, service organizations and many retired citizens. The school musical production is always filled to the rafters with audience members. The high school art program has many exhibits that the public invited to see and discuss. High school theatre and speech contest cost the district very little to offer, yet the number of qualified people willing to step up and take the leadership is growing smaller and smaller

Where calls for help to IAAE have come from centers in the elementary and middle school programs. Elimination of elementary art and music teachers, and then bringing music and art teachers from the high school to take those places, but in a diminished capacity.

Teachers of the arts in all schools of Iowa must begin now to realize the impending fight we are all going to up against when these numbers begin to hit next years school budgets. If teachers of the arts don't have a strong and aggressive advocacy program in place now, and have begun to implement the elements of that plan, they most assuredly will be blind sided by administration and board considerations next spring during budget time.

It is my experience that most of our arts teachers have their heads securely buried in the sand believing that advocacy is not what they are paid to do. Numbers do make a difference and no matter how important we feel that arts are in the lives of Iowa children, dollars are the numbers that pay the bills.

Teachers of the arts must know what that count is on October 1 and how the numbers have changed over last year and in the past five years. Do the math and see how this is effecting your district financially.

If you are a teacher who has a hurt in your stomach about what may happen to your program, now is the time to do something about it. Doing nothing will do nothing but hurt children who want and need what we teach. Developing and directing an advocacy program IS the responsibility of each teacher of the arts and their department whether we like it or not. It was not taught to us in our college program, we must learn to do it ourselves: with the help of IAAE

Does your school district have a "Arts Matters Coalition"? Do you have an Arts Advocacy program for your district?

Larry Brandstetter

IAAE At Work for You

As Executive Director of IAAE, I met with Representative Bruce Braley at one of his "Congress on Your Corner" meetings held at the AEA in Bettendorf, Iowa. The meeting was well attended and Congressman Braley remained beyond the time he had alloted to allow all who wished to speak to him on a one-on-one basis. I shared information on the Alliance and its involvement with the Department of Education and the office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the status of arts education in Iowa, including our current part in the Model Core and the 21st Century Skills along with our efforts for expansion in these areas as well as others. I also left a packet of materials on the latest research of the importance of arts education in a total education. Senator Braley shared that his own children are involved in the arts and that he is an arts advocate. The conversation was most productive and I look forward to a continued dialogue with the senator.

Congratulations, Southwest Iowa!

Southwest Iowa will be rocking with the Wilson Performing Arts Center!

Get your tickets for the Grand Opening Season.

A note from Larry B.:  The Wilson Center is a Performing Arts Center. The lobby will be open to SW Iowa artists to put their work on exhibition and we will rotate artists every 2-3 months. We didn't have enough money to build classrooms for visual arts classes, but are currently working to find a space, much like the great Arts on Grand in Spencer, to offer classes, have exhibits and have a space for sales of work.

We are offering classes in strings, guitar, and creative drama. When the building opens, there will be a beautiful dance studio featuring a state of the art floor. The first classes we will offer will be "ballet for adults." We have many adult women who took ballet when they were young and want to renew their feeling of the muscle pain associated with the experience.

 

Millions of Dollars Available

eSchool News posts deadlines and opportunities for teachers to apply for funding for student projects. Take a look at the videos produced by student teams: How Technology Helps Me Learn. The ideas are also reflected in an article on the eSchool News website--The America Association of School Administrators' annual conference in Tampa seemed to agree that the old ways of rote memorization, standardized testing, and chalkboards are not what students need to succeed in today's schools and the world at large. You can subscribe to the eSchool News site to receive the latest from them, too.

A Newsletter about Non-profits

GuideStar--Connecting People with Nonprofit information. Larry B. recommends their newsletter. I just read a President's Article about Branding that spoke loudly to me!

Roses to Larry Brandstetter!

Larry is the emeritus newsletter editor and webmaster for IAAE. In fact, when the IAAE board met for their summer meeting, it was the first board meeting that Larry was not involved in since the organization began in 1988!

Thank you, Larry, for your able assistance in setting up the new website and newsletter. I truly could not have done it with out you! 

I found this photo of Larry by doing a Google image search. If anyone can provide me with a more recent (or higher resolution) photo, I'll be happy to post it. ;)

Advocacy in Other States

An article in the Philadelphia Daily News carries the bad taste of politics in schools outside of Iowa. Read more...
And it sounds like New York is the site of more need for advocacy in the arts at Poplar Ridge.