Info/News:
2006 ECONOMIC ACTIVITY STUDY OF METRO DENVER
CULTURE
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
Culture created $1.4 Billion in metro area economic activity in 2005! What can
you build with $1.4 billion? Bronco's Invesco Stadium, Coors Field & 5 Pepsi
Centers. Economic activity includes $785 million in audience spending, $597
million in operating expenditures, and $44 million in capital expenditures.
The 2006 Economic Activity Study of Metro Denver Culture connects the dots between
cultural and scientific activities and their effect on our economy, community,
and quality of life. Documenting the economic return on investment generated
by culture helps communicate the value of the arts and sciences and stimulates
public and private funding. This study helps translate the value of cultural
activity into business terms, demonstrating that science and culture are big
business in metro Denver-and generate big business for our economy. Read more
at www.cbca.org/econbiannual.asp.
Secretary Spellings Remarks on Arts Education
On October 3, 2006, Secretary Margaret Spellings was the guest on National Public
Radio's (NPR) "Talk of the Nation" to discuss the state of education
in the U.S. A caller asked her to discuss the cuts to arts programs. Her response
follows.
"Clearly, those are very important programs, and in fact, No Child Left
Behind specifically says that the creative arts are affirmatively part of an
education curriculum. Obviously, it's not one of the things that's measured
as part of No Child Left Behind. You know, it does trouble me when I hear people
say, well, because of No Child Left Behind, we've had to eliminate art or music.
That's just flat wrong. If they've made choices such as that on the local level,
that is their prerogative, but it's certainly not a federal mandate by any stretch.
Smart administrators - and I talked to a lot of them - are learning that, you
know, having engagement in art and music helps math and creative problem solving,
teamwork, and so forth. And so I think, while there might have been an initial
bit of lost ground as people started looking at math and science capability,
now they're saying hey, if we want enhanced math scores, having our music program
thriving is a good way to do that. And there is some evidence around those subjects."
~Margaret Spellings, Talk of the Nation
Federal, state education mandates
put crunch on arts
By JoAnn Knutson
09/19/2006
BRIGHTON – When the Colorado Student Assessment Program and No Child Left
Behind Act were mandated at the state and federal levels, the intent was to
improve reading, writing and math skills in elementary and high school students.
But some believe the government mandated testing and yearly progress required
of all public schools in Colorado are threatening the arts and humanities. While
a student may be learning to read, write and add better, in some schools he
is losing out on the opportunity to experience music and other art forms.
Gerald Keefe, spokesperson for Advocates for a Balanced Education and superintendent
of schools for Kit Carson R-1 District, said ABE is a newly organized group
of legislatures, educators, business and community leaders banding together
to keep the arts and humanities a part of the elementary and high school curriculum.
“The organization’s goals are to advocate for the arts and if that
means pursuing legislation that will protect the arts then we are prepared to
go there,” Keefe said.
He said teachers in some public schools are reallocating time and resources
from the arts and humanities to the core subjects tested on CSAPs; reading,
writing, math and science.
Doris Candelarie, executive director for school effectiveness, said District
27J’s mission has always been to preserve the arts in the schools while
doing what is needed to meet state and federal requirements.
“We actually have a very strong instrumental music program in the high
school,” Candelarie said. “Our vocal music program in the high school
is weak but we’re trying to get it built up again.”
She said the middle school hasn’t faired quite as well but efforts are
being made to rebuild the programs. None of the programs have suffered as a
result of the CSAP requirements.
The Brighton High School drama club also received state and national recognition,
including three nominations to participate in the Fringe Festival in Scotland.
According to a March Center for Education Policy analysis of the No Child Left
Behind impact on school districts across the nation, time spent on social studies
in the classroom was reduced by at least 33 percent, science 29 percent and
art and music 22 percent.
In Colorado, Keefe said some school districts are moving to what is being called
a double-dosing model. Students testing below grade level in math or reading
are prevented from taking other courses. Instead they are required to take two
courses of the subject areas they are underperforming in. Other school districts
are taking the time allotted for subjects not tested in CSAPs and using that
time to prepare for and take the CSAP tests.
In 2004 the Colorado General Assembly, through the revision of a Colorado statute,
mandated the teaching of civics for all Colorado students. Geography was also
included in the graduation requirements of many school districts following a
1988 decision by the University of Colorado to require geography as an entrance
requirement.
That left physical education and the arts. The original statute mandating CSAP
testing included the areas of art, music, physical education and civics, however,
subsequent interpretation, new reform legislation and changes in education policy
at the state level have left the arts out of the picture.
Keefe said the CSAP requirements are not the biggest threat to the arts in elementary
and high school curriculum. A revision to the admissions policy in 2003 by the
Colorado Commission on Higher Education created stricter pre-college curriculum
requirements to enter Colorado colleges and universities. The increased course
requirements include four years of advanced math and two years of foreign language.
The revision does accommodate other courses by allowing for two Carnegie units
of academic electives that include art, music and drama. A Carnegie unit is
a one-hour class that meets five days a week for 24 weeks or 120 hours of seat
time. The electives can be counted toward college admittance.
Keefe said he is concerned the stricter requirements will effectively squeeze
many students out of the arts and other elective programs due to scheduling
issues.
He said ABE opposes the No Child Left Behind because the national law is an
intrusion into what should be state and local territory.
“If the state and local school districts were able to operate without
‘big brother’ overstepping his bounds, we may be able to reach some
compromise measures that will protect our other valuable programs,” Keefe
said. “However, with NCLB and its sanctions numerous problems and obstacles
must be overcome for the arts to thrive.”
July 19, 2006
Dear Russ,
Do you have an opinion on the No Child Left Behind Act? Are you concerned with
the state of arts education in America?
If so, your help is needed to ensure a place for the arts in every child's
education.
As you may know, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which authorizes the
U.S. Department of Education’s major programs for public schools, is
up for reauthorization next year.
Congress has recently begun preliminary hearings and will continue to gather
information and feedback through early next year, when an actual drafting process
will begin. As Congress starts this process, it is important that arts advocates
speak up and make their support for arts education known.
Currently, the Commission on No Child Left Behind, a bipartisan independent
commission, is soliciting comments in all areas of K-12 education. The Commission
will make formal recommendations to Congress in early 2007. Therefore, this
is a key opportunity to offer constructive feedback on the importance of the
arts in the next version of NCLB.
To facilitate the collection of these comments, Americans for the Arts has
designed a webpage that will send your comments to both the Commission and
to your congressional delegation. With your action, we hope the Commission
will report to Congress that parents, teachers, students, artists, businesses
and advocates around the country are insisting on a stronger place for the
arts in NCLB and every child's education.
We encourage you to submit your personal comments about the importance of arts
education. Specifically, the Commission needs to hear firsthand accounts of
how NCLB has impacted arts education in your public schools. Many parents feel
that the arts have been pushed out of the way to make room for a greater emphasis
on math and reading – Have you experienced that? Has the number of art
teachers or the number of hours devoted to arts education been reduced in your
local schools? Please provide your story to the Commission as well as any ideas
that you may have to improve the quality of arts education in your schools.
Please visit the Americans for the Arts E-Advocacy Center and send
your comments to the Commission on No Child Left Behind. Your action today will help secure
an integral place for the arts in schools tomorrow.
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One of National School Boards special articles
on
the arts from this month's issue
Drawing and the Brain
Visualizing information is a vital early step in learning to read
By Kenneth A. Wesson click here to download article
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas school music programs enhance intellectual development
and enrich the academic environment for students
of all ages;
Whereas students who participate in school music programs
are less likely to be involved with drugs, gangs, or alcohol
and have better attendance in school;
download the rest of the article here.
Electives Getting the Boot? It Depends on Where and
What
By Sean Cavanagh
click here to read article
Want better test scores? Take band
By Leslie Scheuler
Monday, Apr. 10 2006
N.J. moves to protect the arts from school budget cutbacks
By Angela Delli Santi
Associated Press
click here to read the story
Schools Need the Arts click
here to read the story
Is it curtains for
the arts in California's public schools? (click here for the
whole article)
Stories by Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Photos by Scott Buschman
In "Steel Pan Alley," a small room behind the stage at J.W. Fair
Middle School, 21 students play an enthusiastic version of "Margaritaville" on
their steel drums.
Hollywood Wins In CAFTA Copyright Accord The Central American Free
Trade Agreement included a big win for American lobbyists for tougher
copyright laws. "You
wouldn't know it from a political debate veering between labor standards in
Nicaragua and the evils of protectionism, but one major section of CAFTA will
export some of the more controversial sections of U.S. copyright law. Once
it takes effect, CAFTA will require Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to mirror the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act's broad prohibition on bypassing copy-protection technology." MediaChannel.org 08/04/05
Online Musings
Article in Music Inc. august 2005
The following is a list of affirmations for those who want the low, low price,sent
to us by Blair Hardman of Zone Music & recording in Cotati Calif.
It Provides some, ahem, insight into the mentality of growing portion of consumers,
those who consistently use the Internet to purchase gear. -ed
Good News! Now you can be sure you're getting the lowest possible price on all your musical gear. Just repeat the following at least 10 times a day-more if necessary-and enjoy your savings!
1. I will never need more than three minutes of instruction on how to use my new purchase.
2. I love reading dense, poorly translated owner's manuals, especially in dim stage lights.
3. I do not want an ongoing relationship with a music professional who is well-versed in what I am trying to accomplish.
4. I have no desire to hang out in a store where everyone i shaving fun and sharing ideas.
5. I relish the challenge of negotiating the Internet's amusing bait-and-switch and hidden-cost sales techniques.
6. I don't need to know what every knob does.
7. I love the suspense of opening my package and discovering if what was sent to me works, is undamaged and is actually what I ordered.
8. If anything goes wrong with my gear, I will enjoy repackaging it, shipping it across the country and being without it for weeks at a time.
9. I don't want a loaner if my gear goes down.
10.Every day, in every way, I want the lowest possible price.
NEW POLL REVEALS 93 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT THE ARTS ARE
VITAL TO
PROVIDING A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION
www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/campaign_info/press_release_06_13_2005.asp
[http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/campaign_info/press_release_06_13_2005.asp]
A new Harris Poll released on June 13, 2005, on the attitudes of Americans toward
arts education revealed that 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are
vital to providing a well-rounded education for children. Additionally, 54 percent
rated the importance of arts education a "10" on a scale of one to
10. The telephone survey was conducted as part of an ongoing public service campaign-Art.
Ask for More.-developed by Americans for the Arts, the Ad Council, and the Austin-based
advertising agency GSD&M. The results of the survey were announced by Peggy
Conlon, President & CEO of the Ad Council, during her keynote address at
the annual convention of Americans for the Arts in Austin, TX.
click on the link to go to page or download .pdf file
State DOE resolution supporting arts education
Beware of ISO (Instrument Shaped Objects)
Sample Letter to Parents about ISO (instrument shaped objects)
WHAT TO CHECK FOR IN SELECTION A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Take Action Now! Colorado Legislative Action Needed!
Arts-Related Businesses a Significant Employer, Study Finds
For more information, please contact:
Ken
Anderson
303-433-8891,
ext 230
kanderson@flesherhinton.com
Colorado
Music Industry Association
PO
Box 12592
Denver,
CO 80212