U.S. Secretary of Education Talks About the Arts

Listen to Mr. Arne Duncan, U. S. Department of Education Secretary, commenting on the role and state of arts education. This sound file includes pre and post interview commentary. Read the letter, listen to this interview and tell us what your thoughts are.

http://www.supportmusic.com/ccc_ArneDuncan.mp3
http://www.supportmusic.com/Arts_Education_Letter.pdf

Arts teachers, we need to get more involved! If we don't want to see our resources and arts funding continue to disappear, we need to do our part to connect with the community and let our elected officials know how we feel about the state of the arts in our city and state. Only if we unite our efforts to actively advocate for the arts we will be successful. There are many state and national organizations out there working hard to bring more arts to our kids. Help out! Find out how you can make a difference. Join our conversation and you will already be making a difference while you connect with colleagues from around the city.

The Arts Advantage: Expanding Arts Education in the Boston Public Schools

What an exciting time for arts educators in the Boston Public Schools.  I say that with excitement and sadness at the same time.  BPS is facing very difficult financial challenges which will result in many teacher layoffs.  Despite the sad reality of a deep national recession, and the possibility of many of us loosing our jobs, I want to take a few minutes to celebrate the hard work of all who were involved in the effort of considering the state of the arts in the Boston Public Schools.  Dr. Carol R. Johnson understands the importance of the arts for our children.  In the many years I've been teaching for the Boston Public Schools I've never seen our school department's leadership undertake a task like this one.  Dr. Johnson,  with the support of The Boston Foundation and many others, have created a  Boston Public School's Arts Expansion Planning Team.  Did you read that? AN ARTS EXPANSION PLANNING TEAM!  Today, the planning team announced their recommendations:

Recommendation #1: Expand Equity and Access

Recommendation #2: Build District Capacity

Recommendation #3: Launch the BPS Arts Expansion Fund

Recommendation #4: Convene High-Level BPS Arts Advisory Board

To read all the details and/or download the full report  click here.  If you want to hear Dr. Johnson's remarks during the unveiling of this exciting new initiative, look for our podcast.  I will be uploading remarks and interviews regarding this event.  I also had the chance to have a candid conversation with our new Boston Public Schools Arts Acting Senior Program Director, Cleopatra Knight-Wilkins.  Don't miss the interview!  LET'S TALK ARTS TEACHERS! Post your comments!