Take Aways

On Monday, everything starts over.

Hello.

In her speech to the delegates, NEA rep Sarah B. Cunningham, the keynote speaker at last week's Face to Face conference, talked and talked. I enjoyed  it awfully, especially the part where she argued for the inclusion of artists in decision-making processes around public policy, education and the use of public space. There was a groovy slideshow and at the end, they let us ask a few questions.

I love the idea that we're important enough to listen to. It's so much better than being ignored. It makes me think that if professional teaching artists were consulted, about the design of all new school buildings for instance--then slop sinks, dance floors, and blackbox theaters with lighting grids would be de rigueur. Future teaching artists would have to spend less time trying to commandeer space, or transform unsuitable spaces into workable arenas for art-making and art-related instruction.

Sarah B. Cunningham is right. We need more simple machines. Like feedback loops within organizations to inform planning.

On the flip side, I think it is fair to say that TAs who demand a voice at the table should have something credible and useful to say.

I have a few more questions:

Shouldn't professional teaching artists be informed on the critical issues?

If we don't understand the mission statement of the organizations we work for, are we really doing our jobs well?

Are we reflective practitioners, or hired guns?

Do we know the state standards, or where to find them? Do we know the guidelines for arts learning for each grade PreK - 12 set by the powers that be? Do we even know who the "powers that be" are, and what they want from us?

Is this just a part-time thing, or are you making a career out of this? I'm just asking, but seriously, is there room in this field for the both of us?

Why is anyone just allowed to call themselves a teaching artist? You can't just call yourself a plumber, or a yoga teacher, can you? Aren't we carrying a skill-set as specific as a plumber, or a yoga teacher? Shouldn't there be rules about this sort of thing? I mean, this has been going on for decades, shouldn't we all have professional memberships with real benefits by now?

Whose fault is it?

What's the profile of a truly professional teaching artist? Is it the painter who shows all the time, or is it the visual art major with an advanced degree in education who has never had work exhibited outside of the university gallery? Is it the actor who's auditioning, or the actor who hasn't done a play in years? If you're not doing your art, can you still call yourself a teaching artist? Isn't teaching  supposed to be part of your art?

Is perpetually juggling six jobs, and never really being able to hold onto health insurance the cost of freedom?

What's the going rate?

Who will find the answers to these questions and put it all in a book?

In Politics: President Barack Obama sits down with the faithful opposition to find a compromise on health care, but the public option is still dead, like so many uninsured.

Plus: Bob Dylan - Positively Fourth Street

Survivor

No, most Teaching Artists don't get paid sick days, and many of us don't have health insurance.

Those of us who do, are lucky.

Also, it's Wednesday.

Plus:

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center is New York City's only primary health care center dedicated to meeting the health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and people living with HIV/AIDS - regardless of any patient's ability to pay.

We are welcoming to all, regardless of sexual orientation or insurance coverage.

Culinary Classroom

Have you heard of Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady? She is possibly best known as the co-author of the useful book Lunch Lessons, and her mission is "to ensure that kids everywhere have wholesome, nutritious, delicious food at school."

To accomplish this, Ms. Cooper advocates for us to change the way we are feeding our children, and she backs up her case with humor, passion and terrifying health statistics.

I think bad food is one reason why many of our children do not succeed.

Also, she has this spectacular recipe for banana bread.

Save the People

Yesterday, card-waving members of the Teaching Artist Union gathered for the regular monthly membership meeting and open-house, which is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Teaching Artist Union Hall at 1079 Grand Avenue in Brooklyn.

TAU's co-founder, Cassie Thornton, presented the organization's beta mission statement, which reads, in part:

"The Teaching Artist Union is composed of New York City artists who teach as a part of their creative practice. With this union, we aim to define the role of the teaching artist through developing a supportive community, celebrating and exhibiting the work produced in teaching situations, and advocating for the rights and needs of the teaching artist."

TAU membership is free for artists who teach.

Hey, that's you!

Also: Laura Nyro - Save the Country

The Last Sad Song

It's been a rough year for employment. For those teaching artists who depend on money for things like food and rent, gigs may be harder to come by.

Luckily, it's both necessary, and possible, to think that things are getting better all the time, and no one can stop you. Next week, the plan around here is to post more jobs, and daily links to resources and information about things that we professional teaching artists can do to not starve, all while delivering high quality teaching and learning in the arts.

Also, today is Friday!

Here are some random items, and a terrific disco hit to hum while polishing up the résumé.

In Politics: Next week, if you live in NYC, it's time to vote. Voting in citywide elections is a great way to show how much you care about arts education.

In New York State: Please respond to the latest NYS Arts Advocacy Action Alert! Gov. Paterson proposed billions of dollars in spending cuts in the current 2009-10 budget seeking to close a deficit for this year that he projects at $3 billion. Tell your politicians how you feel about their priorities. Send a letter.

In the Health-care Debate: The New York Times says hopeful Democrats present their health-care legislation. Republicans disagree completely. But the San Francisco Chronicle says the "Public option isn't much of either."

In Books: The miraculous Marilynne Robinson tries her best to rehabilitate John Calvin, and she nearly does. The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought

In Education: At Education Week, a new report (pdf) questions Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's presiding over the closing of dozens of failing schools during his tenure in Chicago. He's touted this as an achievement, but the actual students saw no benefit, says the study.

In Disco: Donna & Barbra - No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

How Things Work

Professional TAs who are eagerly awaiting a new government-sponsored health care plan, should read the New York Times to find out how things actually work.

A White House compromise, being discussed by people who all have excellent doctors, would have government offering its own health plan only if private insurers failed to provide "affordable" coverage. This reasonable sounding alternative is similar to a plan that was instituted in 2003 for prescription drug benefits. In that case, says the Times, "private insurers, seeing a lucrative business opportunity, rushed into the market, and...the Medicare drug benefit is thus delivered entirely by private insurers under contract with the federal government."

If this plan works, people who own insurance companies are going to get so much more rich!

Happy Labor Day.

Also: Capitalism! @ Youtube

Hear the Bells

In the ongoing "debate" over health care reform, people who already have excellent health care are signaling that ditching the public health care option is not a deal-breaker.

“The president is going to continue to try to persuade everyone of the great value of having a true public plan,” said this Democrat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid discussing strategy publicly. ”But at the end of the day, I believe he recognizes that there are other, arguably less effective, ways to achieve greater coverage, more choice, better quality and lower cost in our system.”

Instead of a new government health insurance plan, which is what so many of the public in question thought they were promised, it seems likely that a network of low-cost health care cooperatives will be the proffered solution.


I think they mean group insurance plans like those available through membership in the Freelancers Union/Working Today.


Also: Peter Paul and Mary - If I Had A Hammer

Don't Hold Your Breath

Friday.

It's all over.

You can relax and hang out with friends.

Also: Over at the New York Times, lawmakers and the White House doggedly pursue President Obama’s top policy goal of extending health coverage to all Americans, sometime in the future.

Plus: Patsy Cline - Crazy

Frontline

PBS Frontline is one of the most useful interactive sites on our tour.

Marvel at the array of films and related lesson plans.

The documentary feature, The Medicated Child, explores mental health issues among school-age children.

Thankfully, there's a Guide, because the situation presented in the film is rather alarming:

In recent years, there's been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders and prescribed medications that are just beginning to be tested in children. The drugs can cause serious side effects..."

Yikes.

The Wash

The NYC Health Department tells you everything you never wanted to know about the flu, swine or otherwise. 

Sometimes, when I am visiting a school, there is no soap or toilet paper in the bathroom and I wonder if it is on purpose. 

From nyc.gov:

Health Department Continues Investigation of Swine Flu Cluster
Swine flu is in New York City and appears to spread in patterns resembling a seasonal influenza. So far, virtually all confirmed and suspected cases have been mild.
Learn more
Read the press release (En español)
Read OEM's Ready NY flu guide (in PDF)
Download Swine Influenza: What New Yorkers Need To Know (En español) (in PDF) 
Get Swine Influenza: What New Yorkers Need To Know in additional languages

Whistling in the Dark

Colin Dabkowski who writes the excellent Arts Beat column over at the Buffalo News highly recommends a recent New York Times article that has been making the rounds.

In The Boom Is Over. Long Live the Art! NY Times writer Holland Carter, suggests that economic malaise might be a good thing for American art.

Mr. Dabkowski seems to agree, writing:

"Anyone fearing for the future of the arts ought to give Cotter a look. He argues that the art-crash now in progress, like those that came before, is an opportunity to reach down into the muck that is the current art world and produce an entirely new vision. Which, after all, is what art is supposed to be about."

It's a nice line of thinking, but I refuse to get overly excited about the creative opportunities that are the inevitable by products of poverty.

You only get one life.

You might as well live it with health insurance, a living wage and a pension plan.

Meta-text: The New York Times reports on uninsured young adults and Do-It-Yourself Health Care.

Meta-music: An ancient Johnny Cash covers Trent Reznor's Hurt @ youtube. If you know anything about Johnny Cash you will flip over this video.

Nonn' Erubescite, Reges

Tom Daschle in Washington.

Barack Obama in the middle.

Jessye Norman in Thebes.