Sing Out

he Center for Arts Education Staying in School (pdf), a highly anticipated rdicates that you may indeed be doing something meaningful with your life in art.

"High schools in the top third of graduation rates were more likely to have offered students an opportunity to attend an arts activity, such as a theater performance, dance recital, or museum exhibit, than schools in the bottom third."

The CAE report in "dedicate resources to support arts instruction," and

This report collides head on with Governor David Paterson's massive $3 billion deficit reduction plan for New York State. Education will take the force of the blow—losing $480 million of its budget between now and the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2010.

Tell everyone.

Sing-along

Ground Control

At least the pre-Copernican mind was sure of its place in the universe. What is a teaching artist? How to define a community that represents such a wide range of disciplines? How do you advocate for teaching artists, when some of them don't even know what they are yet? How do you train teaching artists in the first place? What do we need to know? Should all teaching artists have the same pedagogical foundation, or are we still just using whatever works for us?

What's on your mind?

Please complete the latest ATA survey and join all your "friends" on Facebook.

Also: Dionne Warwick - Don't Make Me Over

Twenty One

Sometimes, I have twenty questions. For instance, how is a TA supposed to live on 5 part-time after-school gigs in 3 different boroughs that each pay $50/hour twice a week when the train costs $90 month and the average one bedroom is $2500, and you can't be in two places at once? What do you think when you hear the phrase "planning time is included?" If we're supposed to be both good artists and effective teachers, do we need two advanced degrees? If so, shouldn't the hourly rate be higher? Whose lesson plan is this? Which ones are the solid earning years for a TA? Where are the mentoring programs? What happens to all the older TAs? I know you are there, but weren't there more of you? Did your colleagues all become administrators, advocates and philosophers in residence? Or, did they just all quit and get real jobs? Are they eating? Can they pay their bills? Can you? Why does everyone keep asking me to volunteer?

Also: Alice Russell - Seven Nation Army