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Seems like I'm going to have
to eat my words about Texas. Next we will see if it raises the
level of values in the schools. On the fundamentalist music lists I have
been frequenting lately I am very impressed with the changes I see happening
there. At the very least the potential is real and there is real
movement in other places. People from very disparate points of
views are talking to each other and helping each other with their
problems. Problem solving seems to be the key. It
also helps that they all see themselves as Christian even though very different
ones. The ones running the lists are liberal Southern Baptists as
opposed to the less so. Just when the conventional seems
the rule, people fool you. I like that.
REH
Advancing the arts
New law changes education requirements for schools By Ann WorkTimes Record News Fine arts teachers were all tangled up in knots at
Tuesday's Second Annual Regional Summit for Texas Fine Arts Educators at the
Region 9 Education Center.
In one creative exercise designed to be passed on to their own students, some
of the 100 music, art and theater teachers created a human knot. The teachers
worked together to figure out how to untie themselves and form a simple circle.
"One of us has to step over...."
"Go under Jeannie's arms...."
"Now we're back where we were...."
"I don't think it can be done...."
"That looks good...."
"You're going to twist this hand. Walk around this way...."
"Yeh!"
"I didn't think it was possible without cheating," said one participant as
she walked to her seat.
But there were knottier problems discussed. Along with the practical how-to's
of teaching music, art, creative dramatics and theater to public school
students, the educator-training summit was set against the backdrop of
ground-breaking news: Fine arts curriculum based on the Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills is now required in all Texas schools.
Until last week, music and art curriculums were only a recommended addition
to foundation subjects, such as math, science, English and social studies.
The new, unfunded mandate signed into law last week by Gov. Rick Perry gave
new validity to the training presented to Region 9 teachers, according to Dr.
Dan White, Fine Arts coordinator for the Wichita Falls Independent School
District.
"A lot of school districts have completely ignored the enrichment areas
because it isn't mandated. That will no longer work," White said.
WFISD schools are in good shape, though, he said.
White's been watching the bill flop around the Legislature for several years.
Figuring that it would eventually pass, WFISD designed a fine arts curriculum
based on the TEKS and put it in place throughout the school system several years
ago.
Funding for fine arts programs has slipped some over the years, but still
remains adequate, White said. At the elementary level for WFISD, art teachers
get $3 per student and music teachers also receive $3 per student to fund their
programs, White said.
Fine arts programs will survive, despite shrinking budgets, he said.
"There's never enough money. You know how that is. We're just happy we didn't
get cut. We went for several years with $5 (for art) and $5 (for music). At that
point, our teachers made some very wise purchases and got equipment up to date.
We're just happy we're staying at the same ($3) level. We can certainly function
on that."
White's budget for fine arts projects took a 7 percent cut when the district
made its across-the-board reductions in the spring.
Jefferson Elementary music teacher Janette Hoover lingered after a summit
session to discuss ever-present money needs in her classroom. "I just always
thought you were supposed to buy your own music," she said.
Hoover said she'd never totaled up how much she spent on music for her
classes and programs and doesn't even want to know. She just saves the receipts
and throws them in a shoebox for her husband to tally up at tax time. "I try not
to know that bottom-line figure," she said.
Hoover said just keeping the pianos tuned at her school can use up a third of
her annual funds.
Iowa Park CISD theater teacher Vicki Dillard said her secondary students do
lots of fund-raisers to raise money. Dillard wields a school budget of $750.
Summit presenter Beverly Burnside from North East ISD said legislators are
slowly but surely seeing the validity of fine arts programs, which help develop
a student's entire brain - both right and left sides. "They don't want kids to
just have computer skills. If that's all they can do, they're really limited,"
she said. "Kids become well-rounded with fine arts."
Burnside said the law requiring fine arts programs was the first step toward
including fine arts in the state assessment - something she could see coming
down the road. |
