Broadband improvement, Principles call for arts return, Let’s pause
Here are three important items in this weeks news that impact the arts, arts education and most importantly arts educators!
Mainers hope COVID-19 pandemic is catalyst for statement broadband improvement
Yesterday Governor Mills announced that “All Maine students will have access to the internet.” Sadly Maine rates third for slowest internet service. Sedomocha School music educator, 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year and MALI Teacher Leader Kaitlin Young spoke to NewsCenter on the topic. Kaitlin said: “Connection is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity”. Missionbroadband.com – complete a survey anonymously to give your opinion and join Kaitlin in using your voice to make a difference. Thank you Kaitlin for advocating for Maine students!
COVID-19 coronavirus: Principals call for the arts to return to the classroom
In his May newsletter, New Zealand Principals’ Federation president Perry Rush argues for greater arts education in schools that goes beyond dance groups, school productions or instrumental music lessons. He says it means using the arts to prompt expressive language and creative endeavour in ways that integrate with other subjects and parts of the curriculum.
Rush, the principal of Hastings Intermediate, says in a world where alternative facts and fake news abound, the importance of the skills the arts teach – critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, insight and empathy, among them – is self-evident.
“Any society that strips its education system of what it means to be human and denies its young citizens the opportunity to explore and celebrate human expression, should be concerned about how this affects a healthy functioning democracy. There has never been a time to be more vigilant and protective of the humanities and artistic expression than now.”
National Council of Teachers of English Blog
Mandie B Dunn is assistant professor of English education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She sites the importance of taking time to pause and think about what we’ve lost and consider what that loss means for our well-being and for our relationships with students. We’re looking ahead to what school may look like in September rather than taking time to take care of ourselves.
me arts ed 