January 2011
Attica Students Part of Effort to See if Music Improves Minds
January 2011 | Dan McFeely, Indianapolis Star - "Dolls are still OK with 7-year-old Emma Culvahouse, but what she really wants for Christmas can't be found in a toy store. Emma has fallen in love with a violin -- the one she plays at school. "She loves it so much," said her mother, Kim Culvahouse, "that she wants Santa Claus to bring her a violin so she can play it every day." Most kids who learn to play the violin typically wouldn't start lessons until they were in Grade 4 or 5. And in a small school like Attica Elementary, they wouldn't learn at all -- unless they could afford private lessons. Not much demand for that, though. Not in a town with 10 percent unemployment and about half the kids getting free or reduced-price lunches.But Emma and about 58 classmates are benefiting from an educational experiment and the charity of the tiny town's residents, who raised $40,000 to pay for three dozen violins and the salary of a qualified teacher. It's part of a program developed by Indiana University's music school to find out whether it's true that playing the violin can make you smarter." Full Article
Creativity Index May Lead to Changes in Education, Business
January 2011 | John M. Eger, San Diego Tribune - "If we are entering an age when creativity and innovation are the hallmarks of the most successful companies, why then are we not doing more to find out what makes people creative? One state is clearly taking the lead: Massachusetts. One state is still to be counted: California. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick called last summer for the formation of a creativity index to measure creativity in public schools statewide. Last April, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “The arts can no longer be treated as a frill. ... Arts education is essential to stimulating the creativity and innovation that will prove critical for young Americans competing in a global economy.” Duncan also said that the Education Department is conducting the first large-scale survey of school principals, music teachers and visual arts specialists in 10 years.
But clearly more needs to be done, and the Massachusetts legislation is an important first step for that state and the rest of our nation. State Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg, who introduced the bill, said, “Employers are increasingly saying that they don’t just need people with basic job skills, but people who are creative [and] who can generate new ideas and new ways of solving problems.” The legislation, as introduced, calls for formation of a 15-member commission of experts representing various interest groups in the state. Seven members would be appointed by the governor; one would be a representative of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts; one from Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities; one a representative of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable; three members would be appointed by the president of the Senate; and three by the speaker of the House. The timetable for producing the index is not clear. A staff would need to be put in place first, but a first report is called for by the end of 2011. Their task would not be easy. Defining creativity and measuring it has been the work of scholars for decades." Full Article
Corbet Picks Education, Insurance Department Heads
January 2011 | Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Gov.-elect Tom Corbett is rounding out his Cabinet with a new education secretary from Maryland and an insurance commissioner from suburban Harrisburg. Ronald J. Tomalis, 48, and Michael F. Consedine, 41, were tapped to be education secretary and insurance commissioner, respectively. Both nominations are subject to Senate confirmation. Mr. Tomalis likely will find himself in the center of debate between advocates of school choice and those who prefer to keep state resources flowing into traditional public schools. Full Article
Arts Education Partnership Spring 2011 National Forum Student Cover Art Contest
Do you know a talented student artist? We are seeking student art submissions that reflect or are inspired by the AEP Forum theme: “Picturing a Complete Education: Keep the Arts in Mind” for the design of the front cover of our Spring National Forum program booklet. The contest is open to all students ages 13-25 in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Contest entries must be two-dimensional works of visual art (all genres of visual art are welcome), available in electronic format, and at least 8.5”x11” in size and 300 dpi. You can find more details about contest rules and download the RFP HERE.
Submissions for the Cover Art Contest are due to AEP by Friday, February 11, 2011. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Cristine at cristined@ccsso.org.
CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University's Hear Me
The CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University is inviting educators and organizations to join Hear Me - a project dedicated to collecting and disseminating stories of children and youth in communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Hear Me engages children in creative conversations about issues of regional, national and personal importance, using technology and media to broadcast their stories throughout our region.
Hear Me is under way with hundreds of stories already collected from toddlers through high school students. Soon, stories by children will find you in hundreds of locations, including grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops and many others.
Hear me is specifically hoping to increase its presence in Beaver, Butler, Greene, Fayette and Washington counties.
Add the voice of children from your area to the mix, and showcase the work you do with them. Become a member of Hear Me and join in telling and collecting stories at your school, organization or community event. Professional development opportunities, equipment loans and technology access are available for participants. Learn more at: www.hear-me.net. Receive a story to your cell phone by texting HEARME to 25252 Access Hear Me’s digital web archive of narratives at www.tell-port.net. To participate in Hear Me, please email Jen Saffron: jen.createlab@gmail.com
JFilm: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum
JFILM: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum (formerly the Pittsburgh Jewish Israeli Film Festival) is offering “Teen Screen” - free film screenings for school groups during the 2010-2011 school year. Teacher guides are provided for each film and a talk back session follows each screening. JFilm educators are available for a one-time preparatory session in your classroom prior to your school’s screening date.
Please note that we can accommodate groups of 100 or more on other dates of your choice, with advance planning. If you have a smaller group and would like a different date, please contact us well in advance so that we can find other interested groups to join yours. Screenings begin at 10 or at 10:30 a.m. and the program ends no later than 12:30 p.m., depending on
the length of the film you select. Reservations must be made in advance. Seating is limited. Questions? Call 412-992-5213, or email: info@JFilmPgh.org to register. More information
