March 2011

Can Arts Education Be a Savior to the Economy?

March 2011 | Jim Denova (Benedum Foundation) and Gregg Behr (The Grable Foundation), WOWKTV.com - "In 2005, the National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine issued a report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.” This report was a wake-up call to America’s loss of a competitive edge in technology and economic growth. A set of recommendations called for new investments in research and technology, and it challenged the educational system to increase the number of scientists and engineers in our work force. This spurred the educational system to accelerate efforts to recruit and prepare students in courses of studies and careers in what came to be known as STEM, which stands for Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Across the country and in West Virginia, we saw the birth of STEM summer camps, STEM outreach programs and STEM Academies.

The traditional STEM disciplines, however, do not sufficiently address another important ingredient in national and international competitiveness: creativity. A recent Newsweek cover story cited an IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs who identified creativity as the primary competency necessary in our work force to lead our nation to a prosperous future. So, creative talent, too, must be nurtured in our future hires.

How, then, do we cultivate creativity as something to be taught in our educational system? It is almost trite to say that the arts inspire creativity, but arts education is often relegated to the margins of formal education as something leisurely, non-academic or unrelated to employment or the economy." Full Article

Allegheny County Art Teachers Work to Blend Culture into Curriculum

March 2011 | Matthew Santoni, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - "School art programs around Allegheny County seem to be going strong as teachers emphasize critical thinking and interdisciplinary studies, but some officials fear Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget portends dire cuts in school funding and endangers arts programs.

With some districts' art teachers handling 700 students per semester and shuttling among schools, they nonetheless have carved out a niche for arts education by connecting it to other subjects, and emphasizing creativity and critical thinking over technical skills.

"What I tell my kids all the time is, 'I may not teach you to draw, but I will teach you to think,' " said Jayne Sweet, a middle school and high school art teacher in the South Allegheny School District. "If you have the critical-thinking and reasoning skills you develop in art, you can use those to answer a PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) question."

Thus, lessons in impressionistic painting can involve elements of French history; drawing and perspective can include math and geometry; making and painting Native American drums can teach history, social studies and music all at once." Full Article

Clarification: This article refers to the arts not being mandated at the elementary level. However, the arts are specified as core curriculum in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind) and required in the Pennsylvania Chapter 4 regulations (under Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities). The arts are required for every student, every year at the elementary level. More information can be found here.

Mt. Lebanon Center Teaches More Than Performing Arts

March 2011 | Jill Thurston, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - "For three decades, the Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon has offered classes in singing, dancing, theater and acting. At the same time it has worked to instill its thousands of students with confidence, self-awareness and an understanding of teamwork.

When it began in 1981, it was the first program of its kind in the area, and the mission of the nonprofit center remains the same for its 30th anniversary -- to offer young people a chance to receive quality performing arts instruction and "a chance to shine," said Billy Hartung, a center alumnus with Broadway credits who is executive director.

To celebrate the center's milestone, students and alumni from around the country will gather April 2 for "Top Hats and Pearls" at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe. A special patron's reception featuring Broadway's Billy Porter will be held at 6 p.m. Mr. Porter is a Pittsburgh native, Carnegie Mellon University graduate and center alumnus. He achieved national recognition on "Star Search" and is in the off-Broadway 20th anniversary revival of "Angels in America."

Some of the returning alumni and some of the students will perform. The Megan Moorehead Courage Award will be given to a student who has inspired others with the courage to overcome difficult challenges through the arts." Full Article

Keystone Exams to be Delayed

March 2011 | Laura Olson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - "Acting Education Secretary Ron Tomalis told senators Monday that the state's public school students will have a little more time before they must face the Keystone Exams. Mr. Tomalis cited the state budget deficit, as well as problems with some districts not covering material on those tests, as reasons implementation of the end-of-course exams will be slower than scheduled.

"It's a good time to take a step back and make sure that when we go forward and implement a higher-stakes test that our students are able to pass the test," said Mr. Tomalis, after his confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee. The state plans to develop 10 Keystone Exams in math, English, social studies and science and make them part of graduation requirements for the class of 2015. The first of those exams were expected to be available this spring. School districts could use the state-provided exam or develop their own approved version.

Mr. Tomalis said his agency will continue preparing and testing exam questions, and that Gov. Tom Corbett will have more information on the exams as part of his budget announcement today." Full Article

Youth Photo Contest - Win a Trip to Europe!

The International Heritage Photographic Experience (IHPE) is an international photography project for youth to discover and appreciate their home region's landscapes and monuments. It celebrates individual expression through photography. Last year, Pittsburgh was the first U.S. city in history to join the IHPE project, which has included 200,000 youth in 66 countries. Last year, two young Pittsburgh photographers won a trip to the awards ceremony in Europe and had their photos exhibited around the world! This year, it could be YOU. Contact the Local IHPE Coordinator, Angela Seals, Program Manager at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh at ihpe@pittsburghkids.org or 412.322.5058 x201. More information here.

Kennedy Center Arts Integration Conference

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present an Arts Integration Conference: Exploring an Approach to Teaching on June 27-29, 2011 for arts organization staff, teachers, principals, and school district administrators. Registration is now available. It is recommended that participants attend as a team from a school including staff from a partnering arts organization.

The conference explores the “how” of arts integration, rooted in the Kennedy Center’s 30 years of experience in professional learning for teachers, and provides many strategies that can make arts integration a part of every teacher’s approach to teaching.

Participants will:

Examine the Kennedy Center’s definition of arts integration;
Engage in participatory workshops about arts integration practices led by Kennedy Center national teaching artists;
Discuss benefits of arts integration as an approach to teaching with teaching artists, teachers, and principals involved with the Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) program;
Hear results of Kennedy Center research studies that have evaluated the impact of arts integration on teachers’ instructional practice, student learning, and school culture.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/ceta/conference.html