Support the National Dance Education Organization’s advocacy on Capitol Hill, Thursday, October 6th!
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is holding a day of Dance/Arts Advocacy on Capitol Hill this Thursday, October 6th!
Guest blogger Karen K. Bradley will be there and shares with us what the NDEO will be advocating in DC!
If you can’t be there on Oct 6th, you can advocate to the U.S. Congress in support of NDEO & Dance/Arts Advocacy by calling your U.S. Congressperson and your two U.S. Senators!
[accordions][accordion title=”Find out who represents you!”]
Massachusetts residents:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx
Outside Massachusetts:
http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/
[/accordion][/accordions]
Speaking with Our Feet
Karen K. Bradley
Director of Graduate Studies in Dance
School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
University of Maryland
On Thursday October 6, 2016, over 35 dance educators will meet with members of Congress to address concerns and to advocate for federal policies that support dance programs in school, after-school and community programs.
With the coming implementation of the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Every Child Succeeds (ESSA), several points can be made to those who direct the U.S. Department of Education’s implementation of the law.
First of all, although the Act specifies the arts as a core subject area, the definitions of what constitutes a “well-rounded” education for all children could be deferred to the state and local educational agencies. In some states, this provides an unprecedented opportunity to assure that dance is offered in every school, as mandated by the Act. In other states, the definitions of well-rounded may be less round than is useful.
Therefore, one point we need to make is the impact that quality dance education in schools can have on children’s learning. We can share the EVIDENCE Report, the Core Arts Standards, PS Dance (the award-winning film about dance in NYC Public Schools) and our own stories about the specifics of embodied understanding and creative processes.
A few years ago, the arts were going to be competing with other untested subject areas (P.E. Languages, History, etc.) for funding for Model Programs and Professional Development projects in the Department of Education. While that did not happen, we need to be vigilant in reminding legislators about the importance and value of funding such programs. While the federal government should not be in the business of determining classroom content, what it can do well is to leverage and amplify the programs that work; that make a difference to children and teacher practices. Placing the arts in a soup of subject areas does not allow educators to see what is special and effective in arts education.
Therefore, we will be advocating for increased funding for the Assistance in Arts Education program (formerly Arts-in-Education) programs at the US Department of Education.
And we will be talking about the funding for the National Endowment for the Arts as well, specifically the Advancing Learning and Building the Field aspects of Art Works and Our Town grants. For more information: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Arts_Education_Fact_Sheet_Jan16.pdf
On Saturday, attendees will have an opportunity to hear from Dr. Monique Chism, of the US Department of Education, who will speak about the civil rights aspects of the current legislative efforts, particularly in terms of cultivating culturally proficient schools. I’m sure your representatives will be sharing some of her inspiring thoughts and agendas with you so that you too can join the movement to speak with our feet!