Last week I was talking with a middle school principal in one of CAE's programs. A network planning meeting was concluding and we got to talking about quality. At first, I thought he was asking about quality arts instruction, as in "how do you support and measure it?" It's the sort of question you want principals to ask. Very quickly the conversation went to a deeper, more interesting, and entirely affirming place: "how can you tell quality in art?" It's the mother lode. It's the conversation you point towards, hope for, well beyond the … [Read more...]

I am in DC for a three-day  conference being held by the United States Department of Education for its arts education grantees.So, I am looking over the agenda, and lo and behold, I see a roundtable discussion titled: "Arts Education vs Arts Integration." It's the second time in the past six months I have seen this odd and infuriating distinction, which appears on the surface to part of an attempt to define learning "through the arts" as something other than arts education. Okay, call me paranoid.I don't know about you, but I have always … [Read more...]

Buyer beware: this is not a brief blog...Last Tuesday, the New York City Department of Education released its second Annual Arts in the Schools Report, which is part of a larger initiative called Arts Count.There were three press articles that covered this report:NY TimesNY PostInside SchoolsHere is the press release issued by the NYCDOEOkay, what are the key points that made it to the press release? "Among the main findings: ·        Forty-five percent of elementary schools offered all four art disciplines … [Read more...]

Okay, I know, it makes no sense. Why would we pay kids to study arts education when they like studying the arts, it has a positive effect on attendance, and in many districts across the nation, kids are denied access to arts instruction?I was just trying to get your attention.If you haven't already heard, paying kids to take tests, improve performance, and attend school is the next wave of "school reform." There are also programs to pay parents to make sure their kids attend school, take tests, etc.Diane Ravitch, the leading education historian … [Read more...]

And you thought the debates were over. This will be a good one. Click here to register.Education and the ElectionTwo must-see events on edweek.org Live Debate: Education and the Next President Exclusive webcast, Tuesday, October 21, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time Live from Teachers College, Columbia University: "Education and the Next President," a debate between Linda Darling-Hammond, education adviser to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Lisa Graham Keegan, education adviser to Republican nominee John McCain. Person Linda … [Read more...]

"Rave review." That's right, by me!Overlooked among the media coverage on Doctor Atomic is the support provided for those who want to learn more. When it comes to opera, I have long admired John Adams for creating works that have direct relevance to my life and times. Don't get me wrong, I admire John for his music and his increasingly important role as a musical ambassador. In fact, John is a friend of mine. That being said, his operas are about a world I know, my world, and while I always appreciate the universal quality of timeless operas … [Read more...]

Over the past year or two we've seen the emergence of significant studies to determine the levels of access to arts education by students in a given state or in some instances a city. Later today, the New York City Department of Education will release its second Annual Arts in the Schools Report. This year, they're not inviting press to the release. More on that report later this week. I came across this study by the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Arts Council.   Click here for the full report   Click here for the … [Read more...]

Early on in my tenure at CAE, I had lunch with an extremely talented principal of a charter school with a heavy focus on the arts. There was so much to admire, not the least of which was the principal's commitment to excellence, innovation, and high standards. Among the charter school movement, it is central to what I find most appealing: starting from scratch, with bold ideas that will likely not be encumbered by district or SED bureaucracies. If one has an idea for what would make a great school, and you can put it together through the … [Read more...]

I have had the good fortune to be associated with Chamber Music America's New Music Institutes, which are a series of institutes across New York State providing professional development for students, professional artists, and managers in connection with the creation, performance, and promotion of new chamber music. Last week at SUNY Potsdam, I was deeply struck by one of the faculty members: Stefon Harris. Stefon is a great jazz musician, ensemble leader, teacher, and musical citizen.As part of his work with the institute, Stefon and his … [Read more...]

I always thought he was underestimated as an actor. It wasn't just  as measured by the number of Academy Awards, but rather by the opinions of all my friends that he wasn't on par with Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Gregory Peck, Lawrence Olivier, etc. I argued then and will argue now.I know it sounds terribly corny, but when I heard of the death of Paul Newman I felt that I had lost a friend. (I felt that way about George Carlin, although with Carlin, it left me wondering who would tell us all how stupid we are, do you hear that Lewis Black?) … [Read more...]