[DOE-Arts] ARTS NEWSLETTER #9

Tue May 29 20:57:48 EDT 2007

   ARTS Newsletter #9- 29 May 2007

GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at  
the Department of Education

NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is being emailed to 418 educators this week!  That is  
an increase of 14 people since the last newsletter two weeks ago!   
YAHOOOOOOOO!  If you know someone who isn’t receiving the newsletter  
and would like to, please ask them to email me argy.nestor at maine.gov
I know some folks are at a different email address for the summer.   
If you would like the newsletter to go to a “summer email address”  
please email me and I can add a second email for you.

ARTS NEWS
Almost two weeks ago I had the honor of attending the All-State  
Festival and Conference at USM.  I had a chance to watch and listen  
to the band, orchestra and a chamber singer rehearsal.  I was  
soooooooooooo impressed, especially seeing approximately 300 students  
and teachers fill the gymnasium for an evening performance of the  
Blue Hill Brass Band.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to  
perform for such an amazing musical audience.  I could almost feel  
the musical energy in the air.   From there I flew out to Detroit, MI  
for three days of meetings with my peers from 17 other states.  The  
group has received a small amount of funding to research where we are  
by region with assessments.  It is going to be interesting work.  My  
favorite part of visiting Detroit was the chance to attend the  
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, see an Ansel Adams exhibit at the Detroit  
Institute of Arts and attend an awesome student performance at  
the                   Mosaic Youth Theater.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CONFERENCE-
Oct. 5,6, 2007- The title is:
AT THE CREATIVE CENTER

THE ARTS IN MAINE SCHOOLS

A state-wide arts conference sponsored by the Maine Department of  
Education (MDOE), The Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) and  
the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) partnering with Maine Art Education  
Association (MAEA), Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), Maine  
Drama Council (MDC) Dance Education in Maine Schools (DEMS) and VSA  
arts of Maine (VSA).
AS PROMISED, THE “CALL FOR PRESENTERS” FORM IS ATTACHED TO THIS  
NEWSLETTER.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FACILITATING A SESSION PLEASE  
FILL OUT THE FORM AND SEND IT MY WAY BY EMAIL argy.nestor at maine.gov  
OR SNAIL MAIL Maine Dept. of Ed., 23 State House State House Station,  
Augusta, ME 04333-0023 IT TO ME BY JULY 1ST.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
*** Register now for the 6th Annual
Widening the Circle NECAP Conference
A New England-wide conference for teaching artists and early  
childhood educators working with children age 3 to Grade 3.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Wells Elementary  
School, Wells, Maine.  See the attached document for more information.
*** Center for Maine Furniture Craftsmanship located in Rockport, ME  
is offering interesting workshops this summer.  Please go to their  
website to see the details www.woodschool.org

WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO FOR MUSIC EDUCATION- CONGRESS PASSES MUSIC  
EDUCATION RESOLUTION
On May 15, the House and Senate passed a concurrent resolution  
expressing the sense of Congress that "music education grounded in  
rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded  
academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every  
school."

The bill, H.Con.Res. 121, introduced by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) with  
35 cosponsors, recognizes the benefits and importance of school-based  
music education with a number of findings to support the  
legislation's position:

§         School music programs enhance intellectual development and  
enrich the academic environment for students of all ages;

§         Students who participate in school music programs are less  
likely to be involved with drugs, gangs, or alcohol and have better  
attendance in school;

§         The skills gained through sequential music instruction,  
including discipline and the ability to analyze, solve problems,  
communicate, and work cooperatively, are vital for success in the  
21st century workplace;

§         The majority of students attending public schools in inner  
city neighborhoods have virtually no access to music education, which  
places them at a disadvantage compared to their peers in other  
communities;

§         The arts are a core academic subject, and music is an  
essential element of the arts; and

§         Every student in the United States should have an opportunity

         to reap the benefits of music education

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
*** Applications are being accepted for 1 music teacher, grades K-4  
and 1 art teacher, grades K-6 in Caribou. Please contact Frank  
McElwain, Superintendent of Schools, Caribou School Department, 628  
Main Street, Caribou, ME 04736.  Submit application, resume and three  
current references.

*** Applications are being accepted for three teaching jobs in  
Belfast, 2 elementary and 1 high school visual arts position.  Send  
to MSAD 34, Central Office, Waldo Ave., Belfast, ME 04973.  For more  
information contact high school art teacher Chuck Hamm at  
chamm at sad34.net

CREATIVITY
DO SCHOOLS KILL CREATIVITY?  Why don't we get the best out of people?  
Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson argues that it's because we've  
been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers.  
Students with restless minds and bodies -- far from being cultivated  
for their energy and curiosity -- are ignored or even stigmatized,  
with terrible consequences. Robinson makes an entertaining (and  
profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that  
nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. With ample anecdotes  
and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail  
to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant  
people. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson  
says. "All kids have tremendous talents and we squander them." He  
goes on to say that he believes that creativity is as important in  
education as literacy, and we should give it the same status.  Click  
here for more information.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

SPEAKING OF CREATIVITY
This is interesting…. A friend of mine who is a technology teacher  
send this to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFykmLljos

ARGY’S ARTS BLOG
During the last four months you have received information on  
proposals for reorganizing Maine school districts.  Proposals are  
still under discussion in the legislature.  Some of you have followed  
this story through a variety of media.  Please take a few minutes and  
go to the Arts blog http://mearts.edublogs.org/  and give your  
opinion on how you think the reorganization may impact your visual or  
performing arts program.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WATERSHED
Watershed Ceramics program was honored for Leadership in Arts  
Education during the Maine College of Art 12th Annual Art Honors.   
Executive Director, Lynn Thompson, received the award on behalf of  
Watershed.  To learn more about the Watershed in Edgecomb, ME please  
click on
http://www.watershedceramics.org/

FUNDING SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS?!
School art programs rely on donations, integration
Schools are increasingly relying on student and parent fundraising to  
fund art programs; a recent survey of 1,123 California schools found  
the majority of the schools rely on private funding to support arts  
education. Meanwhile, a Hawaii elementary school is integrating arts  
into nearly every core subject as an example of how to ensure that  
students learn about art even when there's not enough money for a  
regular arts class or teacher. San Diego Union-Tribune (5/21), The  
Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii) (5/21)  (Click above where it says  
“school art programs rely on donations” to read more)

HELP OUT A COLLEAGUE
Some of you know Carolyn Brown, art teacher from Camden Hills High  
School, resident of Appleton.  If you are interested in helping her  
receive a $10,000 scholarship, see the attached for more  
information.  Deadline is June 1st, help out and get a good feeling.

WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH USED CD’S?
My son sent me this link (he knows I am always finding ways to use  
old CD’s http://www.flickr.com/photos/inhabitat/512451907/

QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER
"Just as there can be no music without learning; no education is  
complete without music."

Quoted from Growing Up Complete: The Imperative for Music Education,  
a brochure published by National Coalition for Music Education,  
Reston, VA.

Make it a great day,
Argy
Argy Nestor
Visual and Performing Arts Specialist
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
624-6825
fax: 624-6821
argy.nestor at maine.gov

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