Note: To protect the privacy of our members, e-mail addresses have been removed from the archived messages. As a result, some links may be broken.

Lesson Plans


Re: Art teachers lose jobs

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
DebbieDBAE
Wed, 17 Jul 1996 16:29:11 -0400

There is hope!!! Sarasota County, Fla. went through the same thing last
year....and many teachers lost their positions. A lot scrambled to recertify
in other areas, some tossed up their hands and relocated, and others were
kept as art teachers but were reassigned to several schools as traveling
"consultants". (a few schools kept theirs, but cut every aide, increased
class sizes, etc...to do so)

The community (parents, business leaders, and the Arts Council) became
enraged! It took a year of solid united effort, but a Community Coalition
of over 100 businesses presented resolutions to the school board, there were
demonstrations, a bumper sticker and poster campaign ("Where is my art and
music teacher?" with a childs drawing).....all of which, cumalitively,
WORKED!!!!
There will now be art and music (and PE) instruction in all elementary and
middle schools (high school was uneffected) for this school year!

The key, I believe, has been ongoing, highly rational meetings and
discussions with school administrators and board. They were ultimately
convinced that the arts are central to every childs education. It now is up
to us as arts educators to DOCUMENT this, and be our own programs best P.R.
and advocate experts to prevent it from ever happening again!

By the way, spread the word...Sarasota County is hiring art and music
teachers.(I believe up to 10 positions are vacant) We are looking for the
best, with a DBAE background.......contact school board offices
@(941)927-8811 and ask for personnel.