Monday, April 15, 2013

Linking arts and education

The Arts and Science Council has launched an Education Network web site to connect teachers, parents and artists throughout Mecklenburg County with opportunities for kids and teens to learn through art.

Students at ASC-sponsored "Endless Possibilities" field trip
The site is an outgrowth of the council's partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  As the recession whittled away at field trips and other arts, history and science opportunities,  the council committed more than $1.5 million a year through 2016 to fight back.

The site offers success stories,  cultural lesson plans,  grant opportunities, a directory of teaching artists and a calendar of arts opportunities suitable for youth and families.

“We look forward in the coming weeks and months to the collaboration and idea generation we expect from the network,"  said Barbara Ann Temple, a former CMS teacher who's now the ASC vice president of education.

I thought this item would make a nice break from the CMS budget.  But if you're into that,  this is a good week to get involved.  See a list of events here and read the budget here.

9 comments:

BolynMcClung said...

.
THIS IS A GOOD THING.

While the electronic world has done much to open our eyes, it has done nothing for our noses. The activities sponsored by ASC bring kids into the arena and let them hear the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd.

What child knows how small is the Mona Lisa, how the Spirit of St. Louis fills The Smithsonian or the two views captured in the water of the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool?

Money well spent to bring reality to literacy.

Bolyn McClung
Pineville
.

Anonymous said...

No matter how much STEM students are fed Common Core ad nauseum, it's the arts, in so many ways, that brings them to a love of learning, performing, and critical thinking.

Anonymous said...

Taxpayers should not have to buy paintbrushes nor football helmets.

I am all for the arts and sports.

JUST PAY FOR IT

Anonymous said...

AA = Answers Ann

Have you found any answers yourself to the CTE issues?

Now it is STEAM to appease the Arts crowd. Good luck finding a high paying job with that Liberal Arts degree.

Anonymous said...

ART for Cultural Competency.

Amen,
Alicia

Anonymous said...

This was a great field trip and a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience music and dance in new ways.

Unfortunately we attended the second performance and by the time the first group had loaded their busses and they allowed us to unload and enter the building, we had missed the first 15 minutes of the 45 minute performance. For some crazy reason, about 12 to 15 busses were directed to drive around uptown then go sit in the parking lot of the old education center while those leaving the first performance got on their busses.

As one parent put it, we spent two hours on a bus to attend a 30 minute performance and had to eat lunch on the bus. What a lesson in culture!

Anonymous said...

11:08 You sum up CMS pretty well with your comment.

There are so many decisions that are being made right now that make no sense for the students. For example BYOT, the 7:15am high school start time and the new "curriculum" that has 3, 4, 5th graders doing middle school reasoning and problem solving before they have mastered and learned the basics to build upon. Who's making these decisions?

Anonymous said...

Anon April 15, 2013 at 11:08 PM:

Yes, but it looks good on paper and the press releases.

So it's ALL good.

(You'd think they could have waited until all the buses unloaded before starting the performance, though. After all, they are children...)

Anonymous said...

Your current board and Heath Morrison are making decisions based on money. The board is the most accountable since Heath is fairly new. Vote all the idiots out of office/board this upcoming election. Power your voice with your vote. These people have been terrible for our childrens educations.