Post date: Feb 11, 2017 4:43:15 PM
CA VAPA Standards Revision Focus Groups have completed their process. The last of three sessions was in Downey on 1/30. Michele Nelson, a middle school visual and media arts teacher at Burbank Middle School, LAUSD, and former writing team member for the National Core Media Arts Standards was there, along with Matt Cauthron, digital arts teacher and coordinator for the renowned Digital Arts Tech Academy in Cathedral City. They reported that overall media arts was well received and supported by several attendees. The only very minor concern was that media arts teachers may silo themselves, and that arts teachers should do media. Thanks much for representing Matt and Michele!
With that, I believe that this process has contributed significantly to the support for the inclusion for media arts in the VAPA standards revision! Again, deep appreciation to our members for being there and speaking up for media arts!
California Alliance for Arts Education Policy Council - I had the honor of presenting at this meeting of arts education associated leaders, including all state arts education organizations (CAEA, CDEA, CTEA, etc) the PTA, Cal Teachers Assoc, LA Phil, various arts councils, offices of education, arts and arts education non-profits, etc. http://www.artsed411.org/about/policy_council This was a panel to inform the Council, who then would advise CAAE’s Board on the inclusion of media arts in the VAPA standards revision and AB 37, and its future state presence. Debbie Look, Legislative Representative for CDE, and Tom Adams, Deputy Superintendent were also on the panel. Adams expressed strong support for the bill and for media arts as a separate arts content discipline due to its appeal to and service to young people, and its uniquely interconenctive nature. He stated that we are following their needs and interests for this new world, as opposed to dictating sets of skills and knowledge as we had in the past. Armalyn De La O, who has long been a state leader in arts education, serving for The Calif Arts Project, and presidential roles for both visual arts and music arts orgs (CAEA, and CMEA) was also on the panel. Armalyn was the opposing voice to media arts. Her argument was that media arts is already integrated within all of the arts disciplines, and does not need to be separate. She also raised the worry of credentialing. Out of my testimony about media arts very unique characteristics and potentials, and its presence in my own school and affect on our students, in complementary collaboration with the other arts and academic contents, I believe that I made a strong case for its separation and interconnectivity. I refuted the "dispersion into the arts" argument as it would be absolutely impossible for the traditional arts to form a robust and coherent discipline out of their own standards. The council questions tried unsuccessfully to find greater clarity in Armalyn’s opposition.
I am fairly confident that CAAE will side with supporting media arts education. If they do make a formal statement to that effect, we will have gained a powerful partner in our quest for full inclusion in the upcoming processes. We look forward to their decision!
AB 37 - As I stated previously, you can track the bill’s progress, and submit comments at the below link. I have yet to learn how to best advocate for the bill. Anyone is welcome to look into that and get back to us. CAAE would also assist in that role when they have made their decision of support. There is the distinct possibility of delay due to new budgetary concerns, if you’re following the news! Patience!
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB37
Media Arts Educators/Organization Meetings
There are three potential media arts education related meetings appearing on the horizon that evidences our solidifying presence!
A MAEC member, William Bronston, who has been a state leader in media/digital Arts initiatives and legislation and a youth media organization, is looking to convene educators, orgs and supporters at the end of this year in Sacramento, in support of AB 37 and its future implementation.
Jack Mitchell, VAPA and CTE Arts Media Entertainment Consultant for CDE is encouraging a meeting of media arts educators at the annual AME conference in San Diego.
https://www.ca-ameschools.net/copy-of-events
There will be a "Media Arts Expo" at my school, Belmont High School near downtown LA, probably in late May. My leadership students are going to organize it and exhibit our work in graphics, animation and video, as well as our theatre’s “Back to the Future” performance, and want to invite other media arts organizations and artists who might be interested in attending or sharing something. We have a huge school campus that has become under-enrolled, and have quite a bit of vacant space! This will be a recruitment event for us as well, as we have about 7 high school programs in the near vicinity that we are competing with! Let us know if you might be interested in sharing.
Stay tuned for more details on these to come, and let us know about any other media arts education related news and events!