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THE 5 DAYS OF ARTS|LEARNING, Part I
CREATIVITY IN EDUCATION!
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Arts|Learning is a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network
--a consortium of 35 state alliances across the United States dedicated to arts advocacy and quality arts education for the nation's children.
 
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"On the first day of Arts|Learning,
      this newsletter will bring to you..."
Five days of cutting-edge research and outstanding news items of national importance; statewide programs here in Massachusetts that benefits all students (and can be replicated nationally), and ways YOU can help Arts|Learning improve our impact.  We hope you enjoy this five-day series of important e-newsletters. The focus of today's issue is CREATIVITY.
Creativity: Cure for the Common Curriculum  

 

View this intriguing article by Dan Berrett in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" from this past April.  A "growing appreciation of the practical, societal, and personal value of learning creative skills has prompted colleges both large and small to make creativity a compulsory part of their undergraduate education."
FL Schools May Be Required to
Track Access to the Arts
 
Lawmakers in Florida are considering a proposal to require schools to report access to arts courses, just as they report data on graduation rates and student demographics. The push comes amid a downward trend in arts enrollment, despite research from the Center for Fine Arts Education that shows a link between arts enrollment and performance on standardized tests and the SAT. Meanwhile, struggling students must attend remedial courses, allowing less time for courses in the arts (National Public Radio).

MA Creative Challenge Index
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81% of American corporate leaders say that "creativity is an essential skill for the 21st century work force," adding further that creativity is the skill most lacking in those entering the work force out of college.  IBM also conducted face-to-face interviews with 1500 CEOs across 60 nations and 33 industries, and 60% named creativity as the most important leadership skill.

In 2011, the MA State Legislature appointed a Commission to study the feasibility of developing an Index of Creativity and Innovation as a way of assessing creative opportunities all students have in the public schools not only in the arts, but across all subjects and disciplines.  Arts|Learning executive director, Jonathan Rappaport, was a member of the commission that issued a report in September, 2012.  The MA legislature recently budgeted an initial amount in order to pilot the program in several public school districts across the state.

This is one example of how Arts|Learning advocates for (1) strong programs in the arts and (2) creativity across the curriculum. In subsequent newsletters this week, we will highlight several other important initiatives Arts|Learning is undertaking to support quality arts education across Massachusetts.

For additional information about this project which is now spreading to other states, please click here.

 

How Can You Help?
Arts|Learning has a variety of ways you can help us to ramp up our work, such as promoting the Creative Challenge Index. Won't you consider supporting us in one of the following ways?  Your support may be made online or you can download a copy of our member/donor form and mail in a check.
  • Individual Membership in Arts|Learning is only $30 per year (one membership pays for 1/3 of our monthly cost for e-newsletters).
  • Institutional memberships range from $75 (small organizations with less than 10 employees or members) to $150 (larger organizations with 25 or more employees/members).
  • Corporate sponsorships at any amount
  • Individual donations at any amount
  • If you live in MA, we are always looking for volunteers for different action committees as well as supporting office work in our headquarters at the Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA. Contact us via email at info@artslearning.org

Thank you for your support!  All donations and memberships are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.  Arts|Learning is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.