SOFA

You are invited to attend a public meeting with Minister of Education Dave Hancock on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Central Memorial High School Theatre, located at 5111 – 21st Street S.W. in Calgary.  

This event is co-sponsored by the Calgary Board of Education and the Save Our Fine Arts  (SOFA) Committee.   It is also endorsed by the Calgary Catholic School District, Candian Rockies School Division (Bow Valley) and the Palliser School District (Lethbridge).

Following opening comments from Naomi Johnson (Chief Superintendent of the CBE), the Minister of Education will deliver a presentation on the Inspiring Education Steering Report and the Inspiring Action Strategy.  He will also address how fine arts programming will be represented in the new curriculum.  

There will also be a panel discussion on the topic of fine arts education.  We can confirm the following people will be participating:  Hon. Dave Hancock (Minister of Education),  Malcolm Edwards (Music Education Professor, University of Calgary), Jane Rogerson (CBE Area Director), Dr. Andra McGinn (Superintendent of Instructional Services, Calgary Catholic School District), Fay Kerwood (former Principal of the CBE Monterey Park Elementary School in Calgary, 2006 Canadian Outstanding Principal Award Winner, 2006 Global Television Woman of Vision Award Winner), and Sam Gregory (Grade 12 honors student at Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School in Calgary, one of the original founders of SOFA).  If you have a question you would like to ask a question of one of our panelists, please CLICK HERE. 

Who should attend?  Parents, students, and teachers from Public, Catholic and Charter school systems; musicians; performers; artists; business leaders; politicians; and the media.   Anyone who is concerned about fine arts education and wants to see it maintained and enhanced.

Come meet the following people who have confirmed their attendance as of the date of this posting:

• Alberta Government:   Honourable Dave Hancock (Minister of Education), Honourable Lindsay Blackett (Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, MLA for Calgary-Northwest), Honourable Cindy Ady (Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, MLA for Calgary-Shaw),  Ellen Hambrook (Assistant Deputy Minister, Education Program Standards and Assessment, Alberta Education, Edmonton), Teresa Woo-Paw (MLA, Calgary-Mackay), Kent Hehr (MLA, Calgary- Buffalo), Harry Chase (MLA, Calgary-Varsity), Dave Taylor (MLA, Calgary-Currie), Kyle Fawcett (MLA, Calgary-North Hill), Wayne Cao (MLA, Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker & Chairman of Committees), Art Johnston (MLA, Calgary-Hays),  Joan Engel (Acting Curriculum Director, Arts, Communications and Citizenship Branch, Alberta Education, Edmonton), Spence Nichol (Executive Assistant to Minister of Education, Edmonton), Christine Bouchard (Team Member, Curriculum Standards and Process Redesign Project, Alberta Education, Edmonton).
• Calgary Board of Education:   Naomi Johnson (CBE Chief Superintendent), Cathy Faber (CBE Superintendent, Learning Innovation), Jane Rogerson (CBE Area 5 Director), Pat Cochrane (CBE Chair, Trustee for Wards 8 & 9), Pamela King (CBE Trustee, Wards 5 & 10), George Lane (CBE Trustee, Wards 6 & 7), Sheila Taylor (CBE Trustee, Wards 11 & 13), & Carol Bazinet (CBE Trustee, Wards 12 & 14), Ronna Mosher (Director, Curriculum Design and Assessment), Leslie Yeates (Specialist, Fine and Performing Arts).
• Calgary Catholic School District:  Dr. Andra McGinn (Superintendent of Instructional Services), Mike Ross (Director of Secondary Education), and Holly Schile (Consultant of Fine Arts),  Serafino Scarpino (Chair, Trustee Wards 1 & 2), Mary Martin (Vice Chair, Trustee Wards 13 & 14), Linda Wellman (Trustee, Wards 3 & 5), Marg Belcourt (Trustee, Wards 4 & 7),  Lois Burke Gaffney (Trustee, Wards 6 & 8), Rosemarie Goerlitz (Trustee, Wards 9 & 10), Cathie Williams (Trustee, Wards 11 & 12).
• Canadian Rockies School Division (Bow Valley):  Trustees Esme Comfort, Carol Picard, and Arlene Rheaume.
• Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils (CAPSC):  Eryn Kelly (Co-President), Leslie Newton (Co-President)
• Alberta Teacher’s Association:  J.C. Couture (Executive Staff Officer)
• Fine Arts Industry:  Paul Brandt (singer, songwriter, Top 10 Recording Artist) via video presentation, Murray Ord (Motion Picture and Television Executive Producer, Actor, SOFA Executive Member), Dr. Haley Simons (author, educator, recording artist, founder of Creative Alberta, and one of Canada’s most accomplished pianists).
• Others: Ken Chapman (lawyer, author, blogger, and considered by Venture Magazine as one of Alberta’s Most Influential People),  Vera Goodman (teacher, best selling author) 

For more information:

• CLICK HERE - for a map showing the location of Central Memorial High School
• CLICK HERE - for a 1-page fact sheet addressing “Who is SOFA?”
• CLICK HERE  - for a copy of the above poster

For more information, check out the Calgary Board of Education’s website at  http://www.cbe.ab.ca/ under “What’s New”.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about the future of education in our province.

PROPOSED K-12 ARTS EDUCATION CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

In June 2009, Alberta Learning released a draft framework for changes to the fine arts
curriculum in Alberta. The following changes were recommended:

Change of program name from ‘Fine Arts Programs’ to Arts Education to better reflect the
concept of learning in, through and about the arts.

In grades K-6, the proposed curriculum

• would provide students with a wide range of artistic experiences
• would be taught by both generalists and specialists
• would integrate arts into other subjects
• would be implemented in schools by 2012

In grades 7-9, the proposed curriculum

• would offer two arts ‘tracks’. The Arts Education Exploration track would offer students some experience in a variety of art forms. The Arts Education Focus track would provide students with an in-depth experience in one particular art form (music, visual art, dance or drama)
• All junior high arts programs would have flexible entry points.
• would be implemented in schools by 2013

In grades 10-12, the proposed curriculum

• will offer opportunities for specialized learning through a variety of 1-credit (25 hour) coursesin dance, drama, music and visual art.
• will allow students the opportunity to explore and experience the arts in a tight timetable
• will allow students to choose Arts Education Project courses to extend their learning in aparticular arts discipline
• according to new information, the new 1-credit courses may not necessarily mean the end of current 3-5 credit (125 hour) courses. This is to be determined in consultation with stakeholders
• some courses will offer flexible entry points.
• pre-requisites, co-requisites and course sequences are also to be determined.
• would be implemented in schools by 2014

Public responses are due to Alberta Learning by January 31, 2010

The government has indicated it will consider suggestions, questions and comments about
the proposed curriculum.
Please see the information below on how to respond:

Concerns about the proposed Curriculum changes:

• Seems to advocate generalists as opposed to specialists at elementary level, should advocate for specialists wherever possible.
• Generalists often uncomfortable with teaching fine arts disciplines, may water down arts experiences to a sampling of the arts, rather than real skills development.
• Fine arts do not lend themselves to dabbling, and the development of skill sets and appreciation takes time. A modular approach may provide only a token sampling of the arts experience.
• Flexible entry points may not provide necessary sequential learning for success, and for entry into post-secondary arts programs.
• Multiple entry points with no pre-requisites will make effectively teaching students at widely varying levels of experience difficult or impossible.
• Fine arts require a sequential, ongoing curriculum to attain high level skills.
• Appears to take an academic approach to music, and not necessarily a performance based approach.
• Alberta Education is suggesting offering exploratory courses, yet resources; teachers are not available to do so.
• It is unclear what will happen to performing ensembles in music programs.
• It is unclear what will happen to Locally Developed Courses (courses designed by school boards to meet unique needs within their schools)
• The intrinsic value of arts education will be lost if integrated into other subjects and used simply for academic gains.

Positive aspects of the Proposed Curriculum changes:

• Greater access to arts programming for students living in rural school districts.
• Option for students to explore interests, possibly develop a new passion.
• Greater appreciation and support for the arts, creating broader audiences for concerts, plays, ballet, arts shows, etc, resulting in stronger financial support.
• Provincial dance program will be developed under new curriculum due to demand.
• Students involved in arts tend to stay in school and achieve success due to participation.
• Modular courses may be therapeutic benefits for students unable to cope with full arts courses.
• Wider development of appreciation for the arts, and of creativity and thinking skills as vital job skills.

Who to contact to raise your concerns about changes to the
Alberta Fine Arts Curriculum:

• susan.mcleod@gov.ab.ca
• wesley.oginski@gov.ab.ca
• sean.yam@gov.ab.ca
• keray.henke@gov.ab.ca
• dave.hancock@gov.ab.ca
• premier@gov.ab.ca

Also, please go to this website and choose your appropriate MLA.

http://www.foundlocally.com/Calgary/Local/Gov-Provincial.htm
-Your school principal
-Your school board trustee

Websites:

www.saveourfinearts.ca
Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=178897880784
Ab Ed Proposal Link – http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/finearts/program-updates.aspx
Calgary Herald Submissions:

To submit to the Calgary Herald Op-Ed Page:

1. Keep your letter to 250 words or less. You may be edited.
2. Include your full name, address and phone number
3. Submit:

• by mail to Letters Editor, Calgary Herald, P.O. Box 2400, Stn M Calgary AB T2P 0W8
• by fax to 403-235-7379
• by e-mail to Letters@theherald.canwest.com

Prepared by: SOFA Organizing Committee
November 9th, 2009

SOFA has put together a list of what the proposed changes mean and how they will impact students taking music, drama, dance, and visual arts education, listed below are our key concerns:

• The proposed framework seems to advocate fine arts generalists as opposed to specialists at elementary level; should advocate for specialists wherever possible.
• Generalists are often uncomfortable with teaching fine arts disciplines; this may water down arts experiences to a sampling of the arts, rather than real skills development.
• The nature of fine arts do not lend themselves to dabbling, and the development of skill sets and appreciation takes time.  A modular approach will provide only a token sampling of the arts experience.
• Fine arts require a sequential, skills building curriculum between kindergarten, elementary, junior and senior high schools to attain high level skills.  This is not what is proposed in the framework.
• The proposed flexible entry points will not provide the necessary sequential learning for success, and allow for entry into post-secondary arts programs (e.g.  University of Alberta, University of Calgary, etc.) if a student wants to further their education.
• The proposed multiple entry points with no pre-requisites will make effectively teaching students at widely varying levels of experience difficult or impossible.
• It appears to take an academic approach to fine arts education (music, drama, dance) and not necessarily a performance based approach.
• Alberta Education is suggesting offering exploratory courses, yet there are not enough qualified teachers or the financial resources to support such a curriculum.   Just a reminder, in 2009 the Alberta Government announced it was cutting the education budget by $80 Million, with more cutbacks in 2010.  For more information, CLICK HERE, or HERE.
• It is unclear what will happen to ‘locally developed courses’ (courses designed by local school boards to meet unique needs within their schools).
• It is unclear what will happen to performing ensembles in band, choir, drama, and dance programs.  These could be eliminated if ‘locally developed courses’ are eliminated.
• The intrinsic value of arts education will be lost if integrated into other subjects and used simply for academic gains.

Don’t miss this opportunity to tell Alberta Education how you feel!

Are you willing to write letters/emails to MLA’s, School Trustees, and other Government Officials expressing your concern over the proposed changes?

Call to Action Information Package and Sample Letter

Our ”Call to Action” Information Package contains the following:

• Overview of the issues
• Fact sheet on proposed changes
• Sample letter for you to use
• Letter/email writing tips

To view a copy of this Informaton Package, please click here.  To view a copy of a sample letter you can use to write to government officials, please CLICK HERE

Education Advocacy Contacts Listing

Our Education Advocacy Contacts Listing below contains a listing of the email addresses, Canada Post addresses, and phone numbers of all key government officials, including Premier Stelmach, Dave Hancock, MLA’s, and Susan McLeod.

To view a copy of this listing, click on the following:  Education Advocacy Contacts

SOFA Handout

To view a short 2 page summary of the issues, CLICK HERE