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    Save the stage - Protect school music programs

    Victory-ribbon
    Congrats everyone for pulling together in tremendous fashion, and showing great support for music, and the fine arts. I am currently working on a cover letter, and how to get the petition to the right people. I will keep everyone updated as this process is ongoing. I feel it is important to get the petition in soon, so that we are more likely to get things done.

    Thanks to everyone who follows SAVESCHOOLMUSIC!, as well as MENC for helping get things started way back when,and Causes for all the support they have given.

    And thank you.

    Sincerely,
    Thomas Holt
    ► ▼ See full description Hide full description

    To: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

    We respectfully urge you to protect school music by making the programs a national policy priority. School music programs create a unique opportunity for children to directly engage in performing arts and have a chance to realize their potential through cultural enrichment and personal...

    …

    We respectfully urge you to protect school music by making the programs a national policy priority. School music programs create a unique opportunity for children to directly engage in performing arts and have a chance to realize their potential through cultural enrichment and personal achievement. “A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.” - Robert E. Allen – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation

    Opportunities to learn through music are diminishing as arts programs are being de-prioritized and de-funded across the country. Music is an integral part of education. Increased attention to standardized tests has shifted the focus away from the importance of the arts on brain development. We feel that music plays a vital role in increasing social skills, improving teamwork and developing a better work ethic for youth.

    Music is a language that speaks to everyone and we urge you to protect it for future generations.

    This petition closed on December 7, 2012.

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    25,379 people signed the petition

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    Plato once said that music "is a more potent instrument than any other form of education". A recent study from the University of California supported the Greek philosopher's theory, demonstrating that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. Second graders who were given music lessons scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who received no special instruction.

    Despite the proven power of music, looming cuts to the federal education budget are forcing schools across the nation to make tough decisions about program funding; sadly, many are opting to cut the arts, especially music.

    These across-the-board spending cuts are set to take effect in January of 2013 – unless we pressure our elected officials to make school music programs a priority, our children may lose a critical part of their education forever!

    As John Sykes, President of VH1, says: "music education is critical to the product development of this nation's most important resource – our children." Sign the petition today to protect school music programs!

    Issues: ,

    1. Update #3

      Posted on Apr 8

      Hello everyone,

      It's been a while since my last update. School has been hectic. 


      Anyway, I have received a response from the Office of Innovation and Improvement, an office in the Dept. of Education. 


      Dear Mr. Holt:

      Thank you for your email to Secretary Arne Duncan concerning music education. Your email was forwarded to the Office of Innovation and Improvement, and I am happy to reply.

      Arts education which includes music programs plays a vital role in developing students' capacities for critical...

      …

      Hello everyone,

      It's been a while since my last update. School has been hectic. 


      Anyway, I have received a response from the Office of Innovation and Improvement, an office in the Dept. of Education. 


      Dear Mr. Holt:

      Thank you for your email to Secretary Arne Duncan concerning music education. Your email was forwarded to the Office of Innovation and Improvement, and I am happy to reply.

      Arts education which includes music programs plays a vital role in developing students' capacities for critical thinking, creativity and imagination. You should know that the Secretary recognizes the significant role the arts play in education.  In a speech delivered at the press conference for the National Center for Education Statistics' release of an arts education study on April 2, 2012, the Secretary stated, "Despite the brutal budget climate in the states and in Washington, arts education must not just survive but thrive.  A well-rounded education is simply too vital to our students' success to let the teaching of the arts and humanities erode." A copy of the Secretary's entire speech may be viewed at the Department of Education's website.

      However, as the head of a Federal agency, the Secretary's primary task is to implement and administer education laws made by Congress and give guidance and technical assistance to state and local education agencies.  Education in the United States is almost completely funded and controlled at the state and local levels; the federal government plays a very minor role.

      President Obama is definitely an advocate for arts education.  You can learn more about the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities at http://www.pcah.gov/.

      As more people from the local, state, and federal levels understand the importance of Arts Education, we may see a letter "A" added to STEM one day.

      Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with the Secretary. The enthusiasm you hold for the music education is evident and clearly articulated. We appreciate your interest in this area and encourage you to continue to support arts education programs through local schools.

      Sincerely,

      Edith Harvey

      Director, Improvement Programs


      Feel free to comment and message me about how you think the cause should proceed, and I will post again over the summer. I am looking into possible live events, as I would love to finally meet some of you face-to-face. 

      Have a wonderful day,

      Thomas Holt

    2. Update #2

      Posted on Nov 5, 2012

      Congrats everyone for pulling together in tremendous fashion, and showing great support for music, and the fine arts. I am currently working on a cover letter, and how to get the petition to the right people. I will keep everyone updated as this process is ongoing. I feel it is important to get the petition in before the end of the year, so that we are more likely to get things done.

      Thanks to everyone who follows SAVESCHOOLMUSIC!, as well as MENC for helping get things started way back...

      …

      Congrats everyone for pulling together in tremendous fashion, and showing great support for music, and the fine arts. I am currently working on a cover letter, and how to get the petition to the right people. I will keep everyone updated as this process is ongoing. I feel it is important to get the petition in before the end of the year, so that we are more likely to get things done.

      Thanks to everyone who follows SAVESCHOOLMUSIC!, as well as MENC for helping get things started way back when,and Causes for all the support they have given.

      And thank you.

      Sincerely,
      Thomas Holt

    3. Update #1

      Posted on Sep 10, 2012

      Great Job everyone! We met my original goal. Thanks to everyone who has signed thus far. We completed the petition incredibly quickly. This issue is very close to all of us, and it is important our voice is strong. This is why, I will be upping the goal to 20k, and accepting signatures for a few more weeks. I encourage all of you to share this with your friends.

      We can make an incredible difference.

      -Tom

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