Author: Urice, John K.

Publication Year:

Media Type: Periodical (article)

Summary:

Abstract:

The author considers the impact and influence that the Reviewing Education and the Arts Project (REAP) findings may have on policymaking and arts advocacy, specifically advocacy for arts education. He claims that the report, despite some of it being discouraging to the field, is an overdue opportunity to make better sense of what the field was finding, saying, and in many cases, using for advocacy.

He advises the arts and arts education communities to assess how these results will and should be used for advocacy, and also try to control the policy agenda, rather than react to the responses of others. The author comments that at last we have one major measure of what arts education has and has not achieved in a limited realm.

Urice offers recommendations when making the case in light of REAP:

• Assess whether it is possible, through curricular reform, to strengthen the tie between the arts activities and non-art academic achievement.
• Look instead to life skills preparation as the primary rationale for some forms of arts education.
• Argue the value of arts education for its own sake.
• Recognize that time in the curriculum is limited and look where else in the curriculum adjustments can be made.
• Ensure that whatever is done in the arts is done with quality by trained educators who know, understand, and will achieve implementation of the National Standards for Arts Education.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Arts Education