'The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows' - Part 20: An Open Letter to the FAEA [Endorse Gov. Bush!]

various: USA Today, National Governors Assoc., Kennedy Center; FL Alliance for the Arts; my florida ^ | Sept. 18, 2002 | summer

[summer]

'The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows' - Part 20: An Open Letter to the FAEA [Endorse Gov. Bush!]

Written by summer - a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher

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For a list of outstanding FL students who received
Art Scholarships last year -- thanks to FL First Lady
Columba Bush -- click HERE.

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To: Nan Williams, nwilliam@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
President, Executive Committee
Board of Directors
Florida Art Education Association
[a professional organization representing FL Art Teachers; known as "FAEA"]

Re: Why the FL Art Education Association Should Publicly Endorse Bush/Brogan 2002 NOW!

Dear Nan Williams:

I noticed FL's First Lady Columba Bush is currently accepting student applications for annual art scholarships, administered by the arts program she started here in FL.

I can't help but wonder: Isn't it perhaps time for your organization to publicly speak up in this on-going FL governor's race? And, to endorse the candidate who we all know has consistently publicly supported art teachers in this state?

You are obviously aware of the importance of the arts in education - and, remarkably, so are more and more of our nation's governors, as indicated in this press release from the National Governors Association:

Washington, D.C. - Arts education is a cost-effective way to help build the workforce of tomorrow, according to an issue brief produced by the National Governors Association (NGA). The report, The Impact of Arts Education on Workforce Preparation, provides examples of how arts-based education can build skills, increase academic success and lower the incidence of juvenile crime….

In addition, as you probably know, there is also a new national study, mentioned on the Kennedy Center's web site, focusing on the impact of the arts on learning :

A recent report, Champion of Change, compiles the results of seven major studies and provides important new evidence of enhanced learning and achievement when the arts are an integral part of the educational experience, both in and out of America's k-12 schools.

Among the findings:

Students with high levels of arts participation outperform "arts-poor" students on virtually every measure. Professor James Catterall of UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies found that sustained involvement in the arts correlates with success in other subjects and that connection is particularly strong between music and success in math.

The arts have measurable impact on students in "high-poverty" and urban settings. For example, the Chicago Public School District say significant student improvement in reading and mathematics in schools where Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) developed integrated curricula.

With more attention than ever before on education in this country, isn't it about time the Florida Art Education Association publicly let FL voters know of the very positive impact the Bush/Brogan administration has had on art education in this state? And, isn't it way past time we thank and recognize the outstanding work of FL's First Lady Columba Bush in this area?

Back in December 2000, First Lady Columba Bush's innovative arts program with the state's arts organization, FL Alliance for Arts Education, was nationally recognized by the Kennedy Center, as explained HERE:

KCAAEN [The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network]
State Alliance Recognition Program
Special Achievement in the Area of Community Connections
Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education

The NGC [National Governance Committee] voted to recognize ACE/Florida Alliance for Arts Education for their work with Florida's first Lady including the First Lady's Recognition Program. In the summer of 1999, ACE/FAAE representatives were invited to meet with the Governor and First Lady to discuss the development of a program to utilize First Lady Columba Bush's interest in promoting arts education. As a result of this meeting, ACE/FAAE assigned a task force and created a program consistent with the ACE/FAAE mission and the desires of the Governor's office.

This program, now in its second year, promotes school arts programs through site visits with Florida's First Lady and offers scholarships in all artistic disciplines to select graduating seniors for continued study in the arts. Students and teachers are recognized in an awards ceremony at the Governor's Mansion at the State Capitol. Scholarship winners are profiled in a publication highlighting awardees and school sites toured. According to the Alliance, Mrs. Bush's presence and attention to arts education in schools throughout this program is making a difference in raising the profile of arts education in school districts.

Also, national media has noted First Lady Columba Bush's involvement with art students, as she has honored FL art students taking college level art courses in high school. These students now have their art work shown in a FL museum, as reported September 2002 in this USA Today article:

An exhibition representing the best of the Advanced Placement Studio Art classes last year will be displayed Sept. 15-24 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami…Florida first lady Columba Bush will honor the artists and teachers at the opening…

Here in FL, art teachers see Gov Bush as a supporter of the arts, as evidenced in this Winter 2001 article published in your organization's newsletter "Fresh Paint." The FL art teacher who wrote this article praised First Lady Columba Bush, Katherine Harris -- and FL Gov Jeb Bush:

"…I knew that Jeb is also a supporter of the arts because two years prior, he visited my classroom where one of my students presented him with an 'official' gubernatorial portrait…."

Finally, in this time of war and conflict around the world, voters should know that internationally, First Lady Columba Bush has also made an impact on the arts education of US students and others. She has strengthened international friendships with art students abroad, as she did in a recent visit to Japan, as explained HERE.

Mrs. Columba Bush and ACE/FAAE Travel to Japan for the The International Youth Cultural Exchange

Mrs. Columba Bush's journey into the world of arts education continues, as she extends the focus of her Arts Recognition Program to include a celebration of Florida's sister-state relationship with the Wakayama Prefecture Government in Japan.

Annually Mrs. Bush's Arts Recognition Program recognized 24 high school students from all arts disciplines, with a $1,000 scholarship. Nearly 400 applications poured in to the ACE/FAAE office; narrowing the pool to 24 recipients proved difficult, given the high levels of achievement evidenced by arts students. From this year's 24 recipients, students achieving the highest ratings in Music and Dance were selected to serve as ambassadors.

As a FL certified teacher who is also an advocate of the arts in education, it is distressing for me to see tv commercial after tv commercial of a FL Dem gov candidate falsely claiming all FL teachers endorse him. What has he done for art teachers and art students? Does he have anything remotely resembling the outstanding track record of First Lady Columba Bush in the arts?

If the Florida Art Education Association says "nothing" in this FL governor's race, then perhaps "nothing" is exactly what a future administration of whatever political party will someday do for students interested in the arts.

Consequently, please consider having the Florida Art Education Association publicly endorse Bush/Brogan 2002 in this FL governor's race, so more people will learn of First Lady Columba Bush's outstanding work in the arts for teachers and students.

Your organization's endorsement will send a clear message that such outstanding efforts promoting the arts are expected to continue -- regardless of which party or candidate occupies the FL governor's mansion now or at anytime in the future.

To remain silent in this race, when there is so much good news about the arts and the Jeb Bush administration to share with FL voters, would be a missed opportunity at educating the public about the importance of the arts.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely,

summer, a FL certified teacher

[summer]

Gov Bush already has an outstanding list of endorsements, including individual teachers - but, I would really like to see a FL teachers' organization publicly come out in favor of Gov Bush.

Gov. Bush's wife has worked tirelessly in this area, and an endorsement from FL's professional organization of art educators is overdue.

If you have a moment, please email this thread to Nan Williams, and to any or all of the other members of the FL Art Education Association. All their email addresses are listed HERE.

Should you receive a reply from any of these people, please consider posting it on this thread to share with others. It would be GREAT if Gov. Bush's campaign received the endorsement of this teachers organization!!!!!!

Thanks for your help. :)

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

FYI. Please bump if you have a moment. Thanks. :)

[summer]

Please bump if you have a moment. Thanks! :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Please bump if you have a moment. Thanks! :)

For you.....anytime. : )

Excellent letter, summer.

Go Jeb!

[Joe Brower]

[PogySailor]

BTTT.

Nice letter!

[kinganamort]

will post to www.repunk.com/summer/archive.html later today

[kinganamort]

[marron]

Art and music education are very important because learning and growing is more than just reading and writing. You have to have the experience of doing.

You have to know what it feels like to picture something, and make it happen.

This, I think, also argues for the return of vocational classes. Kids need to have the experience of taking the ideas in their minds, and making them into concrete reality. This is a critical part of learning.

[Kryptonite]

eggsellent

[Tijeras_Slim]

Sticky touchscreen BUMP! :)

[Diver Dave]

Great Letter, summer.

I'll see your bump and raise you one.

[kinganamort]

BUMPITY BUMP BUMP

[floriduh voter]

I didn't copy the complete e-newsletter from the Bush Brogan campaign but here are the latest EDUCATION RESULTS straight from Tallahassee:

They look promising to me: Here are the major points:

First, this is new data. The ethnic breakdown of the 2002 FCAT scores have just recently been confirmed by the Florida Department of Education.

Second, reading scores are up. See the chart, but here are the highlights:

Percent of students scoring in the lowest level on the FCAT reading are declining:

Grade 4: AA: 58 to 38, Hisp: 42 to 27, White: 18 to 13, ESE 75 to 72

Grade 8: AA: 49 to 40, Hisp: 35 to 27, White: 16 to 11, ESE 73 to 70

Grade 10: AA: 60 to 52, Hisp: 47 to 35, White: 25 to 14, ESE 80 to 69

Percent of students meeting and surpassing the proficient level on the FCAT reading test are rising

Grade 4: AA: 23 to 42, Hisp: 38 to 56, White 65 to 74, ESE: 13 to 16

Grade 8: AA: 20 to 27, Hisp: 33 to 43, White: 55 to 64, ESE: 8 to 12

Grade 10: AA: 11 to 16, Hisp: 20 to 28, White: 37 to 51, ESE: 4 to 9

Here's another piece of data: the raw number of African-American 4th graders scoring a 5 in FCAT reading HAS INCREASED TENFOLD in four years, from 81 students in 1998 to 871 in 2002. The number of Hispanic 4th graders also HAS INCREASED TENFOLD in four years, from 154 in 1998 to 1553 in 2002.

Third, math scores are also up. Again, see the charts. Here are the highlights:

Percent of students scoring in the lowest level on the FCAT math test are declining:

Grade 5: AA: 65 to 34, Hisp: 46 to 18, White: 22 to 10, ESE 73 to 62

Grade 8: AA: 58 to 40, Hisp: 39 to 23, White: 17 to 8, ESE 73 to 64

Grade 10: AA: 62 to 35, Hisp: 43 to 19, White: 21 to 6, ESE 74 to 59

Percent of students meeting and surpassing the proficient level on the FCAT math test are rising

Grade 5: AA: 10 to 32, Hisp: 22 to 52, White: 44 to 66, ESE: 8 to 14

Grade 8: AA: 18 to 32, Hisp: 33 to 51, White: 10 to 16, ESE: 59 to 73

Grade 10: AA: 14 to 36, Hisp: 29 to 55, White: 53 to 78, ESE: 10 to 23

Fourth, there is a debate going on in our state whether FCAT scores should be used to grade schools. Many in Florida and around the nation have taken a position contrary to ours on this issue. Regardless of how they're used to shape policy, there is a broad consensus in Florida that FCAT scores are useful and relevant data.

To repeat, FCAT reading and math scores are up among 4th graders (tested over 4 years only in reading ), 5th graders (tested over 4 years only in math), 8th graders, 10th graders, African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians. They are even up slightly among ESE (learning disabled) students.

This is good news for all Floridians!

FLORIDUH VOTER SAYS: www.sptimes.com today - McLawyer's ENTIRE EDUCATION PLAN was crafted by the head of the FEA. He is seen with that woman as often as he's seen with his own wife. (Gee, he didn't even need an independent thought re: education. That will prove disastrous in one of the debates.

McLawyer is not a leader. He is a DNC fundraiser rewarded with an opportunity to run for guv. Pass it on.

[summer]

Excellent letter, summer.

Thanks so much, St.LOUIE1. I really do hope they endorse Gov. Bush because of wife's terrific work on behalf of the arts.

[summer]

Thanks, Joe! :)

[summer]

Nice letter!

Thanks Pogy. Good to hear from you! :)

[summer]

Great. Thanks, Kim. :)

)

[summer]

eggsellent

LOL...thanks, Kryptonite. :)