Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/189657
letters Arts and the law I was delighted to see in my September California Educator the feature article "5 reasons to bring back the arts." There are two sections in the California Education Code that mandate that visual and performing arts be included in the school curriculum. There is also a section that requires local governing boards to enforce the Education Code, and another section that allows the board to opt out by being granted a waiver by the State Board of Education. Yet school governing boards have been allowed to treat the arts as optional. I have learned that the state superintendent of instruction, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education have no authority to enforce the code. This must be changed. To do this I have been meeting with staff of legislators, both from the Joint Committee on the Arts and the two Education committees, with the goal of getting enforcement legislation. CARL SCHAFER Retired music teacher, Ontario-Montclair Don't water down arts education I was excited to read "5 reasons to bring back the arts." While the reasons given are valid, the biggest reason for teaching art was missed: the study of art for art's sake. We are teaching students to value the aesthetics of art and music, and to value the artistic process. No other core subject has to defend or justify its content the way art and music teachers constantly do. The article makes the arts seem peripheral; something to sprinkle into another subject to make it fun or engaging, or to keep students enrolled. We sell our arts courses, degrees and credentials short if we think and defend our classes this way. More classes are given fine arts credit, but they are not being taught by qualified, credentialed art educators, and our students are the ones losing out. Students are not getting a true arts education, nor understanding the process of becoming an artist. Art is about more than making things; music is about more than singing songs. The UC and CSU systems deem art classes so important to a high school student's education, they include a oneyear arts course in their A-G requirements. California leads the way in careers based on the arts. If we really want to bring the arts back into schools, let's make sure we are doing it the right way — with true arts courses taught by experts in their fields. Let's protect the arts in California schools from becoming watered down. should be thorough, yet concise. If you can't explain the assignment without a lot of verbiage, chances are your sub will have a hard time interpreting it for your students. Do your subs and your students a favor: Make your assignments count. If students know that there is no weight attached to the work the sub gives them, they will definitely act accordingly. If you have a good experience with a sub, ask that teacher back. Your return business may be the only acknowledgement a sub gets for a job well done. If your sub goes above and beyond, let your office manager, principal and HR know about it. JOHN LADD Substitute teacher, Burbank Editor's note: See more tips for and from substitute teachers on page 50. MOLLY PETERS Hart District Teachers Association There's no substitute for a good substitute! Substitute teachers play a limited but very important role in your school year. With a little planning, you can ensure that your students don't miss out on a day of instruction, the job is rewarding for your sub, and when you return, everything will be in order. Remember, they're called substitute teachers. Let them teach. Granted, this becomes problematic for advanced math, science or foreign language classes. Mastery of the subject matter is not, however, essential for encouraging and directing class participation. The best days subbing are the ones where teachers actually lead discussions. It's more rewarding than just showing a movie, and the kids love it. Your lesson plan should contain enough material to challenge students, and your instructions Just asking… Dale Kennedy said [in the September point/ counterpoint], "The Pledge of Allegiance must be recited daily in school classrooms in order to celebrate the United States of America. Otherwise our republic may not stand the pressures of time." Makes me wonder how the nation survived the 100-plus years before the pledge was invented. ALAN HASKVITZ Walnut Valley Education Association Correction: The September article about the Alview-Dairyland Teachers Association's bargaining experience implied the superintendent's resignation was a result of the association's actions. Many factors contributed to the resignation. In addition, two pink-slipped members were told during their duty-free lunch period they were going to receive layoff notices; they did not receive the notices at that time. 10 Educator 10 Oct 2013 v2.1 int.indd 10 O C T O B E R 2013 10/7/13 9:38 PM