Important Legislation
March/01/08 12:38 Special
Announcements
Important legislation is being considered that may have
a huge impact on our arts program, and arts programs
across the state. There are two bills filed in
the legislature requiring physical education for
middle school grades. In the Senate, the bill
is
SB 0610
by Senator Constantine (Seminole and Orange) and in the
House it is
HB 757
by Representative Davis (Duval) and cosponsored by Rep.
Homan (Temple Terrace).
The opposition points of the Florida Music Educators Association are:
• We are not opposed to more physical education in the school day, however, we do oppose this bill which does not provide for adequate implementation. Our position is that physical education and other electives should not be mutually exclusive.
• If additional mandates are to be placed on the school day, additional time and funding must be provided for implementation (i.e. add another period in the day, fund the teachers) so that other areas of the curriculum are not reduced or eliminated.
• Mandating PE without providing an additional period will eliminate fine arts classes in the middle schools for any school on a six-period day. This will lead to the elimination of high school programs which depend on classes at the middle school to begin building skills and techniques for student success at the high school level.
Other concerns that were voiced by members of our faculty include:
• We understand that this legislation will be decided over this summer for a fall implementation. This gives the schools no time to change the Master Schedules in a creative manner.
• Many of the lower achieving students are already mandated by the state to take a remedial reading and remedial math class. There are only 6 periods in the school day. This means that these students would not have the opportunity to take the required classes that would help them pass the FCAT.
• Due to all of the other mandated classes, the numbers of students who are taking high school credit in middle school are already feeling a time crunch. Currently, there is barely enough instructional time to meet the needs of these classes.
• Colleges look for well rounded students. They look at academics, test scores, and activities. We have seen the evidence that students in the arts have higher GPA's and SAT scores. If middle school arts and other electives are eliminated, and eventually high school electives, students will not have the opportunity to take the courses that help them to succeed as well rounded students.
The Palm Beach Post published a recent an article that you also may be interested in reading that describes the impact they see in their county: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/02/24/0224gym.html
If you would like to take a proactive approach to protect the future of music education and elective opportunities for our students:
1. READ Please visit www.flmusiced.org and look at the Legislative Alerts. Much of the information provided in this email is found on this website, but it provides further information, describes your role, and gives you the necessary information for you to take the next step.
1. TAKE ACTION Your voice matters. Since our students do not get a vote, you must speak up for them. It is up to you to contact our legislators, multiple times if necessary, until you receive a response. The website will tell you who to contact and how.
1. INVOLVE OTHERS Please forward the above information to anyone and everyone who believes that arts and other electives are essential, so that they too may voice their opposition to the implementation of this bill.
The opposition points of the Florida Music Educators Association are:
• We are not opposed to more physical education in the school day, however, we do oppose this bill which does not provide for adequate implementation. Our position is that physical education and other electives should not be mutually exclusive.
• If additional mandates are to be placed on the school day, additional time and funding must be provided for implementation (i.e. add another period in the day, fund the teachers) so that other areas of the curriculum are not reduced or eliminated.
• Mandating PE without providing an additional period will eliminate fine arts classes in the middle schools for any school on a six-period day. This will lead to the elimination of high school programs which depend on classes at the middle school to begin building skills and techniques for student success at the high school level.
Other concerns that were voiced by members of our faculty include:
• We understand that this legislation will be decided over this summer for a fall implementation. This gives the schools no time to change the Master Schedules in a creative manner.
• Many of the lower achieving students are already mandated by the state to take a remedial reading and remedial math class. There are only 6 periods in the school day. This means that these students would not have the opportunity to take the required classes that would help them pass the FCAT.
• Due to all of the other mandated classes, the numbers of students who are taking high school credit in middle school are already feeling a time crunch. Currently, there is barely enough instructional time to meet the needs of these classes.
• Colleges look for well rounded students. They look at academics, test scores, and activities. We have seen the evidence that students in the arts have higher GPA's and SAT scores. If middle school arts and other electives are eliminated, and eventually high school electives, students will not have the opportunity to take the courses that help them to succeed as well rounded students.
The Palm Beach Post published a recent an article that you also may be interested in reading that describes the impact they see in their county: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/02/24/0224gym.html
If you would like to take a proactive approach to protect the future of music education and elective opportunities for our students:
1. READ Please visit www.flmusiced.org and look at the Legislative Alerts. Much of the information provided in this email is found on this website, but it provides further information, describes your role, and gives you the necessary information for you to take the next step.
1. TAKE ACTION Your voice matters. Since our students do not get a vote, you must speak up for them. It is up to you to contact our legislators, multiple times if necessary, until you receive a response. The website will tell you who to contact and how.
1. INVOLVE OTHERS Please forward the above information to anyone and everyone who believes that arts and other electives are essential, so that they too may voice their opposition to the implementation of this bill.