arts educators a reason to ponder how their music pro-
grams may be reconstructed to reflect budgetary con-
Advocacy Report
straints. Every school system in the State of Maine has
The Time Has Come to Actively
lost funding during this academic year. As a result there
has been a freeze on discretionary spending which in-
Advocate for the 22
nd
Century
cludes student participation in music festivals. Many are
being told to think of creative ways to further stretch
limited time and dollars and to reach out to community
by Nancy Penna Curran, MMEA Advocacy Chair
support groups such as booster organizations in order to
supplement established programs. School districts and
The year was 1964. New York City hosted
individual schools may look to creative ways to give the
World’s Fair. It was the dawn of the space age and the
appearance of the existence of an arts program music
fair’s theme was “Man in a Shrinking Globe in an Ex-
program when in fact it may not exist. This prospect
panding Universe.” It was touted as a showcase for
takes the appearance of reality as the Stakeholders
technology. The 51 million people who toured the park
committee, appointed by Susan Gendron, Commissioner
were introduced to the idea that as we approached a new
of Education for the State of Maine, present their rec-
century our lives would be totally different. Technology,
ommendations to the legislature during the winter ses-
which had not yet been developed, would take over
sion of 2009.
every aspect of our lives including education and we be-
Our profession is in jeopardy of being relegated
lieved that schools would look and feel different. With
to second tier status not only by the State of Maine but
the prospect of simulcast (a word not yet part of our vo-
also within our own communities. The Stakeholders
cabulary) our children could be educated in the comfort
maintain that by changing the requirements to attain a
of their own home while sitting in front of a wall sized
High School Diploma from the State of Maine and mov-
flat screen monitor (this wasn’t even invented!). Teach-
ing Visual and Performing Arts to second tier core re-
ers would have the ability to video conference with stu-
quirements will elevate the subject area. Many within
dents and parents! Concerts would be attended in the
the music profession view this second tier as an oppor-
same manner as attendees broadcast the music on sur-
tunity and justification for communities to eliminate the
round sound audio systems which seemed out of this
elements of music education. In spite of our dedication
world! Our life would be much like that which was re-
to music education and our communities the future of
flected in the cartoon “The Jetsons.” I actually held the
music education is being held hostage by those who do
belief that music education would be on equal status
not have an understanding of that which entails a com-
with all of the academic areas much like the recommen-
plete music education. We must continue to strive for
dations of the six core requirements of No Child Left
excellence and educating our communities. In closing I
Behind.
implore you to contact your State legislatures and rec-
As the importance of arts and more specifically
ommend that they do not pass the recommendation by
music education gained a foothold in the educational
the Stakeholders Committee.
system, scientific and academic research models devel-
oped in many fields of music. In his research Harold
Gardner named music as one of the seven types of intel-
ligence. Could this have been stimulation for the re-
Nancy Penna Curran received her B.S. and Master of Music
quirement to hire music educators for the State of
in Music Education from USM. She has been teaching public
Maine’s highly qualified teacher status? These highly
school since 1976 , 21 years as music teacher in the South Port-
qualified music teachers have been working diligently to
land School system. Nancy also teaches piano and is a per-
build music programs and have devoted numerous hours
forming vocalist in a variety of genres (jazz, swing, pop, and
to the communities in which they work.
classical) . She is currently a member of the Portland Com-
It is now the year 2009 and the promises
munity Chorus and the Phil Rich Swing Band.
of the past seem to be engulfed in the harsh reality of
Contact Nancy at nacurran@maine.rr.com
today’s financial circumstances. Continued funding for
inclusion of the arts in every student’s education gives

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