wisconsin music educators association president
Advocacy – For the Sake of the Students We Serve Paul Budde, WMEA President
As music educa- tors, we understand the value of music education and see firsthand how it pos- itively impacts the lives of the students we serve. We know that music provides unique and impor-
tant opportunities for academic study. We recognize that music touches hearts and adds meaning to life. We celebrate how music develops creative thinking and promotes healthy engagement with complex emotions. We acknowledge how music instills self-confidence and devel- ops independence. We appreciate how music brings people together and fosters collaboration. Ultimately, we cherish music as an art form that makes the world a better place.
Despite all of this, music education has not received the respect it deserves as an academic subject. Even after the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) enumer- ated music and the arts as part of a well-rounded education and specifically articulated that music should be a part of every child’s education, music and the arts are often first on the chopping block when school districts face budget challenges. As advocates for music education, we need to justify and fight for music education time and time again. Simply put, it should not be this way – but it is.
Faced with this reality, what can (and should) we do to advocate for music education?
We all have opinions on what advocacy should look like, and, in fact, there are many ways one can approach it. That said,
Experience WSM Online! Your Fully Digitized Version
Did you know, Wisconsin School Musician is also digitally published with many additional features?
Bonus content to the print version • Multimedia, such as video, audio and flash • Hyperlinks to web and email sources • Highlighting, bookmarking, customized viewing, noting, instant page printing and “send to a friend” options • Viewable on and offline • Archival search
Check out the digital version today!
WSMmagazine.org • Password: music4students 6
Go to the online version of WSM to easily access linked content in this article.
I recommend that each of us spend time reviewing the Advocacy Resources on the WMEA website; this page was overhauled in 2020 and contains outstanding ideas, information, and resources. Special thanks to Leyla Sanyer, Brad Schneider, Jacki Thering, and all members of the WMEA Advocacy Committee for their efforts in this important endeavor.
The safety concerns and financial chal- lenges brought on by COVID-19 have once again highlighted the need for ad- vocacy in our profession. In this article, I will highlight four broad advocacy themes that I hope are helpful in the months ahead.
Keep Students at the Center – Without a doubt, the most powerful advocacy efforts focus on students. As such, rather than addressing staffing, FTEs, or the state of the music department, music educators should help school decision makers see how changes in policy impact the students being served, for better or for worse. It’s hard to argue against that which is in the best interests of students, so keep them at the center of all advocacy efforts.
Celebrate the Inherent Value of Music – Music and the arts are academic subjects worthy of study in and of themselves. Through music education, students grow in appreciation of beauty, they engage with a wide range of emotions, and they experience and develop creative mindsets. Within music classrooms, students expe- rience meaningful and authentic social and emotional learning, and they develop appreciation and empathy for people and cultures around the world. Through music
September 2021
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
