"Get involved in music advocacy. Make your school administration aware of the facts when it comes to music education. The MENC website has a section on advocacy with a lot of great resources. LeadingNotes.org has several informative articles on the benefit of music education. Also, watch who you choose to elect to your school board. You do have a choice, so make sure you know where they stand on music education and the importance of the arts. Take action, and prevent situations like the one in Allentown." - Emily Farrell, April 6, from http://waitingforastory.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/so-were-living-here-in-allentown/

This quote comes from a well-written article by Emily Farrell titled "So We're Living Here in Allentown." It documents why Allentown School Board voted 8-0 to cut 43 honor courses and 47 electives which in turn will put 247 teachers out of jobs. Over 700 students and parents appeared at the Board meeting to oppose these cuts and yet, the Board passed this plan.

Emily is right on. We, as music educators, must get involved in music advocacy. None of us are safe. No teaching situation is safe. We are all looking at budget problems, state governments going after unions, low enrollment in independent schools, accepting huge budget/arts cuts in the elementary level, and more. Advocacy is a must in this day and age. Advocating in these following small ways will get you noticed by the parents and the community:
  • Posting students' works on websites
  • Sending students' musical creations home to parents via CDs
  • Inviting parents into the music classroom to participate with their children
  • Having your ensembles perform in the community
  • Attending community events so parents see the music teacher participating in the community
  • When your music students participate in community events or some sort of competitions, write a press release to the local news paper
  • Ask the Board if the students can perform at the beginning of the meeting
  • And there are so many more ideas that would be more specific to your situation
When you are noticed favorably by parents and the community, then they will advocate for you if your program and/or job is on the chopping block. I was recently listening to James Frankel's Massachusetts MEA podcast where he related a story about when he was a NJ public music educator, his job was saved because the parents in his district stood up for him and his program. They did this because he advocated for his program. Though it seems I am writing this post in this way, I firmly believe that advocating for music education does not mean saving our jobs. It means promoting what we love to those who will hear it. It is about teaching the whole community, not just the students, about music.


 


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