| Volume V | Issue 2 | May 14, 2008 |
|---|
- William Thomas Sly, Founding Director
Creative Educational Systems
Contents of this Issue
POSSIBILITIES OF HOPE:
Alternatives to the Status Quo
* * * * * * *
Their website says: "ONE is Americans of all beliefs
and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help
make poverty history. We are a campaign of over
2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states
and over 100 of America's most well-known and
respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian
organizations. As ONE, we are raising public
awareness about the issues of global poverty,
hunger, disease and efforts to fight such
problems in the world's poorest countries. As ONE,
we are asking our leaders to do more to fight
the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty.
ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget
toward providing basic needs like health, education,
clean water and food would transform the futures
and hopes of an entire generation in the world's
poorest countries. The goal of ending poverty may
seem lofty, but it is within our reach if we take
action together as one." For more, go to
http://www.one.org
* * * * * * *
Afterschool Alliance Tips for Funding
All afterschool programs need for sustainable funding.
The Afterschool Alliance
( http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/funding_main.cfm )
offers tips on funding afterschool programs. The
Afterschool Alliance website deals with such topics
as: Building Sustainability--tools that have proven
results in helping programs find new funding sources;
engaging stakeholders through advocacy; advocacy
and the Key Campaign; planning a site visit;
participating in the Afterschool for All challenge;
tips on writing proposals; and a database of funding
sources. For details go to
http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/funding_main.cfm
* * * * * * *
Arts Linked to Better Brain Activity
The Dana Foundation, a private philanthropy
organization with principal interests in brain
science, immunology, and arts education, recently
released Learning, Arts, and the Brain, a three-year,
multi-institutional study finds that early training
in performing arts is beneficial for the brain.
According to the study, an interest in the performing
arts helps develop sustained attention spans, which
can improve other areas of cognition. Links exist
between training in music and the ability to
manipulate information in both short-term and
long-term memory. Music training also appears to
improve kids’ capacity for geometric representation,
as well as the acquisition of reading skills. Acting
classes lead to improved memory via better language
skills. Dance learning is done through observation
and mimicry, and that training appears to improve
other cognitive skills. For more, go to
http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/a4atoday/issues/2008-03-28/index.html
* * * * * * *
National Project Examines Impact of
Arts Training
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP)
was launched on May 1 to examine the impact of arts
training. It will provide a first-ever in-depth look
at the factors that help or hinder the careers of
graduates of arts high schools, arts colleges and
conservatories, and arts schools and departments
within universities, whether the alumni work as
artists or pursue other paths. For more, go to
http://www.americansforthearts.org/news/national_arts_news/default.asp#May%207,%202008_12
* * * * * * *
Sergia Perez tours AIDS prevention show
Puerto Rico-born, Bronx-raised native, and Hollywood
actress Sergia Perez is once again touring her riveting,
powerful, one woman show "I Didn't Cry" about AIDS
prevention, drug and domestic abuse to the middle
and senior high schools of the tri-state area.
For more information, contact CES at 347-702-7587 or go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/Cry.html
* * * * * * *
This year's 10th ELIA Biennial Conference
will be held from October 29th to November 1, 2008
in Gothenberg, Sweden. According to its website,
ELIA (the European League of Institutes of the
Arts is Europe's leading independent membership
organization representing higher arts education
institutes and subject disciplines including:
architecture, dance design, fine art, media arts,
music and theater. ELIA's membership includes
more than 320 arts institutions in 47 countries.
ELIA promotes dialogue, mobility, and activities
between artists, teachers, senior managers,
administrators and leaders who represent more
than 25,000 students. For registration and
information, visit the conference website at
http://www.eliabiennial.org
* * * * * * *
Are you a Citizen Artist? someone who is
(or wants to be) integrating social/political
questioning into their teaching artistry? someone
who is (or wants to be) joining their passion
for political engagement with their passion for
arts-in-education? Register for Epic Theatre
Ensemble's 3-day Citizen Artist Conference on
June 13th-15th in Midtown Manhattan for $30.
At the conference, members of the arts-in-education
community will immerse themselves in Epic's
methodology and techniques which place theatre
at the center of civic dialogue. The fee is
waived for participants traveling to NYC from
out of town for the conference. Participants
will receive a complimentary ticket to see
Epic's Off-Broadway production of "Palace of
the End" by Judith Thompson, June 13th at 8pm
at Playwrights Horizons; and a Citizen Artist
Curriculum Guide. For further questions or to
register, please contact education associate
Darci Fulcher at
DarciFulcher.epic@gmail.com
* * * * * * *
National Performing Arts Convention
On June 10 to June 14, in Denver, Colorado.
According to their website, "From large sessions
to intimate discussions, from formal cocktail
parties to fun networking events, from hands-on
workshops to lectures from renowned experts,
you'll find it at NPAC 2008. Learn from leading
professionals in dozens of fields that intersect
with yours. Share your experiences and insights
with colleagues in your field and with new friends
in other performing arts. Take home information
that will inform your work and positively impact
your results. Come to make a commitment to
building a performing arts community, both
nationally and at home, unified and ready to
Take Action Together! Workshops, social events,
performances and other events are planned for
throughout the Convention." For more information, go to
http://www.performingartsconvention.org/
* * * * * * *
Americans for the Arts Annual Convention
This year's Americans for the Arts Annual
Convention, "American Evolution: Arts in the
New Civic Life" will take place in Philadelphia
on June 20-22. Preview rates end on Feb. 1.
To book a hotel or register online, go to
http://www.americansforthearts.org/events/2008/convention/003.asp
* * * * * * *
Alternative Education Resource Organization
(AERO) Conference
For the fifth year in a row, the AERO
(Alternative Education Resource Organization)
conference will be held from June 26th-29th
at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY and
bring together educators, students, parents,
and many others interested and/or involved in
educational alternatives from around the U.S.,
Canada, and the world. Many educational
alternatives are represented: Montessori,
Waldorf, Steiner, Choice, Democratic, Homeschool,
Open, Charter, Free, Sudbury, Holistic, Virtual,
Magnet, Early Childhood, Reggio Emilia, Indigo,
Krishnamurti, Quaker, Libertarian, Independent,
Progressive, Community, Cooperative, and more.
This year’s conference theme is "Moving from
Ideas to Practice," Workshops and presentations
will be made on a wide range of topics. Open
workshop time will be held throughout the
conference where workshops, presentations, and
special events will be entirely up to the
attendees to organize! For more information and
to register, go to
http://aeroconference.com/
Registration deadline is May 31st.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
When involving any group in a bodily-kinesthetic
activity, such as acting out a story, playing a game,
or role-playing, it is important to make sure they
are prepared psychologically with a "warm-up."
Whereas some groups are ready to plunge right
in to acting out a story in class, many students
will be shy or self-conscious or unwilling to
"make fools of themselves" in front of their peers.
Hence the need to take them step by step.
For younger students, the warm-up exercise
will help to focus their often scattered energy
in one direction. With the older age groups,
the warm-up exercise will help them to get past
any fears of appearing un-cool in front of their
peers. Although almost any childhood game you
have played can be adapted to use as a warm-up
(it is best if it is short, especially if it is
a predecessor for another activity, such as role play),
there are by now many books of theatre games
and trainer exercises available on the market.
CES's own "Teaching Curriculum Through the Arts"
contains many such games, as does its student
workbook "Play with Purpose." The Tennis Ball game,
featured below, is one such warm-up extracted
from these books (for more on the books,
visit the CES website at
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/quicklist.html
* * * * * * *
This is an almost foolproof warm-up exercise for
any age group from about 3rd grade up (we'd even
try it for early childhood) and for any developmental
level. It is played in partners with one partner
holding an imaginary tennis ball and the other
partner having one minute to talk them out of it.
Another object can be substituted for the tennis
ball, and different circumstances or even characters
can be suggested to create a context in which
the game focuses on the upcoming main activity of
the instructional session. Playing the game
creates a mini dramatic scene, and participants
will soon realize, in the processing of playing,
that they have just acted. If you require more
detailed instructions for the Tennis Ball Game
and specific examples of how it can be changed
to meet virtually any academic objective, go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/ArtsInEducationStrategies.html
* * * * * * *
CES offers an array of workshops for parents
and for educational staff at all levels, from
administrative to classroom to supervisory.
Such topics as "Team Building," "Stress Management,"
"Building Trust & Respect in Relationships"
and "Differentiated Instruction" have been
popular offerings at many schools and institutions.
For more about CES workshops go to
http:www.creativeeducationalsystems.com or
call 347-702-7587.
* * * * * * *
Have you, your organization, or company advertised
with the New York Foundation of the Arts’ Classifieds
on NYFA.org? By listing all your jobs, opportunities
and events with NYFA, you are helping to provide the
best programs for artists all across the country.
And starting at just $30 for a week listing, NYFA
can give you access to a pool of creative talent who
will view your ads daily. To post, go to:
http://www.nyfa.org/classifieds
* * * * * * *
Others born in May include Wizard of Oz author
L. Frank Baum, on May 15, and Indian playwright
Rabindranath Tagore on May 6.
"A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more
than the metaphysics of books."
"After you have exhausted what there is in business,
politics, conviviality, and so on - have found that
none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear
- what remains? Nature remains."
"All faults may be forgiven of him who has perfect
candor."
"And there is no trade or employment but the young
man following it may become a hero."
"Be curious, not judgmental."
"Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity,
When I give I give myself."
"Do I contradict myself? Very well,
then I contradict myself, I am large,
I contain multitudes."
"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle."
"Freedom - to walk free and own no superior."
"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful
flowers where I can walk undisturbed."
"Have you heard that it was good to gain the day?
I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost
in the same spirit in which they are won."
"Have you learned the lessons only of those who
admired you, and were tender with you, and stood
aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons
from those who braced themselves against you,
and disputed passage with you?"
"He most honors my style who learns under it
to destroy the teacher."
"Henceforth I ask not good fortune.
I myself am good fortune."
"Here or henceforward it is all the same to me,
I accept Time absolutely."
"I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God,
I am as good as the best."
"I cannot be awake for nothing looks to me
as it did before, Or else I am awake
for the first time, and all before has been a mean sleep."
"I celebrate myself, and sing myself."
"I exist as I am, that is enough."
"I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones."
"I have learned that to be with those
I like is enough."
"I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't
believe I deserved my friends."
"I say that democracy can never prove itself
beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly
grows its own forms of art, poems, schools,
theology, displacing all that exists, or that
has been produced anywhere in the past,
under opposite influences."
"I say to mankind, Be not curious about God.
For I, who am curious about each, am not curious
about God - I hear and behold God in every object,
yet understand God not in the least."
"If you done it, it ain't bragging."
"Judging from the main portions of the history of
the world, so far, justice is always in jeopardy."
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine -
and shadows will fall behind you."
"Nothing can happen more beautiful than death."
"Nothing endures but personal qualities."
"Now I see the secret of making the best person:
it is to grow in the open air and to eat and
sleep with the earth."
"Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not
a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror,
and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me."
"Produce great men, the rest follows."
"Re-examine all that you have been told...
dismiss that which insults your soul."
"Seeing, hearing, feeling, are miracles, and each
part and tag of me is a miracle."
Speech is the twin of my vision, it is unequal
to measure itself, it "provokes me forever,
it says sarcastically, Walt you contain enough,
why don't you let it out then?"
"The art of art, the glory of expression and
the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity."
"The genius of the United States is not best
or most in its executives or legislatures,
nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges,
or churches, or parlors, nor even in its
newspapers or inventors, but always most in
the common people."
"The great city is that which has the greatest
man or woman: if it be a few ragged huts, it is
still the greatest city in the whole world."
"The real war will never get in the books."
"The shallow consider liberty a release
from all law, from every constraint.
The wise man sees in it, on the contrary,
the potent Law of Laws."
"There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny
may not enter upon this country, if the people
lose their roughness and spirit of defiance."
"There is that indescribable freshness and
unconsciousness about an illiterate person
that humbles and mocks the power of the noblest
expressive genius."
"To die is different from what any one supposed,
and luckier."
"To the real artist in humanity, what are called
bad manners are often the most picturesque and
significant of all."
"We convince by our presence."
"Whatever satisfies the soul is truth."
"Whoever degrades another degrades me,
And whatever is done or said returns at last to me."
"Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools,
Wisdom cannot be pass'd from one having it
to another not having it,
Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof,
is its own proof."
To contribute your ideas, and read other's in this month's
Arts in Education Strategies, go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/ArtsInEducationStrategies.html
write us at
comments@creativeeducationalsystems.com. Your comments will
be posted to our site.
These four fabulous play collections, containing more
than 25 original and classic stories for students and
family audiences of all ages, belong in any good theatre
library, public or personal. Get a discount with the
purchase of the entire collection at once PLUS an
additional bonus: a copy of "Producing the School Play"
at no cost. Buy the collection this month, and CES will
provide a telephone consultation on your next production
anytime within the next year. For more information, go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/TheatreCollection.html
* * * * * * *
The tabard is nothing more than a rectangle of
cloth with a hole in the center. When the head
of the actor goes through the hole, half the cloth
hangs in front of the actor, and half behind, down
to the desired length. It is an elegantly simple
basic tunic from which many costumes can easily be
built. It can serve for many folktales and fairy
tales. Make it of coarse cloth such as burlap,
belt it with a rope, and you have virtually any
kind of peasant costume. Make it from a more graceful
cloth which drapes well, make it shoulder wide, let
it hang to the knees for the men, or to the ankles
for the women and belt it with an elegant chord or
ribbon and you have a Greek chiton. Make it of
stiffer felt, get rid of the belt, and applique a
cross or coat of arms on the front and it becomes
a knight's tunic or a musketeer's cape. Widen it
to the wrists with the hands are held straight out,
and seam the sides, and you have created a tribal
robe. Select the fabric appropriate to the culture,
time period and class of the character. It can
give a show a simple, quick ensemble look: make
tabards all of black or of a variety of bright colors
with belts to match and they instantly create a
unified look. Add hats, shawls, capes or other
costume pieces to create specific characters. For
a simple in-class performance, old curtains,
bedspreads, sheets and table cloths, or fabric
scraps from the local thrift store can easily
costume an ensemble for little or no cost what-so-ever.
There is nothing quite as quick to bring a young
actor "out of himself" than to put him in a costume,
almost any costume, and show him a mirror.
* * * * * * *
Job Listings from Idealist.org
Idealist.org provides a wide variety of resources,
including a vast job database for all kinds of fields.
To read details go to http://www.idealist.org.
Here are some recent postings in arts and education:
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Deadlines:
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The One Minutes are videos of exactly one minute.
Worldwide, The One Minutes foundation (TOM)
are organizing exhibitions, festivals, country
competitions award ceremonies, and TV broadcasts.
Awards are given in the categories of 1) one
minute of freedom, 2) small news, 3) book or
film retold, 4) looking out of the window,
and 5) junior. For application and information, visit
http://www.theoneminute.org
* * * * * * *
Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS)
Deadline - Wed., May 28th, 2008
* * * * * * *
Educational Things You Can Learn
from Your Young Son
* * * * * * *
Creative Educational Systems, the publisher
of the "Journal for Enlightened Education," is
an arts and cultural organization which helps
organizations and individuals to find the best
ways the arts may be used for purposes of
communication, to teach curriculum, to raise
consciousness, to build community and to prevent violence. For
specific products, services and more information,
go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com.
PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT
Editor's Note: This tip and many more ideas for
productions for theatre for young people may be found in
the book Producing the School Play. For more
information, go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/Producing.html
To contribute your ideas, and read other's in this months
Theatre Tips on Costumes, go to
http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/ProducingTheatre.html
or write us at
comments@creativeeducationalsystems.com
School & Youth Groups Coordinator
Washington, District of Columbia United States
Last updated on: May 12, 2008
Description: School & Youth Groups Coordinator
National Building Museum Washington, DC This
position oversees all aspects of the Museum’s
regular programming for organized youth groups,
including school, scout, and birthday party programs.
Per Diem Access Educator
New York, New York United States
Last updated on: May 12, 2008
Description: Essential Job Functions: Develop and
facilitate tours, including hands-on gallery and
studio components, for K-12 grade students with
disabilities in both the permanent collection and
special exhibitions.
Massachusetts Promise Fellow!
Massachusetts United States
Last updated on: May 12, 2008
Description: Are you looking transform yourself
and your community through service? Each spring/
summer we actively recruit a new class of
Massachusetts Promise Fellows that do just that.
Find out more about the Fellowship by visiting
www.masspromisefellows.org
Museum Educator for Teen, Family &
Community Programs
Seattle, Washington United States
Last updated on: May 9, 2008
Description: SAM is one museum in three locations:
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum,
and the Olympic Sculpture Park. OVERVIEW: Seattle
Art Museum seeks an energetic and creative
Educator to develop interactive learning experiences
for teens, families.
Theater Instructor
(Teen Summer Arts Program)
Queens, New York United States
Last updated on: May 9, 2008
Description: Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning
(JCAL) is Southeast Queens’ principal arts
institution currently in its 35th year. JCAL
is a non-profit organization that serves New
York City by providing educational, performing,
and visual arts programs.
Elementary Music Teacher
Brooklyn, New York United States
Last updated on: May 8, 2008
Description: The Elementary Music Teacher invites
every student to appreciate, perform, create,
and understand music. In a program aligned with
the New York State Learning Standards, the elements of
music--melody, harmony, rhythm, tone, color, and
form--are studied.
Elementary Art Teacher
Brooklyn, New York United States
Last updated on: May 8, 2008
Description: The Elementary Art Teacher motivates
each pupil to develop knowledge and skill in
the visual arts. He or she guides students to
express themselves creatively in visual terms,
using skills and techniques of artistic expression
appropriate to their ages.
Music Teacher
New York, New York United States
Last updated on: May 7, 2008
Description: The Success Charter Network,
a charter management organization (CMO) in
central Harlem, seeks an extraordinary music
teacher. Its flagship school, Harlem Success
Academy Charter School, opened amidst great
anticipation in August of 2006.
September 15, 2008 (United States and Canada);
December 1, 2008 (Latin America and Caribbean)
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
annually offers fellowships to further the development
of scholars and artists by assisting them to
engage in research in any field of knowledge
and creation in any of the arts, under the
freest possible conditions. Go to
http://www.gf.org/
New York State Strategic Opportunity Stipends
(SOS) provides grants designed to help individual
artists of all disciplines take advantage of
specific, unique opportunities that will
significantly benefit their work or career.
These are $100-$600 grants for forthcoming
opportunities (not necessarily projects) that
are distinct from an artist's ongoing work.
The next deadline is May 28, 2008. This deadline
is for opportunities occurring between July 1, 2008
and October 31, 2008. To apply: Complete the
application:
http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=49&fid=1&sid=21
and submit it to your regional SOS administrator:
http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=48&fid=1&sid=21.
To learn more about SOS, visit NYFA's website at
http://www.nyfa.org/sos,
or call Catharine Kendall at
212/366-6900, ext. 224 or write
ckendall@nyfa.org.
quoted from the
Get the The Journal for Enlightened Education at no charge at
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