Just imagine how our lives in the arts would really be impacted if we didn’t have a U.S Department of Education (USDOE). This does not necessarily mean we would not have an ESEA, as the ESEA predates the U.S Department of Education (1965 and 1980 respectively), but they are fundamentally linked. So consider, if the USDOE was dissolved, how would that impact the reauthorization of the ESEA, and the arts in your locale? 

Certainly, this is not the first time this has been brought up. But my own experiences have prompted me to think more seriously about this. Having worked at an arts charter school in Arizona, I became increasingly frustrated with the impact of the regulations from the USDOE. Each reauthorization of the ESEA brought more burdensome regulations. And while No Child Left Behind stated that the arts were core disciplines, it did not have a substantial effect on increasing arts in Arizona schools. Did the arts increase in your locale?  

Working with dance educators in Arizona, I hear consistently the negative impact the mandates have on their programs, such as taking students out of their class for test prep. Since NCLB, testing is on the brain of every superintendent, principal, and teacher, and I’m sure most parents and students. This is to the detriment of real, relevant, engaging, and meaningful teaching and learning that will prepare our students for their future. Are you experiencing the same?    

There are places where the arts are thriving, but is this due to USDOE mandates? I would guess not. And the NCLB mandates haven’t helped student achievement. According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, NCLB has not closed the achievement gap as the USDOE has indicated.

In considering this, here are some questions that I have been asking myself. I am sure you can think of many more important questions to ask as well.

1.  Would you experience both positive and negative effects if the USDOE was dissolved? Probably, but I would hope more positive than negative.

2.  Would the ESEA have less power over your school, your teaching?

3.  Would you find that there would be less funding for the arts? The USDOE’s Model Dissemination grant funds only a few programs and is burdensome to write. I think we can, and we do, find funding from other sources.

4.  Would your state and local governments be able to take up the slack and fund what is needed by our students? We have a strong history of local control so I think and hope that they would.

5.  Would parents become more involved in their children’s education as they once were? I had the feeling from working with parents at the charter school that many felt pushed out because of all the requirements. We had to invite them back in to be part of the process of educating their child. 

6.  Are there local businesses you could tap into to help increase the arts in your school?

7.  Would it be easier to advocate for the arts at the state and local level? I know I found it easier.  

To answer these for yourself, each of you would have to assess your own teaching situation. What I think most of us would agree upon is that the proclamations from USDOE on the importance of the arts and the ESEA mandates have not substantially increased arts in the schools. I would bet your local efforts have done much more.

I admit, there would be some chaos at the beginning. But, we are artists. We are trained to be creative, problem solvers, risk-takers. Each of you could be part of the solution to bringing order out of that chaos. And we all just might see real gains for the arts.