It is our responsibility as music professionals to advocate for the arts to be more than a fringe benefit and become core content for all learners. If you, as a music educator, have ever felt like you were beating your head against a wall when trying to explain what you do to administrators, you are not alone.
Here some ways you can advocate for your program through educating your administrator:
Communicate
a Clear Vision
Vision is universal. When you make connections with other content areas, it can help administrators identify with what you do. When you do this, think of the big picture skills. How does collaboration in choir teach kids to perform stronger in an inquiry-based social studies classroom? How can the theatre production become a part of the school’s social skills lessons about digital citizenship? The connections are endless, but you cannot assume that an administrator that may enter your classroom twice a year will discover these opportunities.
Vision is universal. When you make connections with other content areas, it can help administrators identify with what you do. When you do this, think of the big picture skills. How does collaboration in choir teach kids to perform stronger in an inquiry-based social studies classroom? How can the theatre production become a part of the school’s social skills lessons about digital citizenship? The connections are endless, but you cannot assume that an administrator that may enter your classroom twice a year will discover these opportunities.
Teach
About the Needed Staff Skill Sets
When it is time to hire staff members, your administrator may assume a band director is a band director. They may not realize that the need for diversity of skill sets exists when hiring staff members. Advocate for being a part of the hiring process. Highlight areas that you need to have like-minded colleagues and areas where diversity is key. When your administrator comes to your classroom or concert, take the time to explain to them what is happening. When they are in your environment, this is the time to help them learn about what you and your students do. Avoid talking about the administrative tasks or business components of the work. Save that for their office.
When it is time to hire staff members, your administrator may assume a band director is a band director. They may not realize that the need for diversity of skill sets exists when hiring staff members. Advocate for being a part of the hiring process. Highlight areas that you need to have like-minded colleagues and areas where diversity is key. When your administrator comes to your classroom or concert, take the time to explain to them what is happening. When they are in your environment, this is the time to help them learn about what you and your students do. Avoid talking about the administrative tasks or business components of the work. Save that for their office.
Stop
Comparing Fine Arts to Standardized Testing
Standardized testing, by definition, is designed to test to the least common denominator where everyone is the same. Hopefully, your fine arts program is designed to be an environment that promotes freedom for creativity and expression. You work tirelessly to teach and motivate your students to a standard of excellence where no one is left behind and where each member of the ensemble is accountable for the success or failure of the other. This in no way compares to standardized assessments and when you put what you do in those terms, it devalues your work.
Standardized testing, by definition, is designed to test to the least common denominator where everyone is the same. Hopefully, your fine arts program is designed to be an environment that promotes freedom for creativity and expression. You work tirelessly to teach and motivate your students to a standard of excellence where no one is left behind and where each member of the ensemble is accountable for the success or failure of the other. This in no way compares to standardized assessments and when you put what you do in those terms, it devalues your work.
Tell
Your Story
If you do not tell your story, someone else will. Embracing social media to tell the learning journey is becoming more commonplace. There are those, however, who still do not see how social media can be leveraged to advocate for student learning. The reality is that people are never going to become less connected through digital mediums. These resources are only going to become more woven into the fabric of how we interact. Figure out how your students and parents communicate, and become comfortable in these spaces. For instance, Facebook may be a great way to connect with parents, but students are not flocking to this space anymore. Twitter can be leveraged as a professional development tool, connecting with musicians and educators around the globe, but parents may not find this a great place to learn of upcoming events. Instagram and Snapchat are popular among many students, but may not be great resources for professionals. The point is, know how to leverage these digital tools to become a better at your craft, communicate with your community, and share the great things happening in your program.
You will never know the true impact of your influence. The skills you teach today WILL serve students in the future. When you embrace your role beyond the podium and use the resources around you to prepare students for the next level of their life, you plant seeds that will grow into our next leaders in all industries. Your work matters every single day!
If you do not tell your story, someone else will. Embracing social media to tell the learning journey is becoming more commonplace. There are those, however, who still do not see how social media can be leveraged to advocate for student learning. The reality is that people are never going to become less connected through digital mediums. These resources are only going to become more woven into the fabric of how we interact. Figure out how your students and parents communicate, and become comfortable in these spaces. For instance, Facebook may be a great way to connect with parents, but students are not flocking to this space anymore. Twitter can be leveraged as a professional development tool, connecting with musicians and educators around the globe, but parents may not find this a great place to learn of upcoming events. Instagram and Snapchat are popular among many students, but may not be great resources for professionals. The point is, know how to leverage these digital tools to become a better at your craft, communicate with your community, and share the great things happening in your program.
You will never know the true impact of your influence. The skills you teach today WILL serve students in the future. When you embrace your role beyond the podium and use the resources around you to prepare students for the next level of their life, you plant seeds that will grow into our next leaders in all industries. Your work matters every single day!
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