Holistic Learning and Media Arts Part 1

There are a number of novel scientific, philosophical, social and aesthetic principles that can dramatically shift the current industrial paradigm in education. I describe these principles as “holistic”, because they coherently nurture a multi-dimensional child at their center, and are based on improved understandings of the mind. This blog will present some of these precepts and demonstrate their implementation in the 21^st century creative practice of media arts.

Media Arts Institutionalized in LAUSD

“Media Arts” Teachers’ Specialized Status Board Delineated and Defended for Priority Rehire

From Ginger Fox, Elementary Arts UTLA Rep:

• Today the Board of Education met to approve the final budget for 2011-12. They also adopted the following:
• Board of Education Report No. 420 – 10/11

Human Resources Division

(Reemployment of Certificated Employees based on Special Skills and Training) Recommends

approval to first reemploy certificated employees with special skills and training from the

reemployment lists for the 2011-2012 school year; specifically, certificated employees who have

served in Dual Immersion language programs, arts educators as specified, members of design

teams at Public School Choice schools, and certificated employees who have specialized training

and experience in the International Baccalaureate program.

• This specific rehiring criteria was created due to the fact that Dance, Theatre, and Media Arts teachers do not currently have our own Single Subject Credentials, and therefore the District has historically placed us on other seniority lists. This action will give Human Resources the authority to pull Dance and Theatre teachers off of the English, PE, and Elementary/Multiple Subject lists. It will also separate Marching Band teachers from Choral teachers, and Media Arts from Art. This info is delineated in the 6-30-11 Board Materials, Tab 2, at http://laschoolboard.org/06-30-11RegBd