SOFA: Questionnaire for Provincial Leadership Candidates and Party Leaders

Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA) has sent a questionnaire out to all provincial leadership candidates and Party Leaders. Responses are now posted. They are also encouraging the public to join multiple parties and vote in leadership races for candidates who view public education and the fine arts as provincial priorities.

CBE: Fine Arts Task Force

The CBE, under the leadership of Cathy Faber, Superintendent of Learning Innovation, has set up a Fine Arts Task Force. There is a Fine Arts web page to keep everyone up to date on the work of the task force and a blog to get feedback from stakeholders (CAPSC has added it to our Blog List). SOFA has provided two representatives to this committee - a parent and student.

SOFA: Help make a difference. Join the Political Revolution....

SOFA has come up with a creative way to influence politicians, party leaders and policy - Join the Political Revolution... While their focus is fine arts, this strategy is just as effective for public education advocacy . Make a difference!

SOFA Meeting with Education Minister Dave Hancock was a big success!

On January 25, Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA) hosted a meeting with the Education Minister to highlight Fine Arts curriculum and how it fits with the Inspiring Education initiative. Bill Campbell, Co-Chair, has just posted an update on their website that also includes links to the various video presentations shared at the meeting. Approximately 650 people attended the event.

Calling all Bloggers: Sir Ken Robinson Blogathon

As many of you know Sir Ken Robinson will be in Red Deer on Feb 9th. CAPSC is excited to attend this event. Recently a Red Deer teacher and blogger, Joe Bower, suggested that we participate in a Sir Ken Robinson Blogathon! His goal is to start and keep the conversation going. We jumped on board right away! 

Many of our members share concerns and ideas as to how we can keep creativity in our classrooms. With the SOFA event coming up next week this important topic is really on our minds right now; but we want to make sure community members, parents, students and Educators keep the conversation going. 

Some of the things that Joe Bower suggested as conversation starters were:

• What role should creativity play in education?
• In what ways does school need to change? (And I would add to that in what way does formal education need to change?)
• How can school broaden its definition of achievement?
• How can school do a better job of encouraging all children to find their passion?
• What needs to happen so that school is something to be enjoyed rather than simply endured?

This is a great starting point and we look forward to your thoughts!

Eryn Kelly

Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA) Hosting a Public Meeting with Education Minister Dave Hancock

On January 25, 2011 at 7:30 pm, Education Minister Dave Hancock will be attending a public meeting hosted by SOFA at Central Memorial High School here in Calgary. SOFA is an advocacy group focused on efforts to maintain and enhance K to 12 fine arts education. The Hon. Dave Hancock will address Alberta Education's Inspiring Action initiative and the role fine arts education will play in the transformation of our education system. For more information about this meeting check their website.