This final report describes the activities and outcomes of OPTICA (Our Path Together Initiating Cultural Access) programs. For each program an information sheet indicates the goal, total participation, status of the goal, and activities of the program. Programs included: (1) Hands On: ASL Creative Story Telling, a program that used children's…

Presents a student response to an undergraduate psychology assignment where students constructed a dialog from the discipline's history. The playlet consists of two actors in the roles of William James and Hugo Munsterberg. While they expound on their contradictory positions, two actors standing behind them examine the subtext. (MJP)

Focuses on policy issues that have affected arts education in the twentieth century, such as: interest in discipline-based arts education, influence of national arts associations, and national standards and coordinated assessment. States that whether the policy decisions are viewed as achievements or disasters are for future determination. (CMK)

Discusses the current state of arts education that is characterized by lack of cultural education, the integration of arts into instruction by classroom teachers, and the bad bargains schools have made to get the arts back. Explores the option of out-of-school arts programs and opening the doors to opportunities in the arts. (CMK)

Emphasizes the need to improve the quality and quantity of arts education programing in public schools. Suggests ways to improve preservice and inservice teacher programs in the collaborative arts. Existing programs stress that the arts are interrelated components with many possibilities for collaboration. Institutions with interdisciplinary arts…

Asserts that it is important to avoid bandwagon superficialities related to the interdisciplinary approach to arts education in the K-12 curriculum. Concludes that the overarching issue related to the National Standards implementation is how to keep content and process in a productive relationship. (CFR)

Maintains that the 1990s are witnessing a renewed interest in curriculum integration. Presents, defines, and discusses nine approaches to the cognitive and affective aspects to integrating the arts in the K-12 curriculum. Recommends the coequal style and asserts that it has the potential for intellectual stimulation. (CFR)

"Teacher Recognition Day" was instituted by the Virginia Governor's Schools for the Humanities and the Visual and Performing Arts to honor home school teachers, increase understanding of the Governor's School Program, and develop a supportive web wherein students' changes are seen by home school teachers to be assets rather than…

The case study of community service learning (CSL) by an interdisciplinary team at a middle school in Springfield (Massachusetts) provides information about what happens when teachers integrate community services into the curriculum as an instructional strategy. Community theater management and environmental lobbying projects illustrate issues in…

Observed performance change in 10 choral music concepts after sequential, structured task presentation across a series of choral rehearsals. Finds general performance improvement, with varied performance improvement for specific concepts; feedback improved student attitudes; and feedback decreased student attention spans. Notes research problems…

States that elementary choral teachers should consider the administrative details and rehearsal planning necessary to manage a choir and provide an artistic musical experience for children. Focuses on rehearsal organization by discussing the methods for helping students develop good behavior habits for rehearsals and performances. (CMK)

Finds only a very limited research basis for claims about the effects of art experience on academic achievement. Identifies three levels to which arts education contributes: arts-based, arts-related, and ancillary outcomes of art education. Discusses four contributions arts education makes to the arts and to life beyond them. (SR)

This report looks at the performing artist labor force. Trends in employment, earnings, and geographic distribution of performing artists from 1970 to 1990, are examined. Focus is on three principal occupational groups: actors and directors; dancers; and musicians and composers. Major data sources are described. A summary of findings indicates…

This bibliography, organized in six sections, provides a comprehensive overview of Canadian arts education resources for use with 9th grade students. (1) "Titles and Descriptions" provides information, sources, annotations, and suggested subject use for alphabetically arranged items. (2) "Community Resources/Magazines" lists…

This 1993 annual report describes the Urban Gateways' efforts to bring creative and performing arts into the schools. Designed to enhance school-community relations and increase participation in the arts, Urban Gateways advocates arts experiences as a way to develop the creativity, expressiveness, self-confidence, and conceptual and…