STUDENTS TO SING AND PERFORM IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THURSDAY MAY 16 AT 9:30 SHARP: STUDENTS AND ARTS AND EDUCATION SUPPORTERS TO CONVERGE ON CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO SUPPORT DIRECT ACTION!

STRONG VISUALS: STUDENTS TO SING & TO AWARD 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS “ARTS EDUCATION SUPERHERO” CAPES AT CITY COUNCIL.

WHEN: THURSDAY MAY 16, 9:30 AM
WHERE: Philadelphia City Council Chambers, 4th Floor (in hall and inside chambers)
WHAT: Students from Nebinger, MYA award “ARTS EDUCATION SUPERHERO” capes to two Council members

May 16, 2013, Philadelphia, PA — Students from Nebinger and Middle Years Alternative School will don “Arts Education Superhero” capes and perform Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in the hall outside Philadelphia Council Chambers at 9:30am, and will enter chambers during caucus session. A coalition of arts and education supporters, parents and school staff (organized by Public Citizens for Children and Youth and Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, among others) will rally for funding to ensure that art and music will continue to be taught in our public schools.

Background: The Pennsylvania state education budget is in crisis, having been cut by $1 billion since 2010. Locally, the cuts have financially distressed the School District of Philadelphia, which has asked City Council in its FY 2014 budget to provide an additional $60 million to schools.

Without this additional funding, concessions from the unions and an additional $120 million from state legislature, Philadelphia public schools will be left with a bare bones budget, cutting instrumental music, art and music teachers, sports teams, nurses, secretaries, extracurriculars, and more.

“My school will not be able to open its doors,” said Leslie Mason, principal of Mifflin School. Arts education is the key to keeping students engaged in school, making learning matter, and preparing students for 21st century careers. Without strong school arts programs, the strong arts organizations and businesses that are the underpinning of the city’s creative economy are also at risk.