CALL TO ACTION:
NAfME Seeks Answers from U.S. Secretary of Education Nominee
Betsy DeVos Regarding Position on Music Education
On January 17th, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. While the hearing addressed important topics regarding Mrs. DeVos’s views on education policy and her personal qualifications for the job, it, unfortunately, did not provide answers to the many questions concerning the nominee’s views on music education and the importance of a Well-Rounded Education (as defined by the Every Student Succeeds Act [ESSA]), that the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) shared with the HELP Committee prior to the hearing.
Photo: Willard/iStock/Thinkstock
AS SUCH, NAfME IS CALLING ON MUSIC EDUCATION ADVOCATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CONTACT THEIR SENATORS AND REQUEST ANSWERS FROM MRS. DEVOS ON THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN POSED BY NAfME PRIOR TO A VOTE ON HER CONFIRMATION BY THE HELP COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 31ST @ 10 AM.
Music education advocates are requested to:
- Contact your Senators (if you happen to live in a state with a HELP Committee member, your work is even more important)
- Identify yourself as a music education advocate, and request to speak with the Senator’s education aide (if you cannot reach the education aide, it is acceptable to speak with another staffer or to leave a message)
- Indicate that you are concerned that Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, has not responded to the National Association for Music Education’s questions regarding her views on the importance of music education. Offer to share these questions with the staffer via email, and strongly encourage them to seek answers from Mrs. DeVos prior to the January 31st, 10 AM vote on her confirmation by the HELP Committee.
- Thank the staffer for their time.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A MUSIC EDUCATION ADVOCATE!
NAfME’s mission to promote the understanding and making of music by all is at the forefront of the work that our 60,000 members do each and every day in classrooms all across America. NAfME advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to educate elected officials and other key decision makers about the impact and importance of music education programs.
Representing music educators, higher education faculty, students, and advocates, NAfME is dedicated to ensuring the access, presence, and perseverance of high quality music education programs taught by certified music educators, for all students across the nation, regardless of circumstance.
In the days to come, NAfME sincerely hopes that Mrs. DeVos will clarify her views regarding the value of ensuring that all students have access to music education, as part of the curricular school day. The music educators of America, as well as parents, students, and advocates everywhere, deserve to know where she stands.
January 27, 2017. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
