Getting signatures on the Petition for Equal Access to Music Education was the focus of a big effort by state and division leaders at the MENC Eastern Division conference in Providence, RI, in March.
They received help from two Mrs. America delegates–Mrs. Massachusetts 2008 Robin Allain-Moody and Christine Hunt, Mrs. New Hampshire 2008. Both delegates, after visiting the MENC resource booth, spent time talking to members, exhibitors, and students about the petition drive. MENC, through the petition, is asking the Department of Education to recognize music and the other arts as mandatory components of every public education curriculum.
“Strength in numbers, passion for the art, and amazing talent is my impression from my visit at MENC’s Eastern Division Conference,” said Christine Hunt. “A sense of pride and community was represented, as well as a mutual respect for the contribution of each individual to music education. I was honored to be a part of the crucial gathering of signatures for the Petition Drive to keep music education in schools.”
“Having two of our division’s Mrs. America delegates added an elegant touch to our Eastern Division Conference and certainly brought added attention from everyone to the petition drive,” said David Neves, president of the MENC Eastern Division. “We were overjoyed that these wonderful women were willing to donate their time and energy to our cause. We should all go out of our way to thank the Mrs. America organization for their support.”
—Elizabeth Lasko, April 9, 2009. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education
