“Arts Education Advocacy Issues”
Dr Carl Shafer
Speaker – Dr. Carl Shafer, educator and musician
Since 1995 the California Education Code has mandated that all students in grades 1-6 receive instruction based on a course of study in music, dance, theater and visual art, and that all four disciplines be offered in grades 7-12. Yet, arts education continues to be treated as an optional part of the curriculum. This presentation is about what is happening with teaching the arts – and why it matters. Dr. Shafer has been an educator and principal for 61(!) years in the fields of music, music education, and visual and performing arts. He earned a BA in music from UC Santa Barbara, an MA in music education from Cal State LA, and an EdD in education administration from UCLA. He has worked for the Ontario-Montclair School District, Buena Vista Arts-Integrated School (a K-6 school with the arts as core curriculum), CSU Fullerton, CSU San Bernardino, and California Baptist University. He was a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Education Advisory Committee, ten years as a judge for the Los Angeles Music Center “Bravo” award, Board President of the Arts Council for San Bernardino County, and member and staff of the California Arts Project. In 2008 he was inducted in the California Music Educators Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in music education. Dr. Schafer was also honored with a “Titan of Music” award by CSU Fullerton for his work as a music educator and arts advocate and recently received a Distinguished Service award from the San Bernardino County School Boards Association. He currently is Board President of the Claremont Community School of Music, a member of the Policy Council of the California Alliance for Arts Education, and performs as a jazz musician in the Carl Schafer Quartet.
Introduction: Art Sutton
Fellowship: Anne Sonner
Greeters: Lori McGrath, Tom Helliwell