LA Schools Claim Victory In Efforts To Acquire New Arts Ed Funding

Los Angeles Schools are seeing a steady increase in arts education as the dual result of a long-term program and recent state funding. The Arts for All program was initiated in 2002 as a 10-year plan to restore arts education to the 80 districts of Los Angeles Schools. The project focuses on bringing music, dance, drama and the visual arts to K-12 schools in the area. Nine schools have just signed up for the 2007-2008 school year, bringing the total number of Los Angeles Schools involved up to 27.

Two of the newest participants are the Lancaster and Palmdale districts of Los Angeles Schools. Both schools completely eliminated their elementary music programs in the last decade due to budget cuts and increased pressure to perform on state tests. Major cuts first began for Los Angeles Schools with Proposition 13 in 1978. This California mandate reduced property taxes and district funds, which required all Los Angeles Schools to reduce or eliminate arts and physical education classes.

Foam Sheet Glasses Case Arts And Kites Ideas

Are you a camp director, professor, or homeschool mom looking for a new arts and crafts idea for your children? Or maybe you are a recreation director at a senior centre or day care and could use a new project. Either way, this arts and crafts idea will be interesting and enjoyable for all. This glass box can be used, given as a present, or converted into a necklace purse.

To make the glasses box, you will need the following simple materials: a square of craft foam, plastic or large blunt needles, lanyard lace or thick yarn. Cut 2 rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm.) by six inches (fifteen cm.). With a orifice punch, make holes on 3 sides of each rectangle, leaving one short side unpunched. Make the holes 1/2 inch apart and permit at least 1/4 inch between the orifice and the border of the craft foam. The holes need to line up so that the 2 pieces can be tangled together. In the case that you are preparing the craft for small children, you should make the holes yourself. Otherwise, the crafters can do this step if you have enough pairs of hole punches.