"...Art became an expendable luxury, and 50 million students have paid the price. Today a child's access to arts education is largely a function of his or her parents' income.
In a time of social progress and economic prosperity, why have we experienced this colossal cultural decline? There are several reasons, but I must risk offending many friends and colleagues by saying that surely artists and intellectuals are partly to blame. Most American artists, intellectuals and academics have lost their ability to converse with the rest of society. We have become wonderfully expert in talking to one another, but we have become almost invisible and inaudible in the general culture.
This mutual estrangement has had enormous cultural, social and political consequences. America needs its artists and intellectuals, and they need to re-establish their rightful place in the general culture. If we could reopen the conversation between our best minds and the broader public, the results would not only transform society but also artistic and intellectual life
...The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society..."

"The Impoverishment of American Culture
And the need for better art education"

BY DANA GIOIA
Thursday, July 19, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT
Wall Street Journal
(props to Kristi for sending this article to me)

From the girl who was robbed of her precious 10-speeded, 2-wheeled, bluish-purple, blinky-lighted transportation,
Alison

PS: I will leave you with one of my students' drawings...note the expression this five year old included!!

So its official...we're renting an awesome row home. Its huge. Anywho, I'm going put out an advertisement now for "Jamima"-our yet-to-be-discovered 5th roomie. (we had to give her a name...and we were thinking about pancakes)

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT, AND YOU ARE NICE, CLEAN, RESPONSIBLE, POSSIBLY CHRISTIAN OR AT LEAST OK W/ LOTS OF CHURCH POTLUCKS AND MEETINGS IN YOUR FUTURE HOME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

We kinda took a leap of faith in signing this lease, and now we're just waiting (some more). God has a funny way of making me wait on things...until just about the last minute. :)

ok, so to avoid bragging about my new home, I'll just post a few pics....its so gorgeous...and there's a garden for me to take care of!!!! AGH! Thank you God!!!















Ok, so there you have it...if you're interested, let me know!!!