Hartfield, Thomas A.

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University of Rhode IslandDigitalCommons@URIReauthorization: S. 2724 (1990) Education: National Endowment for the Arts andHumanities, Subject Files I (1973-1996)1990Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990): Correspondence08Thomas A. HartfieldFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_I_75This Correspondence is brought to you for free and open access by the Education: National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, Subject Files I(1973-1996) at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990) by an authorized administrator ofDigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@etal.uri.edu.Recommended CitationHartfield, Thomas A., "Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990): Correspondence 08" (1990). Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990). Paper 32.http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_I_75/32March 28, 1990 The Honorable Claiborne Pell U rtited States Senate RllsseU Senc:ne Office Building Wa._shingtov, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Pell:· The NationaJ Art Edt1ca,tion Association is concerned about the present art/public fonding controversy the National ]:ndowment for the Arts is engagoo in, particularly about how this controversy coulQ. aff~ct :I_<-14 a.rts education in the long term. More sp~ific;:aj.ly, we c:ire concerned about statements liilking the controversy to public school art education. The implications ate: (1) that if more people were educated in the arts, there would be no controversy, or, (2) that somehowpr9f~ssic:ma.l a.rt educators are at fault, and that if they had done tbeir job, there would be no controversy._ While both of these positions are ludicrous, the potential damage from such rhetoric is increcljble t<> contemplate~ There is equal .possibility of damage to Ill@Y of 01!f art teachers who are struggling to contribute positively to the edµca.tj.opaJ climate. Whil~ NAEA does not endorse censorship, we believe the issue is prirruuily political and social, not artistic or educational. Testimony SJJCb a_s. tbe em.::losed, representing the Coalition for Education in the Art$, arid siJ'.llilar statements made at the AAE Summit meeting l~t fall by the NEA Chairman, heighten our concerns about this linka.ge. NAEA specifically asked this Coalition not to rn~e such linkages in tesfunony because of the potential long-term d~ge to substantive arts education for American youth. lJilf<>rturnitely, our warnings went unheeded. The more their linkage ts 111~de the more art education gets caught in the middle of an issue we ~ neither responsible for, nor can change. We wouIQ. ask th~t you convey to other cominittee members that such testimony d_pes not reflect all of the members of the Coalition for Education in the Arts and that arts education Is hot art appropriate soluti911 to this controversy. - - - -- ---- · - -Last, may we extend our best wishes that you and your c9n:mijttee m.ay find suitable middle.-ground legislation that will afford artistic expression and public accol.intability. Enclosure the national art education association, 1916 as~oc;:iation cirive, reston, virginia 22091(703)860-8000 

Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990): Correspondence 08

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Reauthorization: S. 2724 (1990): Correspondence 08

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