Arts in Education:

The intersection of advocacy, research, policy, and practice

March/April, 2008 S301

ArtsTeaching &

Learning

Policy

Research Advocacy

Two Questions about R/P/A/P*:

What would you really like the relationship between research, policy, practice, and advocacy to be?

What do you think it actually is?

* R=research; P=policy; A=advocacy; P=practice

What are policies?

Policies are those decisions that determine the allocation of many different kinds of resources for particular purposes and/or the creation of rules and regulations that will govern behaviors in a particular setting.

In schools or educational settings, policies include all of the requirements and resource allocations that will occur in that setting, including everything from graduation requirements to teacher contracts to the choice of textbooks to how much time will be spent in physical education and what are suitable causes for being released from the physical education requirement. And on and on and on…

Two definitions of advocacy:

“Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.”

…the intentional, strategic attempt to influence policy on behalf of practice, usually with the intent of making it possible to provide more and better educational experiences.

Notions of advocacy from the high-minded to “common cause” to “let’s

make a deal”*A high-minded notion of advocacy is that you make a compelling case for something (like arts education) by drawing on the best instincts and deepest moral commitments of a person with power over policies.

A slightly less high-minded notion of advocacy is that you seek common cause with a policy maker. (You have an expensive problem. I have a cost-effective solution.)

An even slightly less high-minded notion of advocacy is that you identify something that someone in power needs, figure out how to deliver it to them, and get their support in return.

Some questions about the R/P/A/P eco-system:

Does research really influence policy?

If parents and teachers believe something is in the best interest of their community and/or their children, do they need research to justify their choices?

Does research influence your personal decisions? Approaches to teaching? Your own learning?

If you were an elected official or a political appointee, would you be more influenced by research or advocacy? Something else?

Who would you choose as an audience for your research findingsz? How would you decide?

Who are decision makers? Who works together to make decisions?

1.Teachers/learners in the space

2. Administrators and others – just outside the space

3. Policy Makers – may never see the space

Policy Makers

Teachersand

Learners

Admin and Others