By Alex Zhai
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Tuesday, March 7, 2006, The OG, news

Uni fine arts executive teacher Rick Murphy was among the panel members who led a community forum Monday night at the Virginia Theatre on the future of arts education in Illinois schools.

Problems in reading, math, and science education get plenty of attention in state and federal legislation, but what about the arts?

Monday's forum addressed that question, using as a springboard a study commissioned for Illinois Creates, a statewide arts education initiative consisting of 150 business, civic, education, and arts organizations.

The study identified broad disparities in the levels of arts education offered in Illinois public schools. For example, 20 percent of the principals surveyed said their schools have no arts programs.

The forum was sponsored by the Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation. A presenter from the alliance explained in detail the findings of the study to an audience of around 100, and six panelists representing various groups helped facilitate the discussion.

Besides Murphy, the panel included State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D) of Urbana; Nathaniel C. Banks, director, University of Illinois African-American Cultural Program, and board member, Champaign Community Unit School District 4; Peter B. Fox, founder, Fox Development Corporation; Jean Korder, curriculum coordinator, Urbana School District 116; and Trudy Walters, principal, Barkstall Elementary School. John Jennings, professor of art at the U of I, served as moderator.

According to Murphy, schools face pressure from the No Child Left Behind Act to streamline spending, and at many smaller schools the arts are often the first to go.

“I don't mean reduced,” Murphy said in an interview prior to the forum. “I mean completely cut.”

The organizers of the event hoped to increase awareness of the problems facing arts education and gain support for reform at the state level. The event was covered by several media organizations, including WILL and WCIA.

“Last night was a success if we keep up the dialogue,” said Murphy. But he thinks that while it was a good start, it was still only a start.