[RP TownTalk] Save the Creative Writing Major at HMS CPA

Tue Jan 17 02:59:07 UTC 2017

Hyattsville, University Park, Mt. Rainier, College Park, Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and many neighboring communities enjoy the benefits and opportunities provided by the Hyattsville Middle School Creative Performing Arts Program. One major within the program, Creative Writing, is inexplicably slated to be cancelled. Please join the HMS PTSO in contacting our elected officials and select PGCPS staff, stressing the importance of the program and your desire to see Creative Writing reinstated as a major effective immediately. To help you in this effort, we provide sample language for a letter/email, background information, and contact information. Your letters/emails need not be long. Thank you and please help spread the word.

Please also consider attending the Jan. 19 Board of Education Meeting to speak or simply demonstrate your support. For more information and to register to speak, visit: www.pgcps.org/board/

Sample letter:

Subject: Reinstate CPA Creative Writing Major at Hyattsville Middle School

Dear XXXXXX,

I am extremely upset to find out that the Creative Writing Major at Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) had been eliminated. The Creative Writing Major had been an important and successful part of HMS's Creative and Performing Arts Program for years. Past students have received honors and awards for their work. Creative writing is not only an important artistic discipline, but it builds literacy and communication skills transferable to almost every aspect of life and work.

[Include brief explanation of why creative writing is important to you, your children, and the community: See Talking Points]

We request that Prince George's County Public Schools CEO, Dr. Maxwell, immediately reinstate the program to ensure a seamless start to the 2017-2018 academic year. Please contact Dr. Maxwell to let him know that you support the reinstatement of the Creative Writing Major.

Thank you very much for supporting excellence in literacy, reading, and writing in our public schools.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL (if applicable)

YOUR CITY

Send to:

Segun C. Eubanks, Ed.D.

BOE Chair

segun.eubanks at pgcps.org

Lupi Quinteros-Grady

BOE District 2

lupi.grady at pgcps.org

Dinora A. Hernandez, Esq

BOE District 3

dinora.hernandez at pgcps.org

Mary Kingston Roche

BOE At-Large

mary.roche at pgcps.org

Dr. Kevin Maxwell

PGCPS Chief Executive Officer

ceo at pgcps.org

Deni Taveras

County Council, Area 2

dltaveras at co.pg.md.us

Dannielle Glaros

County Council, Area 3

dmglaros at co.pg.md.us

Alonzo Washington

Delegate, District 22

alonzo.washington at house.state.md.us

Anne Healey

Delegate, District 22

anne.healey at house.state.md.us

Paul Pinski

Senator, District 22

paul.pinsky at senate.state.md.us

Jim Rosapepe

Senator, District 21

jim.rosapepe at senate.state.md.us

Ben Barnes

Delegate, District 21

ben.barnes at house.state.md.us

Barbara Frush

Delegate, District 21

barbara.frush at house.state.md.us

Talking Points, Questions and Answers

Advocating for the reinstatement of the CPA Creative Writing Major at Hyattsville Middle School

Tips for Effective Advocacy

  *   Be concise and clear about what you want

  *   Be passionate and make it personal to you and your child

  *   Back up your position with facts and data.

  *   Consider what matters to your audience

  *   Don’t be rude

  *   Be positive. Couch this as building on the successes of HMS.

Our ASK:

  *   Immediately reinstate the Creative Writing Major at Hyattsville Middle School, and open the application for Fall 2017.

Background Information

  *   The Creative Writing major was eliminated according to John Ceschini and Anita Lambert

  *   The application is not available on the PGCPS website

  *   There was no formal communication or public input leading up to the decision

  *   There was no formal communication after the decision was made

What is Creative Writing?

  *   Creative writing is a discipline that includes Poetry, Plays, Movie and television scripts, Fiction (novels, novellas, and short stories), Songs, Speeches, Memoirs, and Personal essays

  *   Movies and Television is a $300 billion industry; publishing is a $30 billion industry

  *   Creative writing majors are part of Master of Fine Arts programs at Ivy League schools (Brown, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell), top State schools (Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia), top private Universities (Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt)

What is the value of Creative Writing and the CW Major to our children, and why should we save it?

  *   Having a CW Major communicates the importance of reading and writing to students and families

  *   Teaching CW takes special knowledge, skills, and dedicated time. It can’t be taught in other courses.

  *   CW develops skills for self-expression, effective communication, empathy, critical and analytical thinking, and improves vocabulary.

  *   CW, like other forms of art, are important outlet for kids who may not have other talents like music, theater or visual arts.

  *   CW can lead to future professional opportunities

  *   A CW Major allows like-minded students a venue to learn from each other and push each other to improve.

  *   A CW Major as part of the CPA draws students from diverse background and enriches the school as a whole

Why is an elective in Creative Writing insufficient?

  *   An elective is a hobby, a major is a commitment to excellence

  *   Electives are limited by student and faculty schedules and not guaranteed

  *   Electives cannot substitute continuous learning, improvement, and concentration over a two-year period.

  *   Limited opportunities for electives and the lack of rigor in electives

  *   Electives are only available to HMS students. It would increase inequity if other schools do not start a CW program

Responses to PGCPS rationale for ending the Creative Writing Major

  *    “We wanted to align the CPA curriculum across the county.”

     *   Different schools have different programs and there is nothing wrong with that. Since Thomas Pullen and Benjamin Foulois both have K-8 arts program, why doesn’t Hyattsville Elementary and Hyattsville Middle School 6th graders have that same opportunity? Additionally, Pullen has Computer Arts in addition to Media Production.

     *   The CW Program has a waitlist and is highly successful with students receiving honors and awards. Why eliminate a successful program?

     *   Eliminating the program would eliminate the only intensive PGCPS program that promotes excellence in reading and writing. This is counter to PGCPS emphasis on literacy.

     *   What evaluations have been done on the program? What were the results?

  *   “It would be unfair to schools that don’t have a CW program”

     *   Many schools have special programs unique to them or few others. For example, Russian Language is taught at Greenbelt ES, University Park has Italian but other local elementary schools do not have that opportunity.

     *   We encourage other schools to develop a CW program. CW programs would also help English Language Learners (ELL) to put vocabulary and grammar into a cultural context that would help in language mastery.

     *   Eliminating the CW program does not increase fairness since NO ONE would have the opportunity to excel in creative writing.

  *   “There is not a CW program in high school where students can go after middle school.”

     *   Why does that matter? Students have a chance to learn skills not taught elsewhere

     *   Why not create a CW program in high school VPA programs?

     *   Stimulating early interest in writing is important, and students can pursue higher education and careers after high school. Well over 500 colleges offer either a BA, BFA or MFA in CW.

     *   CW enable students to communicate effectively and creatively. This will help students in any high school course work that requires writing such as English, History, and many other classes.

     *   High schools have other CW outlets – literary magazines, newspapers, theater/drama

  *   “CW is not part of the defined set of disciplines identified by Maryland State Department of Education.”

     *   CW fits in all Fine Arts definitions

     *   Although the Maryland College and Career Ready Curriculum (CCRC) Framework for English Language Art does not use the term “Creative Writing,” an entire section (Section W3 CCR Anchor Standard) is dedicated to the discipline of creative writing and related competencies. The rubric states, “Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.” (http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/share/frameworks/CCSC_Writing_gr6-8.pdf
)

     *   Anne Arundel county has it. Montgomery County offers it as part of a Middle School TAG curriculum.

  *    “We need to add keyboard to HMS CPA.”

     *   Adding keyboard would be great, but it is not a replacement for CW

     *   HMS has a keyboard elective

     *   If a student wants keyboard major, he or she can apply to Pullen.

     *   The HMS community values the Creative Writing major

Bart Lawrence

Hyattsville, MD
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