Freshman Music Education
As a Freshman Music Education major here at the University of Alabama, the National Association for Music Education(NAfME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) seemed like appropriate topics of study for this project considering my future job opportunities. I do not really know where I would like to teach, so choosing National organizations would be better so I have more options.
According to the “About Us” page on their website, The American Federation of Teachers is “a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities” (American Federation of Teachers, About Us, 2017, para. 1). They …show more content…
also describe that they use the work the members do to further the aforementioned principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining, and political activism. Founded in Chicago in 1916, the AFT initially had 8 local chapters. Samuel Gompers of the AFL took the organization under his wing, and it grew rapidly in its first four years. 174 locals were established in these first several years alone. However, on the onset of World War I, school boards increased pressure on teachers to resign from the union. Membership dropped to half of what it used to be, and it only got worse in the years during the Great Depression. Membership rose again to 7,000, only for certain chapters to be accused of communism during World War II and the red scare. In 2008, Randi Weingarten became president of the AFT and under her leadership, the organization reached 1.6 million members in 2014, and that number is continually increasing.
The National Association for Music Education is an organization for certified music teachers in the United States.
NAfME “advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century” (National Association for Music Education, About Us, 2017, para. 1). Founded in 1907, this organization ensures the highest quality instruction for its students through professional and qualified teachers. Due to NAfME’s efforts and resources, music education is considered a valid profession by society and the government. They actively advocate for the promotion and guidance of music as a crucial part of the school curriculum. They also are responsible for the establishment for the National Standards for Arts …show more content…
Education.
I think it would be overall very beneficial for me to join the American Federation of Teachers. Being a part of this organization can only further my career and experience level. I also strongly agree with their mission statement, as I believe that all children deserve a right to a quality education with professional educators. In addition, since this organization is national, it will not matter which state I teach in.
I am already a collegiate member of the National Association for Music Education, all I would have to do to join NAfME would be to upgrade my membership.
My Introduction to Music Education class, MUE 200, required me to join the collegiate chapter here at the University of Alabama. But I do believe that it would be incredibly beneficial for me to join NAfME when I go out into the workforce, as it would connect me with a number of professionals who share the same specific teaching subject as me. It would also be beneficial to be connected to people who understand the specific stressors and issues of Music Education. And like the AFT, NAfME is a national organization, so it would not matter which state I worked in if I wanted to be a
member.
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Association for Music Education are two excellent organizations with a wide reaching influence over their subject area. As a future music educator, researching and joining either of these organizations would be suitable to my needs for a union of similar minded professionals. All teachers need to be linked with a network of similar minded educators who understand the challenges of being an educator, and the stresses of certain topics and positions in education. With our political atmosphere around education changing rapidly, it is important now more than ever for teachers to be united and furthering their cause: equal and quality education for all Americans.
According to the “About Us” page on their website, The American Federation of Teachers is “a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities” (American Federation of Teachers, About Us, 2017, para. 1). They …show more content…
also describe that they use the work the members do to further the aforementioned principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining, and political activism. Founded in Chicago in 1916, the AFT initially had 8 local chapters. Samuel Gompers of the AFL took the organization under his wing, and it grew rapidly in its first four years. 174 locals were established in these first several years alone. However, on the onset of World War I, school boards increased pressure on teachers to resign from the union. Membership dropped to half of what it used to be, and it only got worse in the years during the Great Depression. Membership rose again to 7,000, only for certain chapters to be accused of communism during World War II and the red scare. In 2008, Randi Weingarten became president of the AFT and under her leadership, the organization reached 1.6 million members in 2014, and that number is continually increasing.
The National Association for Music Education is an organization for certified music teachers in the United States.
NAfME “advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century” (National Association for Music Education, About Us, 2017, para. 1). Founded in 1907, this organization ensures the highest quality instruction for its students through professional and qualified teachers. Due to NAfME’s efforts and resources, music education is considered a valid profession by society and the government. They actively advocate for the promotion and guidance of music as a crucial part of the school curriculum. They also are responsible for the establishment for the National Standards for Arts …show more content…
Education.
I think it would be overall very beneficial for me to join the American Federation of Teachers. Being a part of this organization can only further my career and experience level. I also strongly agree with their mission statement, as I believe that all children deserve a right to a quality education with professional educators. In addition, since this organization is national, it will not matter which state I teach in.
I am already a collegiate member of the National Association for Music Education, all I would have to do to join NAfME would be to upgrade my membership.
My Introduction to Music Education class, MUE 200, required me to join the collegiate chapter here at the University of Alabama. But I do believe that it would be incredibly beneficial for me to join NAfME when I go out into the workforce, as it would connect me with a number of professionals who share the same specific teaching subject as me. It would also be beneficial to be connected to people who understand the specific stressors and issues of Music Education. And like the AFT, NAfME is a national organization, so it would not matter which state I worked in if I wanted to be a
member.
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Association for Music Education are two excellent organizations with a wide reaching influence over their subject area. As a future music educator, researching and joining either of these organizations would be suitable to my needs for a union of similar minded professionals. All teachers need to be linked with a network of similar minded educators who understand the challenges of being an educator, and the stresses of certain topics and positions in education. With our political atmosphere around education changing rapidly, it is important now more than ever for teachers to be united and furthering their cause: equal and quality education for all Americans.