RESTON /UCWE/ - The members of MENC, The National Association for Music Education, have weighed in on two timely and important music education issues, and MENC has released position statements on behalf of these 65,000+ teacher members. With this initiative, MENC continues to be at the forefront of addressing the issues that are of great concern to music educators.

The purpose of the position statements is two-fold: to assist MENC in working with colleagues, supporters, and government at all levels on music education matters of national importance, and to help local members have clearly stated rationales so that they can address these issues in their communities.

Position statements have been released this month on the following topics:
-The Non-Educator Performer in the Music Classroom
-After-School Music Education Programs

“The process we follow in the development of the MENC position statements is open via our Web site to any and all members who wish to contribute their perspective on those issues,” said David Circle, MENC’s president. “Position statements are developed by MENC to address issues of concern to music educators and are intended to answer a question often asked by members, school administrators and boards of education: ‘What does MENC have to say about this issue?’”

Previously, MENC has published position papers on Alternative Certification, Early Childhood Music Education, Fund-raising, Inclusivity in Music Education, The Music Code of Ethics, Public School and Community Music Group Relationships, Sacred Music In Schools, Advocacy and the Music Educator, and The Value and Quality of Arts Education.

The process for developing position statements includes the determinations of topics by MENC’s National Executive Board, drafting of the statement, and posting the draft on the MENC Web site with a database set up for members to provide comments. During the month that the statement is available for member comment, member input is solicited via e-mail and print promotions encouraging members to actively participate in forming MENC policy by providing input on the draft statements.

For more information on MENC’s position statements, visit
http://www.menc.org/connect/surveys/position/positionpapers.html .

For more information, call 1-800-336-3768, or visit http://www.menc.org .

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world’s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.