Art funding is a crucial topic that impacts the arts and cultural sector globally. Adequate funding is essential to support artists, art organizations, and cultural events, ensuring their sustainability and contribution to society. Recent trends show a decline in public funding for the arts, leading to challenges in preserving artistic expression and heritage.
Petitions under this topic focus on securing funding for local arts programs, protecting cultural institutions from budget cuts, and advocating for increased government support for the arts. One petition, with thousands of signatures, calls for increased funding for art education in schools to nurture creative skills in students. Another petition highlights the importance of funding public art projects to enhance community spaces and promote cultural diversity.
Get involved by supporting these petitions and raising awareness about the value of art funding. Your participation can make a difference in preserving and expanding opportunities for artistic expression in your community and beyond.
I've known Ms. Penke since she was in college, and never a day in my life did I think she wasn't giving her all for her students. Everytime I walk into class I feel like I am with family because of the welcoming, safe environment she has made. This is not a decision made with students in mind. Save our choir, save my family.
Ms. Penke is an invaluable part of the Apollo ecosystem. Her loss would have knock-on effects for not just current students who would miss her, but also the rest of the music programs. This sets a precedent for students that the teachers they like can be fired on a dime, and that there’s no point getting attached. That isn’t the Apollo I want to go to.
My favorite teacher by far, and one of the best that there is! Definitely will be a loss, not just for Apollo, but the entire district. She is one of a-kind! She helped me fall in love with singing again; I don’t even know how to thank her. She is such an amazing human and I know I will definitely miss her. We love you Ms. Penke!!
Choir is all about community, and nobody cares about community than Ms Penke. She is a talented and enthusiastic educator who took over a dying choir program and has reinvigorated it. Her work with North’s choirs and theater productions has created a student body eager to continue to work with her at Apollo.
Studies have shown how much a musical education helps students to excel in the rest of their studies. It would be a grave disservice to Ms Penke’s students if she were non-renewed. I have never met anyone who so genuinely loves her students and her job. The community response to news of her non-renewal speaks for itself.
Ms. Penke is an amazing choir teacher we would all miss if she were gone. Her personality has personally lightened my mood before, and I'm guessing has for other people. I'm not even a choir kid, but I really like her and I know everybody here and more people like her too. Keep her here!!
Ms. Penke is important for the students now and the students to come. The way she teaches helps students engage and learn. The next teacher has a very little chance of being as good. Apollo needs her. Being fired for no reason isn’t right.
Ms. Penke loves her students and her students love her. She is the reason so many feel safe and seen at school. She’s a professional and she belongs. It is egregious to even consider not having her.
I have seen too many good teachers let go before their tenure while they were doing amazing work with students. That an educator has inspired students to action is itself evidence of their impact.