Student Advocacy
SLAM! (STUDENT LEADERS IN THE ARTS MOVEMENT)
By Joshua Bosse, MMEA Secretary
Every music educator has to advocate for their program in multiple ways. As a teacher,
we have to advocate to our principal, the students, their parents, the community, and
the list goes on. At times, one can feel alone or discouraged due to the fact that we are
always advocating for our program and for everyone to see what we see when it comes to
music education in our schools. Sometimes we are so busy that we forget who the best
advocators for music truly are...the STUDENTS!!!
This past school year has been such an enlightenment in regards to seeing my students
advocate for what they love...their music program! After joining the Maine Arts
Leadership Initiative, (MALI) I have learned to become a better advocate, and I have
learned that I am not the only advocate in my school. With that in mind, Theresa Cerceo
(MSAD 33 Art Teacher) and I decided to create an advocacy group for the arts known as
“Student Leaders in the Arts Movement!” or better known as SLAM!
I decided to take my grades 7-12 gifted and talented (GT) band students as my primary
group for our SLAM! chapter. Throughout the school year, the students have performed
multiple tasks such “Arts in Education” week where they posted quotes from different
students in the school about why the arts are important, having an art contest, showing
support for the arts by having different themed days (different colored clothing, wearing