More important in many cultural circles than the dollars and cents in the arts funding pipeline during the just-ended Florida state legislative session was lawmaking that had the potential to wipe out a minimal requirement for arts education.

It took two decades of argument to convince lawmakers to create a piddling minimum of one credit in fine arts to graduate from high school. Three words might have ended it.

The current law requires “One credit in fine or performing arts, which may include speech and debate,” for graduation. An amendment during the session added the phrase “or a practical arts course,” i.e. shop, auto mechanics, etc. The proposal created an either/or choice in which schools could drop “fine arts” entirely and substitute grease monkeyshining to earn a diploma.

Efforts to stop the move failed. But the final bill as passed, and expected to be signed, is a compromise that restricts the “practical arts” offerings to courses that incorporate “artistic content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified through the Course Code Directory.”

By including the language not only that the courses include artistic content etc., but also that specific courses must be identified in the statewide course code, the original intent of the statute is preserved, to a degree.

Florida’s miniscule arts education requirement has been eroded somewhat. But in a year marked with even more frightening battles in a powerful state board over religion, creationism and science in the classroom, the fine/practical arts compromise seems somehow like a victory.

Details, as usual, can be found most easily at the Florida Cutural Alliance website. Click on "advocacy."

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