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The Idioms of Academics
By Dr. David Stevens, Academic Director | Monday, October 08, 2012 1:35 PM
The origins of some commonly used idioms, or cliches, are unknown. Many can be linked to a phenomenon, odd behavior or special occurrences in history. However, those who use them often understand their meaning. Therefore, let us provide some meaning for those phrases you may hear in relation to UIL academics this fall.
It was raining cats and dogs during the fall Student Activities Conferences this year. Not literally. Well, maybe at the UT-Austin SAC. Those of you who attended that SAC did brave downpours and waded through water to get to sessions.
Our attendance was outstanding at each site, and the presenters and hosts were terrific. So it isn’t a stretch to say that the knowledge was raining into our attendees.
SWEF Focuses on Artistic Elements of Music Performance
By Richard Floyd, Music Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 1:18 PM
The State Wind Ensemble Contest was established in 1976 as a part of the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. During the years that followed this event gradually evolved into the festival format that is in place today. It is now referred to as the State Wind Ensemble Festival (SWEF) and provides an educationally rewarding and positive experience for all participants. This prestigious event is scheduled for May 4, 2013.
Much of the success of this event has been attributed to the Clinician/Commentator component of the format. This feature allows each performing group to have a 30-minute post concert clinic/critique with a nationally recognized conductor/educator. The focus of the event is on the subjective, artistic elements of music performance rather than the objective, technical details that tend to dominate critiques in a totally competitive setting.
With the approval of the UIL/TMEA Music Advisory Committee and the UIL Legislative Council the event was modified in 2000 to what many would term a festival format. The intent of this revision was to build on the most successful elements of SWEF, which cultivate the positive aspects of making music for music’s sake rather than the attainment of an objective rating. In addition a listening component has been added to emphasize the very important value of becoming good audience members as well as accomplished performers.
Directors and Adjudicators: Be Realistic, Be Fair and Be Excited
By Daniel Galloway, TMAA Marching Band Vice President | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 1:15 PM
As this marching band season unfolds, I find I have the unique opportunity to reflect on this activity from three different points of view. First, as a director of a competitive marching band program; second, as an active adjudicator for multiple contests; and finally, as a parent of a student in a marching band program. And, wearing these three hats has tempered my perspective as a director and as an adjudicator. It all boils down to being realistic, being fair and being excited.
As a director I truly believe that setting achievable, educational goals is essential. One must be realistic about the learning curve that will be required to refine the content of a show. All too often I have watched a band attempt to perform a 7:50 show and fall short of a superior rating when a better executed seven-minute show would have easily been rated a Division One.
Technology Opens New Doors of Creativity
By Luis Muñoz, Theatre Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 12:41 PM
O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't.
—William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Scene I, ll. 203–206
Creativity as a process is something that has fascinated me from the time I was introduced to the concept during a graduate class in directing that I took with James Barton at what is now Texas State University. This gift to imagine and realize is not unique to the artist but, to me, is inherent in the very core of all humanity. We are born with the ability to mimic what we see and hear. As we grow older, we become capable of applying all of our experiences, both personal and vicarious, with knowledge gained through education to create.
Rule Reminders for A+ District Meets
By David Trussell, A+ Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 12:38 PM
For A+ districts hosting fall/winter meets in December and January, the meet planning process should be well underway. That process includes a number of important decisions; as those decisions are made it’s crucial to keep in mind which options are available — and which are not. The A+ program affords districts a great deal of flexibility, but not everything is negotiable.
• The A+ Art contest includes the identification section known as Part A, as well as the art history and elements section known as Part B. Section 1410(b)(2) of the C&CR states, “Both Parts A and B of the contest shall be conducted.” This means that a district Art contest must include both parts; by rule, omitting Part B is not an option.
Which Way to Go? A New Literary Journey Soon Begins for Prose and Poetry Students
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 11:50 AM
Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz pondered as she began her journey along the yellow brick road and met up with the Scarecrow at the fork, the new Prose and Poetry State Advisory Committee will be wondering just where to go when they create new high school oral interpretation categories for 2013-14.
The UIL has designed literary categories for the prose and poetry contests since the 1940’s. These contests have their roots early in the League’s existence when, at the first state meet which entailed only debate competition, coaches voted to add Declamation as its second event. Declamation was the forerunner for our current prose and poetry contests.
Early on, the requirement for declamation literature was open, yet strict. From the Constitution, in 1911, the rules stipulated that selections should fall under the general field of good citizenship.
Texas to Host National Journalism Convention
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 11:45 AM
Texas advisers and students have a unique opportunity this year. They can attend a national journalism convention in their own state.
The JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention will be held Nov. 15-18 in San Antonio at the Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk and the Convention Center across the street.
It’s been 10 years since Texas hosted a national convention. Let’s show the nation how much we support and embrace scholastic journalism by heading to San Antonio in November.
The Texas delegation, including chairs Pat Gathright and Rhonda Moore, has been working for more than two years to plan an exciting convention for scholastic journalists and their advisers.
Tips for Preparing for Post-Season Competition in Team Tennis
By Darryl Beasley, Asst. Athletic Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 10:19 AM
Falls marks the time of the year to prepare for post-season competition in team tennis. Below is information to help with organization and advancing from district to regional and regional to state.
First and foremost, a rule change will affect both team tennis and spring tennis. The new rule allows school coaches to coach players in between points. According to United States Tennis Association (USTA) rules, a player is allowed 20 seconds between points. The new UIL rule will allow a school coach to provide feedback during that 20-second time, but it cannot interrupt the continuous play rule which states play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded. The official school tennis coach may coach in a manner that does not interfere with the play on adjoining courts. Coaches and/or coaching are NOT permitted in or on the confines of the tennis court (exception: during the 90 second changeover at the end of odd games, and during the 10-minute rest period for split set matches).
Legislative Council Drives Rule Changes at League
By Dr. Mark Cousins, Athletic Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 10:07 AM
For more than 70 years, the UIL Legislative Council has been the driving force behind rule changes for the University Interscholastic League. Although the League has been around for more than 100 years, in the early years of existence, the rule making processes were handled through the University of Texas.
The Legislative Council is a peer-elected group of school superintendents that represent various size schools and geographic regions of the state. There are 28 total members on the Legislative Council. There is an elected representative from each of the four regions, in each of the five conferences (1A-5A). The chair of the Council then appoints eight additional members to the Council to ensure diversity in terms of school size, geographic location and ethnicity.
Although many in the school business are fully aware of the process for making rule change proposals for UIL, there may be others who do not fully understand how the process works. First and foremost, it should be understood that no UIL staff members are allowed to vote, nor do they serve as members of the Legislative Council.
Lisa Atkins Joins Academic Department
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL Intern | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 9:33 AM
Lisa Atkins joined the academic department this fall.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
Newly-hired academic administrative assistant Lisa Atkins is not afraid of a little color. Her shiny white office walls are lined with whimsical quilted wall hangings that her mom handmade using bright dyed and hand painted fabrics. She whips out her phone to find a picture of her former 10th grade English classroom.
“This is only a fraction of what was in my old room,” she said. “It was wall-to-wall decorations. I just feel like it’s more inspiring than white walls.”
UIL Academic Director Dr. David Stevens and the rest of the academics staff have taken a liking to Atkins’s creative flare, but they also like her work ethic and dedication.