A record of art education practice. (Editor's Comments).

At SchoolArts, we value reflection on the historical roots of art education practice and welcome visionary ideas for the future. Over the course of this year, we recalled our hundred-year history. As we anticipate the advancement of art in education in coming years, we envision new features that will move the teaching of art and student learning forward.

The historical overviews, framed by the tenure of each editor, helped to put the changing editorial emphasis of the magazine in perspective. Even though each editor initiated changes and influenced the content, the most valuable messages in SchoolArts have been through the voices of art teachers. With ninety percent of the editorial content coming from unsolicited manuscripts, it is difficult for any editor to grossly distort the picture of what is really happening in schools. Reading the many submissions from teachers offers an editor valuable insights into the prevailing, even polarizing, practices. But while there are new and varied approaches to art education, there are also strong traditions of school art that remain unchanged over the century.

When I became editor in 1994, I wanted to make a difference. I also wanted to maintain the quality and continue the reader-friendly features established by my predecessors. I am indebted to strong advisors--Renee Sandell, Nancy Walkup, Bernard Young, Enid Zimmerman, Cynthia Colbert, Jean Ellen Jones, the late Richard Doornek, Richard Ciganko, Sandra Epps, Roger Tomhave, Dianne Turner, Ann Cappetta, James Clark, Betty Doherty, Debbie Greh, Pamela Hellwege, Roger Hyndman, Lorraine Pflaumer, and Karen Saunders--for guidance and support in achieving this balance.

As editor, I'm just the first link in a strong chain that crosses three states: my office in Pennsylvania, Davis Publications' offices in Massachusetts, and Dartmouth Printing in New Hampshire.

Most directly, I work with Jane Reed, our production editor, who gets everything to press in a timely manner. Jane works closely with Marta Coscia, our designer, who envisions the total look of the magazine. On ad closing day, Christina Carelli, our advertising manager, and Leslie Valentin, her assistant, join Jane and Marta in the placement of ads and editorial features. Overseeing this process at Davis, managing editor Claire Golding and art director Douglass Scott remain the constant players on an ever-changing team.

Over the past seven years, I've worked with four different production editors, four designers, and three advertising managers. Preceding Ms. Reed were Jane Devore, Holly Hanson, and Victoria Hughes. All were a delight to work with. Preceding Ms. Coscia were Tom Miglionico, Ping Look, and Karen Durlach. Each left their mark on the magazine and made each issue a visual treasure. Before Ms. Carelli, Allison Hughes and Heidi Hanson established strong relationships with the commercial world of art education. Because of their hard work, each issue of SchoolArts becomes a record of teaching resources. Dana Willitts, subscription manager, and Margherita Altobelli, circulation, make sure that record gets into your hands each month.

I am grateful to Ron and Gil Davis and to Wyatt Wade, president of Davis Publications, for having confidence in me as an editor. The Davis family has been good to me, but more importantly, they have been good to art education. Through their long-standing commitment to provide the very best support for our field, they have given us a permanent record of art education practice--a record that will continue.