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Sadly, Music Is the First To Go
By Deborah Lee | May 13, 2009
The State of California is in a budget crisis. They were refusing to pay tax refunds to people who moved out of state unless they moved back. Now they are laying off teachers. Of course, the arts teachers are the first to go. One county laid off every single music teacher.
Many school leaders make these decisions based on the requirements of testing even though students who have experience in the arts generally do better on standardized tests.
The problem is that these decisions are being made in a black and white, linear fashion without making the connection that learning is a process and not just a regurgitation of facts. Any computer can spout out facts and make calculations. Being human means we can reason, create and grow. It’s what brings innovation and makes for a better world.
One of the sad things about the layoffs is that it takes many years to build a strong music program. It also takes many years to build music in a person. When it goes away, it has to be rebuilt.
It’s not the kind of thing that will spill over into the private arena either. Many parents don’t see the value in giving their child a solid music and arts education, so if the schools stop, the music stops. Even if they see the value, they may not value it enough to put money behind it.
I think it will be a long time before schools see music and the arts as more of a priority. It is my hope that the community will begin taking up the slack, but that will take time, too.
I grew up in a very small town. We didn’t have strong music education where I went to school, but the difference was made up for it at church. The state of music education in the church has really diminished as well. The days of traveling music teachers are pretty much over and most churches don’t even have children and youth choirs anymore. Many have given up adult choirs, too.
I’m not worried for my son because we homeschool and we will seek out or create our own opportunities. I’m concerned for the increasing number of people who will grow up without understanding the value of music in education and in all of life. It is more than recreation–it’s part of human development.
Live musically,
Deborah
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