Many of us know that music education in America's
public schools is not what it once was. Some of us are old enough to remember
when virtually every public school had an orchestra as well as a band, and taught
music in a variety of ways. The decline of music education, indeed all arts
education, in our school systems has been widely commented on.
What comes as encouraging news is that people actually care
about this issue - more people care more strongly than I think we recognized. A
national poll of likely voters, conducted by Lake Research Partners, has found
widespread support for the notion that today's approach to education is
stifling the imagination of pupils and teachers. A strong majority of those
surveyed believe that imagination is
a necessary quality in a complete citizen, and they believe that our current
approach to education actually works against the development of imagination.
Imagination is at the core of creative skills--skills of innovation--and people
believe that such skills are very important for the future of this country and
the world.
Some key findings of the survey:
- 89%
say that using imagination is important to innovation and to one's success
in a global, knowledge-based economy, and essential to success in the 21st
century.
- 69%
believe that America,
compared to other nations, devotes less
attention to developing imagination and innovation.
- 88%
believe that education in the arts, and education using the arts, is
essential to cultivating the imagination.
- 63%
believe strongly that building capacities of the imagination is as
important as the so-called "basics" for all students.
The survey took a rather political approach to some of its
questions, and determined that voters would be likely to support political
candidates who supported more funding for education that would be likely to
stimulate imagination, and voters would be willing to punish candidates who
opposed such funding.
The point of my writing about this is not, however, to raise
the specifically political aspects of this issue. It is merely to point out
that there has been a growing body of research showing that education in the
arts, and music specifically, does wire the brains of young people in a
healthier way, that it does lead to creativity, to problem solving, to
imagination, to innovation, to the ability to work with others more
productively, and to more well-rounded, complete citizens. Now, there is
evidence that this is understood by the general public, perhaps in ways that are
not understood by local political powers who shape school curricula.
I find myself in total agreement with John Wilson, executive
director of the National Education Association, when he says: "Americans are
concerned that we are falling behind as a nation and that imagination,
innovation, and creativity have been the foundation that moved the United States
into a world leadership role. In today's economy, an education focused only on
the 'so-called' basics may not be providing students with the skills essential
for success and continued world leadership in the 21st century. To
maintain our competitive edge, we need to balance instruction, encouraging our
children to be creative and to develop their imaginations."
I urge everyone to work at their local level with whatever
forces shape the agendas of your school systems, to insist that the arts be an
integral, central part of the curriculum.
