Fehr, Rosalind C.. "News Features: Secretary of Education Says NCLB Includes Arts." Teaching Music. Oct. 2004: 17. 

 

SUMMARIZE:

Ø       U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige wrote letter to nation’s school superintendents

Ø       No Child Left Behind includes arts because of “their importance to a child’s education!”

Ø       It expects the same quality and excellence from arts as it does English, math, etc.

Ø       MENC members have forwarded copies to principles and administrators to try to prevent cost cuts from effecting fine arts

Ø       Sec. Paige even said that arts programs being cut because of NCLB is “disturbing and just plain wrong”

Ø       The arts helps students “understand themselves and others” possibly more than any other subject, according to the Secretary

Ø       He wants to “ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn and to grow in and through the arts”

 

DISCUSS:

Though this is a very short article, I felt it to be one of the most important.  It directly addresses the issue of school music (and other fine arts) programs being cut in public schools.  But this time, it is addressed from the national government’s perspective – and they support the arts!  This is very encouraging.  It should be widely communicated to school authorities that the federal government even support continuing arts education.  As long as this policy doesn’t change in the future, this will be a terrific guide as schools look for the answer as to how to no leave any “child behind.”  Oh, and Dr. Scheib’s name is on page 11 of the Music Educators Journal, in a “reader’s comment” from Meric-Vance Neuenfeldt from Arlington, WI.