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For what it's worth, if you ever need some fuel, justification, mandates, proof, or authority in any discussion regarding arts funding or “why music education in school”, you might keep this in mind . . .
In the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001 (U.S. education reform bill), "The Arts" are now classified as CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS by federal law. This broad recognition of the arts has never been included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act before. But now, it’s Law.
The definition of core subjects in the new law is located in:
Title IX, Part A, Section 9101 (1)(D)(11), Definitions."
Here's the exact language in the legislation: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/pg107.html
Title IX — General Provisions
SEC. 901. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Title IX (20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
TITLE IX — GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART A — DEFINITIONS
SEC. 9101. DEFINITIONS.
(11) CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS- The term core academic subjects' means English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography
The entire bill is online in HTML or PDF here: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/
Of course, the "educators" and politicians addressed and targeted by this new law will probably be flapping their lips for the next 20 years “researching”, conferencing, planning, proposing (taking all the grant money they can get) but doing essentially nothing. So the reality of what this bill means to music education (and Arts education generally) remains to be seen. It’s probably just more hot air and pretty promises (and the excuse to start and fund 1,000 more "Non-Profit" organizations chartered to "promote" those efforts). Nevertheless, there we have it.
"No Child Left Behind”. Might than include children who can’t read music (the majority) but still want to learn, and are entitled to learn, and are now mandated to at least be facilitated to learn about the Arts? What might we music educators do about this insurmountable challenge? Humm. Why don’t we spend the next 20 years conferencing about it. I mean, the solution couldn’t possibly already exist could it? We’d have found it already (and within our own ranks) if it did, wouldn’t we have? I mean, we’ve been looking for that all along, leaving no stone unturned, diligent and tenatious, haven’t we been?
It’s now August 2003. TheCipher.com has been online (with high Google ranking) since September 2002. They are looking aren’t they? They are “really serious” about arts education for all, aren’t they? We’ll see. Actions speak louder than words.
Roger E. Blumberg
8-5-2003
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