[Mpls] Arts & Music

[Elizabeth Greenbaum]

The point is they all go hand-in-hand. I would think it would be the 
downfall of any school to emphaise one subject over all others - 
particularly at the elementary level . I don't think any of us were 
saying that, nor were we saying it's happening in the public schools 
with the exception of Michael.
Liz Greenbaum
Longfellow

gemgram at mn.rr.com wrote:

>Jon,
>Most people are not bothered that art and music are taught in schools.  What
>most people worry about is the " serious lack of emphasis on Math and
>Science". They worry that the children of Minneapolis are not getting the
>basic foundation to acquire other knowledge and novel stimulation. You
>assert that that poster had failed to convince anyone, and possibly you are
>correct when you say so, because many people already share that opinion if
>not one that art and music are over emphasized.  Jon, you state, "You have
>also failed to show why it is that math and science ought to be of greater
>prominence".  This is clearly not the case when people are writing on the
>subject from as far away as Tampa.
>
>You ask for a listing of priority for education.  It is simple from your
>list.  Literacy and Math may allow anyone with a desire do so to acquire the
>others and without them the others mean little.  You can not acquire science
>without math, you can not acquire critical thinking without a lot of
>personal teaching or the ability to read well.  With a foundation of the
>building blocks of language, and the "language" of math, at anytime in ones
>life one may become a scientist, may become a philosopher, may become a
>designer who creates beautiful museums, or a music or art critique if not
>possessing talent themselves. May become an actor or a poet. Such basic
>skills allow a social psychologist to become a contractor building those
>buildings, a computer expert, a farmer, a doctor, a lawyer or even more
>exalted professions such as an auto mechanic or plumber.  Without them a
>person is doomed to the knowledge that can be acquired from a personal
>teacher. Most children now can know more in a year than any scientist of the
>19th century, if they desire and they have those skills. Without them, only
>the truly gifted succeed in much,  they are rooted to a mundane life of few
>choices.
>
>Sure our children need music and art in their lives, but they need literacy
>and math to build those lives. I do not, and I do not think anyone is
>bothered by art and music in schools.  IF the children can read well and do
>math well.  But do not tell me that children without those skills are just
>as well prepared for life with an art and music emphasis.  It just is not
>true.  With skills in math and literacy one has choice without them they do
>not.
>
>Jim Graham,
>Ventura Village
>
>  
>
>>"There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into
>>    
>>
>babies and revolution into young minds."
>
>
>
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