The US has radically cut back on the music classes to focus on math and science citing our slippage in international education ratings. First of all, it is interesting to note that, according to NAMM’s website, the world’s top academic countries consistently place a high value on music education.
Secondly, in the latest report by the Brookings Institution, scholar Tom Loveless notes that the notion of America on the downward track is a myth. The data show that we have been mediocre all along, as far back as 1964.
Loveless, a senior fellow at the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings, says in his annual report on American Education:
“The United States never led the world. It was never No. 1 and has never been close to No. 1 on international math tests. Or on science tests, for that matter. It is more accurate to say that the United States has always trailed the world on math tests.”
This is not exactly good news, but context is important. If we have managed to be the world’s most powerful country, politically, economically and militarily, for the last 47 years despite our less than impressive math and science scores, maybe that flaw is not as important as film documentaries and political party platforms claim. (from “The truth in education: U.S. was never No. 1 by Jay Mathews, Washington Post ,Wednesday, February 23, 2011)
Since the study of music results in higher SAT scores as well as higher scores across the board, cutting music is totally counterproductive. So, pass this information on……dispel the myths and help bring music back into our schools where it belongs!!!!!!!
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