A voice for the arts
Please take a minute to read this editorial by Jordan Sonnenblick on No Child Left Behind. I haven't actually seen the studies, but I've heard from multiple sources that there is research arguing that the more math a student has in secondary school, the more likely they are to complete college. But what good is a college degree if you've missed out, in your developmental and formative years, on the other parts that make us human? There are so many of us out there who believe in arts, humanities, music, and languages that I am always baffled by the process that allows things like NCLB to happen. I know the intent is good, but there really has to be a better approach.
I'm also afraid that the epidemic of eradicating arts, music, and languages has a strong foothold even without NCLB. I work with students who, at least as of right now, started school before NCLB, and I still have daily discussions about the value of these disciplines beyond the job security the students see in fields like engineering and science and medicine. I'm not trying to talk them out of those disciplines by any means. I'm just trying to get them to understand that there is more to life than just a science disicpline and presumred job security.