Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 4, 1993 TAG: 9304020249
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ARTS IMPORTANT PART OF EDUCATION
On March 23, I enjoyed one of the most magnificent performances ever presented in the Montgomery County schools: the Celebration of Art in Our Schools at Christiansburg High School.It is hard to describe the feeling of excitement when you see over 450 children, from ages 8 to 18, performing music as a single group. As these children sang to a standing-room-only crowd, I was reminded how important the arts had been to me as a student. As a 1972 graduate of Blacksburg High School, I participated in the band, choir and drama programs. Now I have two children who enjoy the same opportunities.
As I watched the show, however, I thought of the voices of dissent that don't recognize the need for art education in our public. I am talking about something that truly is the base of our common society. Virtually every musician you hear on the radio from country to classic is a product of public school art education. Without art education in the public schools, there would be almost no television or motion picture production. As a businessman, I call on skills developed in dramatic arts programs to enable me to communicate with my customers.
In our rush "back to basics" we forget that we communicate through music, illustration and demonstration. Think about how you learned the alphabet. I'll bet you learned to sing it before you could say it.
The watchword in business today is teamwork and there is no better preparation for that environment than the arts and athletic programs in the public schools.
Through the efforts of Charlotte Smith and the Christiansburg area art, music and drama teachers, we gained insight into our children's education. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that our administrators and representatives know how important art education is to our children's future. Please do what you can to support art in our schools. It doesn't get any more basic than that.\ Jonathan D. Couch Sr.\ Christiansburg